The last sled dog race at Lake Chocorua

Rachael Colbath, of Gilford, drives her nine-dog team in the open class during Tamworth Outing Club’s sled-dog race held on Chocorua Lake in 2011. The race set for Feb. 24-25 may be the last because part of the trail goes through land which may be closed off to racers. (Courtesy/Jamie Gemmiti)

Feb. 24-25 event could be final one; land owner planning to close land where race trail goes

By ROGER AMSDEN, LACONIA DAILY SUN

TAMWORTH — A more than 90-year tradition of sled dog races starting on Lake Chocorua with its legendary mountain in the background may be coming to an end.

The New England Sled Dog Club and other recreational trail users have been informed by a private landowner that this is the last year that a key portion of the 11-mile trail will be open to the public.

Tom DiMaggio of Candia, president of the New Hampshire Mushers Association and a member of the New England Sled Dog Club, confirmed that those organizations have received word from the landowner about the pending closure of the trails.

He said that the NESDC board of directors will wait until after this year’s race, which is now scheduled for Feb. 24-25, before it will make any comment about the situation and the future of the race.

Brian Cutter, president of the Tamworth Outing Club, which since 1937 has partnered with the New England Sled Dog Club in hosting the race, referred any questions about the trail to the New Hampshire Trails Bureau, which is in charge of the statewide network of recreational trails, many of which pass through private property.

Chris Gamache, head of the New Hampshire Trails Bureau, confirmed that the private landowner, whom he did not identify, has informed all trail users that the trail will be closed in the near future.

He said it was his understanding that the same family has owned the property for years and recently ownership changed hands within the family, going to a daughter, who lives in Connecticut. He said that she decided to close the trail, as well as a snowmobile trail that also crosses the property and is part of an active snowmobile corridor.

One of the longest-running sprint races in the world, the race over the years has brought sled dog teams from New York, Canada and New England to Lake Chocorua to compete.

Sled dog racing has a long tradition in this community, which was home to Arthur T. Walden, who lived in Wonalancet, where he developed the iconic Chinook bred.

The New England Sled Dog Club was founded in November of 1924 at a meeting held at the Wonalancet Farm and Inn, which was owned by Walden and his wife, Kate.

Walden became the lead dog trainer and driver for Rear Admiral Richard E. Byrd’s 1928 expedition to Antarctica. During that expedition Chinook, Walden’s famous lead dog that was at that time the most famous dog in the world, went missing on his 12th birthday and was never found.

This year’s Tamworth race was originally scheduled for late January but was postponed due to poor trail conditions. A full schedule of races is scheduled starting at 9 a.m. both days.

The major event, known as the Pinetree Power Classic, starts both days at noon and features teams of up to 14 sled dogs running an 11-mile course on logging roads and snowmobile trails. Other events include one-, two-, three-, four-, and six-dog races, both amateur and professional, throughout each day.

Admission is free for spectators, who are welcome to watch the teams, talk to drivers, and see the action. The proceeds from the concession trailer with food, hot beverages, and race memorabilia benefit the Tamworth Outing Club.

A four-dog team finishes up their race during Tamworth Outing Club’s sled-dog race in 2011. (Courtesy/Jamie Gemmiti)