Caledonia Classic Dogsled Races 2013

A Fort St. James Tradition

by Shara Slorstad, written for the March 2013 edition of the Fort St. James Humane Society Newsletter

Every year the sound of barking and shouting can be heard echoing across the frozen lake at Cotton Wood Park for a solid weekend. 

For 17 years this tradition has held and grown more popular each year. The Caledonia Classic Dogsled Races is the only dogsled race event in Canada to combine sprint, mid-distance and  long-distance races into one exciting weekend. Mushers from all over North America come to compete in the
Caledonia Classic, but many of them live right here! Fort St. James is the home to the most dog mushers per capita in BC, according to the Caledonia Classic Dogsled Race website.

The organization is all volunteer based and runs on donations, sponsors and the hard work and dedication of many mushers and volunteers in Fort St. James. The races are usually held mid to end February and are often during the  coldest weather! We were quite fortunate to have blue skies with some clouds and lots of sunshine and warm weather for this year’s races.

The Caledonia Classic maintains a website and blog where they post results and updates as well as lots of great photos of previous races. “A close race between Dave and Cory in the beginning. A nice end. Dave crossed at 25 min, Cory at 28 min, Leah at 31 min and Mel at 33 min.” can be read on their latest blog post. However, if you want the full experience and quick updates there’s nothing quite like experiencing the races first hand!

They start with the long 150-mile stage race that takes place over the whole weekend with plenty of updates along the way. The purse for this years stage race was $14,000. 

During the second day (usually held on a Saturday) you can view the more exciting sprint races. These races start with several teams lined up, a furry of excited dogs ready to run! As the signal is given they take off for a quick trip about Stuart Lake and return one by one with excited, thirsty dogs who are still willing to run run run!

Each sprint race consists of a specific amount of dogs on each team. These are 4 dog teams, 6 dog teams and 10 dog teams.

The ages of mushers vary of all ages and anyone interested in the sport is encouraged to get involved.

Dogs of all breeds, sizes and shapes are seen pulling sleds. So what makes a good sled dog? Speed, temperament, agility, intelligence and  condition are all important aspects of a great sled dog. 

Often the dogs appear to be mutts but the breeding of a great sled dog takes a lot of time, knowledge and experience! Often times mushers will breed a bit of greyhound for speed, northern breeds for their hardy build and ability to withstand –40 weather and harsh terrains, or border collie for intelligence and work ethic.

Where the dog runs amongst the team is also important. Larger dogs who’s mentality is “go go go!” are often placed closer to the sled. These are known as “wheel dogs” and their job is to pull. More intelligent, responsive and independent dogs are often placed near the lead to help steer the sled and keep the team on task.

When a sled dog retires from pulling sled it often needs a new home! It’s worth talking to mushers and asking questions about dogs they may have available for sale. Retired sled dogs can make excellent companions!

Whether you are interested in the dogs and the sport and would like to get more involved, or are more interested in just being a spectator and taking in the excitement of the activities of the weekend, the Caledonia Classic is a great winter activity for the whole family to check out and enjoy!

For more information about the Caledonia Classic visit

http://caledoniaclassic.fsjames.com/