Upper Valley Celebrates Winter
It may be the “winter that never was” but the upper valley is still celebrating the season this weekend.
With so little snow this winter the 95th American Dog Derby has fewer mushers participating this year.
“Less snow is just harder on the dogs and the trails,? co-chairman of the derby John Scafe said. ?The biggest thing is the mushers haven’t been able to train their dogs like they should be able to.”
Placing first three years in a row in the 100-mile race is Jerry Bath.
Bath said the lack of snow makes the race more challenging.
“Training-wise it’s really dangerous for a hard-packed trail so you have to go easy,? Bath said. ?Its more snow than I have seen in the past. We have had to start way down there by the trees so it’s not bad. It’s a great trail, plenty of snow.”
The youngest musher in the race is 6-year-old Gary McEwen, a third-generation musher.
The American Dog Derby was Gary’s dad Philip’s first race in 1994.
“We went home with a sled on top of the minivan and were hooked,? McEwen said. ?We started picking up dogs and that’s how we started.”
McEwen says Gary is catching on.
“The little man, I kind of had to push him into it, he’s kind of shy about trying new things but it wasn’t too bad for him but he thought it was cool,? McEwen said. ?I think he did pretty well.?
Saturday Activities: 8:30 am Races Begin 11:00 am Kids Snoeshow Races and Skijoring Race 11:30 am Mutt Race 1:00 pm Weight Pull
Ashton is not the only town celebrating winter this weekend.
Rexburg is hosting their 10th annual SnowFest.
But snow isn’t really needed for this year’s new event, a figure-eight race track.
Although they pushed the SnowFest back in hopes of more snow, Rexburg Recreation Director Bob Yeatman said they still have enough to celebrate.
“We kind of adapted our event,? Yeatman said. ?We will use wiffle balls instead of snow balls. Instead of sleds they will use wheels.”
As for the popular Polar Bear Plunge, the pool is a nice 36 degrees for anyone brave enough to take a jump.
SnowFest 11:00 am Begins 12:00 pm Polar Bear Plunge Begins 1:00 pm Car Race
