An exhibit of 20 years and counting of “sled dog art” went on display at Bernice's Bakery in Missoula on Friday. It's a collection of annual limited edition prints produced for the race.
The first leg of the race begins at 10 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 10, a 40-mile jaunt from Camp Rimini west of Helena to Deer Lodge. There'll be a restart at noon Sunday in Lincoln for the final 310 miles of the 350-mile race.
During Saturday's run to Deer Lodge, home of veteran musher Bill Smith, that town will host a parade and other activities on Main Street, followed by a dinner at Pen Convention Center at 6 p.m.
Entries to the race closed Friday night. Twenty mushers were entered by Friday afternoon, according to race publicist Pam Beckstrom of Olney. Among them were Jon Bunderson of Soda Springs, Idaho, the top returner from last year in third place; veteran Terry Adkins of Sand Coulee; two-time winner Butch Parr of Whitefish; and Mark Stamm, runner-up to John Barron in 2004.
Barron, of Helmville, isn't entered. He won the last two races in 2004 and 2006 (the 2005 race was canceled because of poor snow conditions), but is running in a shorter race in Colorado this weekend. Rick Larson of Sand Coulee, last year's runner-up, isn't signed up either.
Conditions looked good for the 2007 race on Friday.
“If it stays like this, it should be a fast race,” said Avis McCollum of Lincoln, who has worked on the volunteer trail crew for every Race to the Sky.
Reporter Kim Briggeman can be reached at 523-5266 or at kbriggeman@missoulian.com
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