2025 Idaho Sled Dog Challenge
The seventh running of the Idaho Sled Dog Challenge will take place on February 3rd through the 5th, although there are several other races included in the week’s activities.
It is one of only three dog sled races in the lower 48 states that are qualifying races for the Iditarod, the longest, most grueling dog sled race in the world, which takes place in Alaska and has since the 1970’s.
Several former Idaho Sled Dog Challenge Mushers have actually moved to Alaska, so they can compete with their dogs in the sport they love best.
The 200-mile and 100-mile races both begin on Lake Cascade, which is now frozen, and end at the Wye Campground in Adams County, just north of Tamarack Mill. Parking will not be available at the race start. One must take a shuttle from the Hotel Nobo at 500 N Main Street in Cascade. There is also parking at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints at 560 State Highway 55.
Mushers who compete in the 200-mile race are the only ones who can qualify for the Iditarod, and this year there are four mushers competing.
Middleton resident Liz Nevills will be competing in the 100-mile race. She competed three years ago but was sick and had to drop out at the 75-mile mark and head for the emergency room. She hopes to finish this year.
She said her dogs are her pets, and most of them are indoors with her for at least part of the day. Her daughter, Caroline, 17, is also competing with her dogs this year in the two-day, 52-mile Warm Lake Stage Race. She said her 14-year-old son, Raleigh, has been competing with three dogs for the past four years, but he is not yet ready to compete in the upcoming races. She said that usually, her husband is her dogs’ handler, but he is in the military and has just relocated to Montana, so, her father will step in.
When asked how mushers keep balls of snow from building up in their dogs pads, Nevills said Siberian Huskies have shorter hair in the pads of their feet and that helps, but she also said all mushers carry cotton booties for their dogs, which are needed in certain icy conditions to prevent cuts.
She said the lead dogs (or dog) are not usually the fastest, but rather the smartest-the ones who know the most commands.
The Ceremonial Start takes place on February 2nd at the McCall Activity Barn, located at 411 Deinhard Lane, from 10:00 a.m. until noon. It is recommended that those who wish to attend take the shuttle from Ridley’s Parking lot.
This year, one child from each of the local libraries will be chosen to ride in the three-mile race with the musher. Each library has different criteria for how they select the winner; most are based on reading programs and raffles. Next year they plan to include the Council Library in this program.
The 100-mile race starts at 11:00 a.m. on February 3rd and the 200-mile race starts the same day at 3:00 p.m. The ten mushers in the 100-mile race are expected to finish on February 4th, sometime between 6:00 a.m. and 10:00 a.m. Mushers competing in the 200-mile race are expected to finish on February 5th, sometime after 1:00 a.m..
For spectators who wish to watch the dog sleds cross the finish line, parking is available, although spectators are asked to leave their own dogs at home.
The two-day 56-mile Warm Lake Stage Race starts at 11:00 a.m. January 29th at North Shore Lodge and Resort. The second leg starts January 30th at 10:00 a.m. and finishes at the same location in the early afternoon. Eleven mushers and their dogs will run this race.
There is also a raffle at a cost of $100 per ticket. The winner and one guest will receive a five-day guided package to the Iditarod, worth $20,000. Only 300 tickets will be sold.
There are many other activities involved, including a chance to meet the mushers. And for teachers, next summer there will be a one credit continuing education class on the science of dog sledding held in McCall. For a complete list of events visit idahosleddogchallenge.com.
