November 13th – Dancing for the Dogs Contra Dance &  Silent Auction

 Join us for family fun, dancing to Irish and Celtic sounds of  the accoustic musicians of the ”Highly Paid Professionals, from”6:30 pm to 10:00 pm  at Mount Shasta High School.

December 18th-Free Kids Dogsled Rides Day

Bring your kids or grandchildren (ages 3yrs to 10yrs) to Dogsled Express’s Tours Trailhead ( Ski Park Highway, 1/4 mile below the Mount Shasta Ski Park, parking lot ), for a free sled dog rides from 11:00 am to 2:00 pm. 

Jan. 22 - 23, 2011 – Siskiyou Sled Dog Races

Come to the mountains to view, compete, or volunteer in the Siskiyou Sled Dog Races.  This will be our 4th event!  So many good times and memories!  We invite you and your family to attend. Mark your calendars to attend the races!    Look under the Event Schedule Tab for a tentative Race Weekend schedule of events and race starting times.

 2010 Races a Howling Success!  –

Please share your photos and videos with us at info@siskiyousleddograces.com.  Click here to visit our picasa web albums from race volunteer, mushers and spectators. Videos will be coming soon. http://picasaweb.google.com/SiskiyouSnowDogs

There are so many to thank but the following organizations and businesses deserve special mention!

• Fun Factory Snomobile Rentals – www.snowcrest.net/funfactory
• Dogsled Express, Guided Sled Dog Tours- www.dogsledexpress.net
• USDA Klamath National Forest -National Forest- Goosenest Ranger District -
  Klamath National Forest- Home
• FurrPurrsons Pet Resort and Spa - www.furpurrsons.com
• Scott Valley Bank – www.scottvalleybank.com
• Diamond Dog Food – www.diamondpet.com
• Weed/Lake Shastina Kiwanis Club – www.kiwanis.org
• Yreka Kiwanis Club – www.kiwanis.org
• Siskiyou County Amateur Radio Association (SCARA) – www.k6sis.com
• Mt. Shasta Herald / Weed Press – www.mtshastanews.com 
• Siskiyou Daily News – www.siskiyoudaily.com
• A News Cafe, Redding – www.Anewscafe.com
• KSYC 103.9 FM – Yreka, CA
• KCWH 102.3 FM Weed, CA
• Jefferson Economic Development Institute – www.e-jedi.org
• Weed Mercantile – www.weedrc.org
• Allan & Sandi Iverson – Race Marshal & Chute Boss
• Dr. Doug Marks, DVM – Head Veterinarian
• all of our dedicated volunteers  and spectators – You know who you are! 

2010 Shirts still available!

If you missed purchasing a shirt at the races, just write us – we have extra stock.  The shirts sold really well  and we met our purse and 2011 seed money obligations.  All shirt purchases will benefit the 2011 races now. 

See you next year folks!!!  Each of you made it all worth while!

Although some distance races were shorter due to the heavy snows, we got some great racing on beautifully groomed trails thanks to the efforts of our trail crews. Special thanks to Goosenest Ranger District for driving their groomer over from 4 Corners Snowmobile park and to Michelle and Darren of Fun Factory Snowmobile Rentals and the Schaefer’s for breaking and marking trails.

You’re invited to the races today and the Awards Banquet tonight at the Weed Mercantile Building in Weed – $10 per person (children $5). The Banquet starts at 5 pm.
THANKS to everyone that has helped serve up these perfect trails and all the volunteers and sponsors that are so important.  Come on over today - the roads are plowed up to the park and the snows just fine for lots of family fun and racing excitement,  there will be a shuttle running today by Suburban Safaris if you don’t want to drive to the top or if the parking lot fills up.  

 Thanks to everyone who have helped make this event a success.  Especially the Mushers, volunteers and sponsors – Dogsled Express, the Yreka, and Weed/LakeShastina Kiwanis Club, Scott Valley Bank, FurPurrsons Pet Resort, and Diamond Dog Food in particular and many others whove donated auction items etc.

Pictures from Saturday are posted in a new Picasa album – Double click the album to the left to our main Picasa Album page – Click on the Saturday album.  If you’d like to share your photos with us – send them to info@siskiyousleddograces.com.

Due to the extreme weather, the resources we had lined up to prepare the distance trail between Pilgrim Creek and Dear Mountain/Chuck Best Snowmobile Part were redirected to emergency services in the Mount Shasta area which was hit hardest by the storm with areas still without power – those issues may continue through the weekend unfortunately, but Weed is in fine shape for those of you looking for lodging and all the racing events!  The Races are on!!!  You’ll never hear a musher say there’s too much snow!!! 

Fun Factory Snowmobile  Rentals and the Klamath National Forest Goosenest District and friends save our race!

Thanks to Michele and Darren of the Fun Factory, Jim Stout and the Goosenest Ranger District of the USDA Klamath National Forest and other friends, the trails will be great.  KNF Goosenest just called and they’re sending a groomer!!  HOORAY!!!  We were busting through 3 to 4 feet of snow Thursday and tomorrow back at it with a bigger group of friends to help finish the trails and groom.  The stretch to the east that we did today really turned out well and they plan on completing  it  all tommorrow.   

We owe so much to Michele and Darin, the Forest Service and the other fine volunteers for their work and the physical effort it is taking to punch these trails open.  So don’t forget to take the time to thank them. Hopefully the headlines in our local newspaper will be “Snowmobilers and Forest Service Save Dogsled Race!”, because that is exactly what they are doing.

The races will in some cases be even better than planned.

•   The 50 mile race will be cut back to 27 miles around the Deer Mountain Long Loop and back.
•   The 6 dog mid distance will be cut back to a fun Loop around Deer Mountain of 13 1/2 miles.
•   The 8 dog sprint will total  6.7 miles on a flat track with a turn around loop at the end and back.
•  6 and 4 dog sprint will stay the same and the skijor will be a flat run.

  The conditions will be fast, fun and cold enough for the dogs and warm enough for the spectators.  So, see you there.  Remember – The Weed Lake Shastina Kiwanis Club will be cooking for us both Saturday and Sunday during the races.  All funds from the food sales will go to local charities and community services such as the Living Memorial Sculpture Garden.

Hwy. 97 and all roads aroung Siskiyou County should be in good shape, and the road up to the races and the parking area there will be plowed and in good shape for vehicles with decent tires.  Carry traction devices and dress for winter weather.

See you at the races!!

If you have been wondering how you can support the Siskiyou Sled Dog Races,  well here’s a small way to do it.   Purchase a 2010 Siskiyou Sled Dog Race T-Shirt.  Our T-Shirt sales is one of our best fundraisers.  We have 200 shirts in stock, including the highly requested children’s sizes. If we sell out, that will raise around $1500. In a year where money is tight, these sales are more important than ever.

Pre-race sales locations are the Siskiyou County Museum-Yreka, the Weed Mercantile-Weed, and the Mount Shasta Chamber of Commerce.  These heavy cotton shirts are of the highest quality in the fabric, artwork, and printing.  They will be available at the Vet check on Friday and at all the weekend events.  After the races we will post on how order them via our website.  Shipping will cost extra, so to save $ get them before race weekend is over.

We are very pleased to see that snow is coming in the next couple of days and then cold weather starting this weekend with snow showers through at least Wednesday and possibly into race weekend.  OVer 20 teams are signed up now with more each day.  Check out our Musher Bio Page for the most current list of competitors.

We will be taking entries right up to race morning and no late fee charge.   We are working to update the musher list daily so please get in your bios soon.  Much Appreciated. See you on fresh powder soon.

The Siskiyou Sled Dog pre-race activities begin Friday, January 22 with the veterinarian check of all the distance racing dogs. Races will be held on Saturday, 23rd and Sunday 24th at the Deer Mountain / Chuck Best Memorial Snowmobile Park located 16.8 miles out Highway 97 from Weed, CA.

NOTE: The 220 mile Iditarod qualifier is canceled due to lack of entrants. All other races are all still on.

FRIDAY JANUARY 22
12:00 to 3:00 Mandatory Veterinarian Check of 50 mile racing dogs
(Weed Merchantile, north-east end of Main Street Weed, CA past the Post Office)

SATURDAY JANUARY 23 (DAY 1 FIRST HEAT)
8 AM Mushers Meeting (mandatory for all mushers – start times may be adjusted)
9AM Start 50 mile – 8-16 dog
10 AM Start 18 mile – 6 dog
11 AM Start 8 mile – 8 dog
12:30 PM Start 5 mile – 4 dog
1:00 PM – Sled Dog Demonstrations by Liz PArrish and Barb Schaefer Presented by the best coaches and mentors around who bring a wealth of experience direct to you! Liz Parrish,” Iditarod’s Littlest Musher”, finished the 2008 Iditarod in celebration of her first half century. Barb Schaefer has been raising, training and running competitively with her Siberian Huskies for over 22 years and raised and trained Maya in the Disney movie, Eight Below.  www.LifeThroughDogs.com; www.RunYourOwnIditarod.com;  www.UrbanGoDogs.com
2PM START 5 mile -6 dog
2:30PM START 5mile -1 or 2 dog – Skijor
SNOWBALL  - Mushers Welcome - 6 PM – Sons of Italy Hall  Clay Street, Weed
The SNOWBALL is a fundraiser for the Friends of the Mount Shasta Avalanche Center and the Mount Shasta Nordic Center.  The mushers welcome will be incorporated into the SNOWBALL.  

SUNDAY JANUARY 24 (DAY 2 – SECOND HEAT)
8AM Mushers Meeting (Mandatory for all mushers – Start times may be adjusted)
9AM Start 50 mile – 8-16 dog
10AM Start 18 mile – 6 dog
11AM Start 8 mile – 8 dog
12:30PM Start 5 mile – 4 dog
1:00 PM – Sled Dog Demonstrations by Liz PArrish and Barb Schaefer Presented by the best coaches and mentors around who bring a wealth of experience direct to you! Liz Parrish,” Iditarod’s Littlest Musher”, finished the 2008 Iditarod in celebration of her first half century. Barb Schaefer has been raising, training and running competitively with her Siberian Huskies for over 22 years and raised and trained Maya in the Disney movie, Eight Below.  www.LifeThroughDogs.com; www.RunYourOwnIditarod.com;  www.UrbanGoDogs.com
2PM START 5 mile -6 dog
2:30PM START 5mile -1 or 2 dog – Skijor
5PM Awards Banquet at the Weed Mercantile-590 Main Street, Weed, CA 96094
Soups, Salads, Breads and desserts.  Open to the public.  $10 per person