The third annual Flathead Sled Dog Days gets under way this weekend, with more mushers than ever hitting the trail on the Stillwater State Forest near Olney.

“Our field is up to 28 mushers now and that’s more than other years, so that’s exciting,” said Brooke Bohannon, one of the event’s organizers.

Competitors are bringing dog teams from at least five different western states and Canada for the races that start at 9:30 a.m. on Saturday and Sunday.

“It’s a very large spread of mushers in the field this year, in terms of experience,” Bohannon said. Some mushers are competing in the event for the first time, while veteran 12-dog mushers regard the relatively short race as a fun training event.

While the Race to the Sky puts mushers on a 200-mile trail in the Seeley Lake area next month, Flathead Sled Dog Days runs 12-dog teams for a total of 72 miles over two days.

There is an eight-dog class that runs 18 miles each day and a four-dog class that runs four miles each day.

The race starts at the Olney trailhead just off mile marker 145.5 on U.S. 93, with the 14 12-dog teams going first in two-minute intervals followed by the smaller dog teams.

It is a timed race, with competitors drawing for their starting orders during Friday’s veterinarian check-in at the Grouse Mountain Lodge in Whitefish.

“The start is definitely, hands-down the most exciting and energetic part of the race,” Bohannon said. “Last year, there was a good crowd at the start.”

Spectators are urged to bring cross-country skis or snowshoes to explore the area’s trails once the race is under way. The smaller dog teams will return to the starting area within about an hour, and all of the teams should be back at the finish before 1:30 p.m.

It is an out-and-back race, with the 12-dog teams going farther, climbing into the Whitefish Range. This week’s new snow and cold are expected to improve trail conditions, Bohannon said.

Among this year’s field of competitors are local favorites Butch and Sara Parr of Whitefish, who each will run dog teams. Bohannon noted that there are six musher couples competing in this year’s races.

“Mushing definitely becomes a family sport because it is so time-consuming,” she said.

This year’s race is dedicated to Dr. Hugh Rogers, who died in a plane crash on Hungry Horse Reservoir last year. Rogers, a Whitefish veterinarian, was instrumental in developing the race’s veterinary program.

Veterinarians working this year’s race are Sandy Anderson of Lakeside, Al Barton of Whitefish and Jack Konitz of Big Arm.

For more information on the race online, go to: www.flatheadsleddogdays.com

Reporter Jim Mann may be reached at 758-4407 or by e-mail at jmann@dailyinterlake.com