John Beargrease mid-distance racer Alex LaPlante crosses Poplar Lake shortly after sunrise. - Duluth, MN 
Beargrease organizers say race is on as planned
A week of high temperatures into the 40s and rain has reduced snow cover along Minnesota's North Shore, but organizers of the John Beargrease Sled Dog Marathon said Monday night that they believe the race can take place next week as originally planned.
Mushers largely travel on snowmobile trails during the Beargrease and some of those trails have seen the snow cover melt rapidly in recent days — particularly at the start near Two Harbors and near the turnaround point in Grand Portage, where a tunnel to be used by mushers to cross under Minnesota Highway 61 was flooded with melted snow.
"The rain really killed us. It really melts the snow very quickly," said Jason Rice, Beargrease race director.
The snow near Two Harbors is "not what we'd want, especially for the start of the race" when dogs are most energetic, Rice said. "If you don't have (enough snow) to throw a hook into, you are gambling that there aren't going to be any problems."
But after a meeting Monday night, Rice said organizers "believe there is a good and safe trail to use as we have it planned out already. ...
"We will be using the Two Harbors start location as scheduled (and) as of right now — and barring any more severe changes to the trail — it appears we have a safe trail into Grand Portage as well."
