Yoon S. Byun/The Boston Globe/Getty Images
A canine sled crew on the Can-Am Crown races in Fort Kent, Maine, in 2009. The 2024 occasion was canceled as a consequence of lack of snow.
CNN
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The longest sled canine race within the japanese United States is canceled this 12 months as a consequence of insufficient snow coverage, which organizers say may make path situations harmful for contributors.
The annual Can-Am Crown International Sled Dog Races, which have been slated to begin March 2, are held in Fort Kent, Maine, greater than 300 miles north of Portland close to the US-Canadian border. For 250 miles, the race course runs deep into the huge Allagash Wilderness with a number of viewing factors for the 1000’s of spectators the occasion attracts.
But the Fort Kent space has had roughly 4 toes of snow since October 2023 — round 2 toes under common via February, in line with the National Weather Service. Organizers mentioned a heavy rainstorm is within the forecast that, coupled with a interval of unseasonably heat climate, may quickly deteriorate the paths even additional.
Can-Am President Dennis Cyr mentioned in a statement the choice to cancel the winter sport custom this 12 months was made “with heavy hearts but necessary caution.”
“The health and safety of our participants, both the dedicated mushers and their incredible dogs, are our top priorities,” Cyr mentioned. “The unique challenges presented by the lack of snow have led us to conclude that moving forward with this year’s race could compromise the well-being of all involved.”
Robert F. Bukaty/AP
A sled canine crew crosses Portage Lake in Portage, Maine, throughout the Can Am Crown 250 in 2001.
It’s not the primary time the occasion has been known as off or altered. Since the race first began in 1992, organizers have needed to occasionally reroute as a consequence of treacherous climate. In 1994, thinning ice ended the race early, whereas a extreme chilly snap in 2017 compelled organizers to make last-minute modifications to the standard route, together with limiting various downhill slopes. The 2021 races have been additionally canceled throughout the Covid-19 pandemic.
Scientists say the local weather disaster will considerably impact snow conditions throughout the Northeast. Decreasing snowfall and a shorter snow season are anticipated as a consequence of hotter temperatures that may trigger extra precipitation to fall as rain as an alternative of snow.
Less snowpack carries a outstanding toll for locations like Fort Kent that depend on winter leisure actions, together with snowboarding and snowboarding, as key financial drivers. Many ski resorts within the Northern Hemisphere have already been going through such challenges.
The Can-Am organizers stay hopeful that the much-anticipated occasion shall be again in 2025.
“This race is not just an event; it’s a tradition that celebrates the remarkable bond between mushers and their sled dogs, as well as the rugged beauty of Maine’s winter landscape,” Can-Am Vice President Sarah Brooks mentioned in a press release. “However, we must put the safety of our participants first.”
