FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Winter has arrived in plenty of time for the Great Bear Chase!

It took a while, but winter finally arrived in Michigan’s Keweenaw peninsula. In just one week in early January, the amount of season snowfall doubled and the amount on the ground tripled. The Great Bear Chase course has a packed base of 12" to 16" with excellent trail conditions.

The UP Health System Portage Great Bear Chase will take place on Saturday, March 5th. The event is a community tradition that has been growing in participation year after year. Features participants come back for include our pristine trails, post-race pasty lunch and great hospitality. Over 300 awards are presented, many hand-crafted by local artists. The race will have a slight change in venue location this year. Bib pick-up and all post-race events will still be at the Calumet School on Mine St, but the middle school gym will be utilized instead of the high school due to district tournaments.

For those coming from out-of-town, now is the time to arrange lodging for the Great Bear Chase. There are many hotels and charming cabin rentals in our area. The best way to find out where there are openings is to check with the Keweenaw Convention and Visitor's Bureau: 800-338- 7982. Another option to find hosts with rooms in our area is to use AirBNB and VRBO.com. There are a growing number of such options in the Keweenaw.

If you have never taken part in this amazing community event, now is the time! If you’ve never missed a Great Bear Chase, we are looking forward to seeing you again!

With registration fees increasing on February 3, now is the perfect time to register for one of many races: 50km skiathlon (25km classic and 25km freestyle); 50km classic or freestyle; 25km classic or freestyle; 10km classic or freestyle