Only six of the 22 mushers who entered the CAN-AM Crown 250 in Fort Kent, Maine, finished; the rest pulled out of the race, including Ray musher Ryan Anderson
Musher Ryan Anderson of Ray challenged himself to go undefeated in the four dog sled races he entered in this year.
On March 5, he traveled to his final race in Fort Kent, Maine, to compete in the CAN-AM Crown 250 and achieve his goal.
However, he fell short.
Not only did unfortunate weather keep the 29-year-old musher from his final victory, it prompted him to pull out of the race all together.
“I came to the race unprepared for the weather,” Anderson explained.
After exhilarating wins in the White Oak Classic, John Beargrease, and U.P. 200 races, the CAN-AM Crown 250 put Anderson’s goal in clear sight, until it started to snow.
According to Anderson, 2 inches of fresh snow fell the night before the March 5 race was scheduled to begin, and by noon on race day, almost 4 inches had blanketed the trail making it soft and difficult for the dog team to run on.
“After the snow, it started to pour,” he continued. “It rained for around 30 hours. Then, it started to snow again. Around 20 inches of snow fell during the weekend.”
Soaked equipment, soaked dogs, and a soaked musher isn’t the best equation for competing in a dog sled race, thus forcing Anderson’s decision to eliminate himself from the race at the third checkpoint.
“It was a really, really hard decision,” he said.
Going into the third of five checkpoints, he held the lead by 25 minutes — making his choice even more difficult, he said.
“My poor planning and poor preparation is the result of the whole race,” Anderson admitted. “Doing what is best for my dogs is more important to me than winning.”
Anderson wasn’t alone facing the harsh weather and tough decisions. Only six of the 22 mushers who entered the race finished; the rest also pulled out of the race.
“Those who finished had to camp overnight and wait out the storm,” he noted.
Anderson said one of the biggest disappoints of the experience was that he should have been prepared to the point that he never should have had to choose whether or not to finish the race.
He said he packed just enough supplies, reckoning he would race in desirable weather. However, he said he should have known to hope for the best, but plan for the worst.
“I am most upset about the fact that I have an awesome dog team and I am the one who screwed up,” he explained. “I wasn’t going to make the dogs pay for my poor judgment. It would have been different if the team were veterans, but they were only 1-2 years old.”
As for next year, Anderson is unsure if he’ll tackle the CAN-AM Crown again, or look into other races.
“It is a huge financial commitment to go out there,” he said. “I guess I’ll wait and see.”
For now, Anderson will settle back into the off-season routine and look forward to litters of puppies in the spring.
He sums up, with a laugh, his almost-perfect season simply: “Better luck next year.”
Other Minnesota mushers who entered the CAN-AM Crown 250 were Jamie Nelson of Togo, Rita Wehseler of Tofte, Ward Wallin of Two Harbors, and Anderson’s toughest opponent this season, Nathan Schroeder of Chisholm.
Nelson, who placed third in the race, was the only Minnesotan to cross the finish line. Nelson was also one of the six mushers to complete the race.
She may be best known to Borderland residents as the musher, who with her dog team, has for years provided transportation to Santa in the annual ‘Twas the Lights Before Christmas Parade.
