This is to notify users of the Alaska Dog Mushers (ADMA) Jeff Studdert Trail System that ADMA will be conducting sled dog races Sunday December 29, January 5, and perhaps January 12 and 19 depending on temperatures. Championship Races, including the 79th running of the Open North American Championship, will also be held on February 15 and 16 and March 7,8,9, and 14,15, and 16. Other races may be conducted on the trail system by other groups such as the Fairbanks Skijoring and Pulk Association and the Fairbanks Cycle Club.
ADMA races generally are held between 10 AM and 4 PM, but certain trail turns or access points may be blocked before or after that when the ADMA grooms and prepares the trail. The specific trails that will be utilized in the races can be found on the ADMA website (https://alaskadogmushers.com/) or Facebook page. A map of the Jeff Studdert Race Trail can be found HERE. (The trails are also on Trail Forks HERE.)
The trail system is bounded by Farmers Loop Rd, College Rd, and the Steese Highway, with much of it within Creamers Refuge. The trail system is shown on the free version of the Gaia Application so users should be able to locate their position on the trail system with a smart phone.
All users should be aware that ADMA is actively maintaining and grooming the trails for the winter season, and dog teams are now training on the trails. Dog teams can be encountered at any time of day. The teams are silent and fast (speeds of 20mph are not uncommon). The musher may not see another user until the dogs are already passing. It is suggested that other users try to stay toward the side of the trail to facilitate safe passes. It is recommended that trail users not use headphones so that they can hear a musher, who may call “trail” notifying a slower user of an impending pass. ADMA suggests not having loose dogs on the trail as they can be injured or cause injury to dogs in a fast moving sled dog team.
The trail is maintained by the Alaska Dog Mushers Association and by generous donors and volunteers. A large time and monetary effort goes into the trail each year. Contributions toward maintenance of the trail can be made at information kiosks and on the ADMA website.
Jeff Conn, ADMA Race Marshal
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