Pedigree Sled Dog Race has stage stop in Driggs

Who let the dogs out? The country’s second-largest sled dog race did. The Pedigree Stage Stop Sled Dog Race made a stop in Driggs on Saturday.

The Wyoming-stage of the sled dog race didn’t stick to the state it’s named after, making an overnight stop in Driggs — the only stop in Idaho. The race was a 31.5 mile course at an elevation of 6,200 feet. There were 25 mushers competing this year: 14 in the main 10-dog race and 11 competed in the eight-dog race.

Lina Streeper, from Canada, has been racing for 15 years. This is her first year running the course in Driggs.

“I have never run this stage before in Driggs. I ran the race seven years ago, but there was no Driggs stage then. So, yeah, I hear it’s beautiful out there so I can’t wait to go out there and see it,” said Streeper, musher No. 9.

The city of Driggs and the Teton Valley Community Animal Shelter hosted the hundreds of dogs and dozens of spectators. The event attracted many young viewers who loved seeing the dogs race.

“Probably the dogs, ’cause my favorite animals are dogs. Yeah!” a young spectator said. “We’re here to see the dogs sled,” an even younger viewer said.

Streeper ended up winning this leg of the race.

Stops in the Wyoming-stage:

Jackson – 2 miles Diggs, Idaho – 31.5 miles Alpine – 56 miles Pinedale – 43 miles Lander – 42 miles Big Piney/Marbleton – 43 miles Kemmerer – 43 miles Uinta County – 44 miles