CALUMET - Everything is looking just fine for the weekend's activities in Calumet and Keweenaw County, despite above-average temperatures that have melted much of the Copper Country's snow.
The Great Bear Chase, a cross-country ski race in Calumet, and the inaugural Copper Dog 150, a sled-dog race that starts in Calumet before making stops in Gay and Copper Harbor, are both set to go.
"For us the snow conditions are fine," Great Bear Chase Race Director Arnie Kinnunen said. "We had a groomer measure the snow depths at a couple locations that typically have low snow and it was 15 to 18 inches deep.
"Even with a light-cold rain in the forecast it won't be an issue."
The Copper Dog is a much longer race, with trails running all over the Keweenaw, but race director Brian Tiura said things are looking good.
"The trails are in great shape, I ran almost the entire thing yesterday on a snowmobile," Tiura said. "We have a good 2-foot base in most areas."
Tiura has been hands on with the trail checking because the needs for sled dogs aren't the same as the needs for snowmobiles or skiing.
"We're riding it every day and getting a lot of reports," he said. "But not everyone understands what it takes for the dogs, so I've been very hands on because I know what it takes."
Tiura said a couple portions of the trail have been reworked, and it's mostly in high-traffic areas where blacktop is showing.
"We did reroute between Gay and Lac La Belle," Tiura said. "Instead of going to Lac La Belle, we're going to return to Phoenix on the trail we came in on. We also worked with American Forest Management on a new trail to go around Mount Bohemia."
The new trail will maintain a lot of the interesting terrain in the area, and won't add any real length to the race.
The final spot of interest is near Copper Harbor.
"Leaving Copper Harbor, on top of Brockway, there are a few spots that it's a little wet on the descent due to runoff, but overall it's in great shape," Tiura said
Tiura said the warm temperatures will be a cause for concern, but experienced mushers won't have any trouble handling it.
"Mushers will have to be a little more conservative, but we're running overnight, when it's coldest," he said. "We will run Sunday morning, but it's pretty much a straight shot downhill from Copper Harbor to Calumet, so it will be the easiest run. It will just come down to managing the pace with the conditions."
Kinnunen said the skiers will have similar concerns, and he said this year's race could have a little bit different look.
"The big question is going to be what clothing are skiers going to wear," Kinnunen said. "This could be a year where some skiers will be in shorts and a T-shirt, but we will have snow."
Michael H. Babcock can be reached at mbabcock@mininggazette.com.