Listen to Jeff King talk about sled dog racing and the Chemult Sled Dog Races.  From Southern Oregon University's "Jefferson Exchange".  2/13/2011

2011 marks the 50^th anniversary of sled dog racing in Oregon.   Races have been held all across our diverse state, from Lake of the Woods to Mt Hood, Joseph to Newport and an array of locations in between. At the center of it all, the quiet town of Chemult has been hosting a sled dog race every winter since 1994. The entire community looks forward to the annual event with local business owners, Forest Service employees and area residents all working together to bring a world class event to north Klamath County.

Over the years, mushers from as far away as Arizona, Michigan and British Columbia have made the trek to compete at one of Oregon’s best kept secrets: the trail system on the Fremont National Forest beginning at the Walt Haring Sno-Park.   The competition is non-discriminatory; men and women both contend for a top finish in every class, teenagers race against 60 year olds. 

The real athletes are the dogs, of course. While a few teams remain true to the traditional Malamutes or Siberian Huskies, the majority of teams are comprised of a husky/hound mix, bred for speed, endurance and a pleasant temperament. These dogs are ready to go! Their enthusiasm is infectious and undeniable; they are doing what they love to do.