PINEDALE, Wyo. — On Tuesday, Feb. 4, the Pedigree Stage Stop Sled Dog Race announced a major winter storm forced the cancellation of Sunday’s stage due to heavy snowfall and sustained winds exceeding 30 mph.
According to a press release, competitors reconvened at the Middle Piney Trailhead yesterday, Feb. 3.
“A two-hour delay was implemented to allow heavy equipment to clear the road to the remote trailhead and enable Wyoming State Trails grooming crews to reset the 31-mile out-and-back course,” the press release reads.
The race has also adopted its reverse starting order format for Stage Two, following the completion of Stage One in the Upper Green River basin east of Pinedale. In this format, the last-place finisher from the previous stage starts first, while the first-place finisher starts last.
“This approach compresses the overall field as faster teams catch up and pass slower teams, reducing the total time needed for all competitors to complete the course,” the press release reads.
According to the release, the latest Top 5 are:
- Five-time champion Anny Malo
- Stage Stop rookie Stéphane Roy from New Brunswick, Canada
- Bruce Magnusson of Michigan
- Alix Crittenden from Bondurant, Wyoming
- Cathy Rivest from Quebec, Canada
Anny Malo remains in first place overall, and will once again wear the yellow bib in Stage 3.
Race organizers announced that the stage canceled yesterday will be made up by running the Lander-based trail out of Sinks Canyon, located in the eastern end of the Wind River Mountain Range, a second time on Thursday, Feb. 6. The press release confirms that this additional stage, originally designated as a travel day from Kemmerer, will maintain the overall race mileage at 215 miles and allow competitors to vie for the $4,167 in day money awarded to the top 10 finishers for each stage.
To see more photos from the starting line in Jackson Hole, click here.
