This year, the Can-Am Crown International Sled Dog Races, the longest sledge dog race in the eastern United States, risked cancellation owing to low snow coverage, raising concerns about possibly dangerous trail conditions.
This year, the Can-Am Crown International Sled Dog Races, the longest sledge dog race in the eastern United States, risked cancellation owing to inadequate snow coverage, raising concerns about potentially hazardous trail conditions.
The event, which begins on March 2 in Fort Kent, Maine, more than 300 miles north of Portland and near the US-Canadian border, usually draws thousands of fans for its 250-mile race track across the vast Allagash Wilderness.
Can-Am President Dennis Cyr announced the decision to cancel this year’s race, citing a lack of snow and an expected severe thunderstorm, as well as extremely warm weather that could further deteriorate trails.
Since October 2023, the Fort Kent area has had only 4 feet of snow about 2 feet below the average through February. The region is witnessing its warmest winter on record, with temperatures averaging 6 degrees Fahrenheit above normal.
Organisers emphasized the importance of health and safety for all participants, including mushers and their dogs. This is a reoccurring obstacle for the event, which has previously been rescheduled or cancelled owing to weather-related issues, including a pandemic-related cancellation in 2021.
Scientists stress the climate crisis’s possible impact on snow conditions in the Northeast, predicting lower snowfall and a shorter snow season due to rising temperatures, resulting in more precipitation falling as rain rather than snow.
The Can-Am organizers express hope that the event will return in 2025, recognizing its importance as a tradition highlighting the camaraderie between mushers and sled dogs in the harsh grandeur of Maine’s winter terrain.
