Eagle Cap Extreme Sled Dog Race

09/16/2025

We received an anonymous donation of $400.00 to help update our trail signs! Thank you so much to the person that donated. We could not run this race without the generosity of our sponsors and private donors!

Photo of Pre-Race Vet Checks in Enterprise

09/07/2025

🌲 Donation Request! 🌲Hi supporters and fans! We're looking for a donation of one cord of wood for the Eagle Cap Extreme Sled Dog Race to be used at our remote check point at Ollokot Campground during the 2026 race in January. We're a 501(c)(3) nonprofit and can provide a donation letter. We’ll pick it up, store it, and transport it to the event. If you can help, please PM us or email me at [email protected]. Thanks you!

09/07/2025

February 12th - February 16th 2026

09/03/2025

The 2025 Mushing Webinar coming this October...
More details soon!

08/22/2025

Join us tomorrow! Then buzz out to the Wallowa Lake Lodge for some fine music.

✨ECX VOLUNTEER FAIR✨
➡️Saturday, August 23, 2025
➡️Noon - 4:00 pm
➡️Josephy Center in Joseph

See you there!

Don’t miss Wallowa County favorite Janis Carper, performing at the Lodge this Saturday evening!

This event, part of our Music on the Deck series, is free of charge & family friendly. Drinks, meals and small bites available at our Redd Bar and Camas Dining Rooms!

08/22/2025

Mushing Clinic coming up October 25 &26 in Truckee, California!

ANNUAL MUSHING CLINICThis weekend event is an opportunity to have hands-on mushing training from some of California's top dog drivers & trainers! You will receive one-on-one personalized training in teaching your dog the basics of pulling in harness, how to safely experiment with different types of....

08/21/2025

JACKSON — The Pedigree Stage Stop Sled Dog Race, a renowned event in the sled dog racing community, is excited to unveil its 2026 race schedule and prize purse.

08/18/2025

****** RACE REGISTRATION OPENS IN 14 DAYS ******

So excited to be thinking of snow, dogs, and racing!

September 1 2025 is THE date for your diaries to register for our 2026 Canadian Challenge.

Here's what you need to know......

Early Bird Entry fees:
(Sept 01 to Nov 30 2025, all fees increase by $50 from Dec 01)

10-dog 200-mile race - $400
8-dog 100-mile race - $250
6-dog 70-mile race - $150

Important dates:

Feb 16: Vet checks in Air Ronge

Feb 17: 10-dog race mass start from La Ronge, Saskatchewan
Final 8 and 6-dog vet checks in Weyakwin

Feb 18: 8-dog race start from Weyakwin, Saskatchewan (50-mile
trail)
6-dog race start from Weyakwin (35-mile trail)

Feb 19: 8-dog race mass restart from La Ronge (50-mile trail)
6-dog race mass restart from La Ronge (35-mile trail)
All races finish in La Ronge.

Feb 20: Awards breakfast, La Ronge.

Race purse:

A guaranteed minimum $12,000

Plus some brilliant bonus awards for each race to be announced.

We will only have 22 racing spots across all 3 races, so make sure you're in!

Registration will be from our website and it couldn’t be easier this year as we have new ways to pay. (We’ll post the link to the registration form when it’s live!) We are now able to accept credit cards, e-transfer, Apple and Google Pay and direct bank transfer too.

As you'll know, the area surrounding La Ronge and Weyakwin was devastated by wildfires earlier this summer. We're delighted to be able to celebrate the resilience and strength of the local communities who so kindly host the race and welcome us to travel across their land. We'd love to fill every racing spot for our 2026 Challenge and to welcome you to our warm community.

And so it begins....


Town of La Ronge

08/16/2025

Do you have an interest in volunteering but aren't sure what to expect?

Join us at our ✨VOLUNTEER FAIR!✨
➡️Saturday, August 23, 2025
➡️Noon - 4:00 pm
➡️Josephy Center in Joseph

See you there!

Don't forget, you can register to volunteer on the Eagle Cap Extreme Sled Dog Race website and one of our Volunteer Coordinators will reach out!
https://www.eaglecapextreme.com/volunteers

08/08/2025

📢 ROUNDING UP VOLUNTEERS FOR ECX 2026!

❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️

In the hottest part of the summer, we are dreaming of snow! Are you? Take it to the next level and volunteer for the ECX 2026!
(We will repost this at later dates for those not ready to plan for January 2026.)

🗓️ 2026 EAGLE CAP EXTREME SLED DOG RACE DATES:
Pre-Race Vet Checks: Wednesday, January 21, 2026
Race Start: Thursday, January 22, 2026
Awards Reception: Saturday, January 24, 2026

✍️ REGISTER TO VOLUNTEER for the 2026 Eagle Cap Extreme Sled Dog Race here: https://www.eaglecapextreme.com/volunteers

❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️

Volunteer positions vary greatly:
- Race Central (in Joseph): Communications, Merchandise
- Ferguson Ridge Ski Area ("Fergie"): Race Start, Communications, Race Timer, Vet Team
- Salt Creek Summit (along trail): Communications - *ham radio experience welcome!*
- Ollokot Checkpoint: Checkpoint Crew, Cook, Medic, Vet Team
- Trail Crew: by snowmobile

*NOTE: Registering to volunteer does not automatically make you a volunteer. Once registered, an ECX race volunteer coordinator will reach out to help determine the best position for you!

If either of the following volunteer positions interest you, please send us a message via the bottom of our web site's home page. Your inquiry will be directed to the volunteer coordinator for each position and an interview will follow.
- Equipment Manager
- Co-Coordinator Ollokot Checkpoint
- Pre-Race Vet Check Coordinator

❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️

Volunteer with us When you volunteer at the Eagle Cap Extreme Sled Dog Race you obtain an up close and personal opportunity to play a supporting role in this incredible partnership between dogs and mushers. While working before the race and as the teams travel the race course, you will hear fascinat...

07/30/2025

Here is some great information about bo**ies and foot care from Matt & Elke Hall

- Dr. Kimberly McCreedy, Head Veterinarian

Booties! When? Why? And so many!?😮

There are dozens of scenarios they can, could, or should be used. And times NOT to. Here are a few examples.

Pre snowfall, September-mid October. Depending on terrain most of our runs require back feet bo**ies over 15-20 miles. (If running these distances regularly) This is to pretect the “digital pads” just below their toe nails. Unfortunately the life expectancy of bo**ies on gravel, rocks, or frozen tundra without snow is about 15-20 miles.

Warm temps 15 to 25 degrees above zero. Yes thats warm! The snow will start to stick to their fur and you’ll get “ice balls” forming between their pads as the snow sticks to the fur. Similar to rolling a snowball down hill, it will continue to grow if the snow is at all sticky. You can prevent this without the use of bo**ies if you stay up on keeping the hair trimmed flush with the pads or with a buzzer even all the way up between the pads of every foot. In these warm temperatures you may also see snowballs forming on the backside of their forearms. This is why you’ll see dogs wearing “leggings” often blue or red on their front legs.

Cold temperatures 25 below zero and colder. The colder it gets the snow becomes harder and more abrasive. Depending on the length of your run, you’ll need bo**ies to protect their pads from abrasion. More than 20 miles in these temps for our team calls for a full boot!

Generally anything over 35-40 miles. This is the mileage where temperatures and snow stops meaning as much vs the amount of times those feet come up and down onto any terrain. The main reason 90% of the time dogs always have on bo**ies distance racing. We are always running long.

Exceptions:
The type of dog, or the genetics of your dogs.
How warm is “warm”. You will often see mushers rotating just booting front feet then back feet the run after if it is above freezing and the dogs feet are in good health. This helps the dogs regulate their body temperature haing two feet at a time in the snow. Maybe planning a 20-30 minute water break mid run. In Iditarod I’ll often leave my camp sight late afternoon early evening when its above freezing without bo**ies even if I’m not camping for 60+ miles. But 30 miles in I’ll stop for 20+ minutes to put out water bowls for hydration, and give them proper time to cool down after a hot start to the run while I bo**ie and snack the whole team for the remainder of the run.

What’s in this photo? Approximately 2,000 used bo**ies we got back from the Iditarod this year. Put out to dry for many months and now it’s time to get the party started. Sorting each bo**ie first by size, then for holes, then into bundles of 4. We buy 4,000 new bo**ies each year. Each bo**ie gets used appropriately 2.5 times before it gets thrown away. (About 100 normal condition winter trail miles is the lifespan for smalls, 80 miles for mediums, and 60 miles for large, due to the weight of the dog) That’s 10,000 bo**ies a season to sort and bundle. Here is a few movies worth of our version of knitting to a Netflix special.

Before you ask! These are kipmik dog bo**ies. 330 cordura nonstrech velcro. https://www.kipmikproducts.com/

07/12/2025

📢 ROUNDING UP VOLUNTEERS FOR ECX 2026!

❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️

Although it is only mid-summer, we are ready to start gathering volunteers for the 2026 Eagle Cap Extreme Sled Dog Race! (We will repost this at later dates for those not quite ready to plan their January 2026.)

🗓️ 2026 EAGLE CAP EXTREME SLED DOG RACE DATES:
Pre-Race Vet Checks: Wednesday, January 21, 2026
Race Start: Thursday, January 22, 2026
Awards Reception: Saturday, January 24, 2026

✍️ REGISTER TO VOLUNTEER for the 2026 Eagle Cap Extreme Sled Dog Race here: https://www.eaglecapextreme.com/volunteers

❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️

Volunteer positions vary greatly:
- Race Central (in Joseph): Communications, Merchandise
- Ferguson Ridge Ski Area ("Fergie"): Race Start, Communications, Race Timer, Vet Team
- Salt Creek Summit (along trail): Communications - *ham radio experience welcome!*
- Ollokot Checkpoint: Checkpoint Crew, Cook, Medic, Vet Team
- Trail Crew: by snowmobile

*NOTE: Registering to volunteer does not automatically make you a volunteer. Once registered, an ECX race volunteer coordinator will reach out to help determine the best position for you!

If either of the following volunteer positions interest you, please send us a message via the bottom of our web site's home page. Your inquiry will be directed to the volunteer coordinator for each position and an interview will follow.
- Equipment Manager
- Co-Coordinator Ollokot Checkpoint
- Pre-Race Vet Check Coordinator

❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️

Volunteer with us When you volunteer at the Eagle Cap Extreme Sled Dog Race you obtain an up close and personal opportunity to play a supporting role in this incredible partnership between dogs and mushers. While working before the race and as the teams travel the race course, you will hear fascinat...