Theyre here.

Hundreds of courageous sled dogs, led by their dedicated mushers, are congregating this week in frigid Wallowa County to disappear into the mountain range and race in the seventh annual Eagle Cap Extreme. Teams of 12 dogs mostly Siberian and Alaskan huskies will pull their mushers across 200 miles. The Extreme helps them qualify for the worlds biggest annual competitions in Alaska: a 1,150-mile trek called the Iditarod, and another 1,000-miler called Yukon Quest. The Eagle Cap Extreme also features a 100-mile course for teams of eight dogs.

Race Central in Joseph serves as headquarters. Starting Wednesday, Jan. 5 at 8 a.m., Joseph Community Center  opened its doors. The office provides details about mushers and the competition. Teams are tracked throughout the race, with regular updates and estimated times of arrival.

 Similar information will be available online, at www.eaglecapextreme.com.

While Race Central opened its doors,  fans  had  a terrific opportunity to meet the mushers and approach their dogs. They gathered Jan. 5 on city streets for vet checks in Joseph on Main Street at 9 a.m. and in Enterprise, behind the courthouse, around 1 p.m.

Later that night, mushers learned their starting positions in the the race. They will leave the starting chute in two-minute intervals. Their positions were determined by a drawing at the mushers meeting, which was open to the public. Everybody gathered back at Race Central around 6 p.m. for a potluck dinner. Fans were invited to bring a meal, and then sit with the mushers and their families. 

Ferguson Ridge start

Races start  today (Thursday), at Ferguson Ridge Ski Area. 

Parking is limited. A shuttle bus on Tucker Down Road will begin at 10:45 a.m. escorting spectators to the starting line. Everybody is encouraged to arrive early. The bus will stop about 15 minutes before the teams take off. 

At 1 p.m., they will begin leaving the chute one-by-one at intervals of two minutes.

Once teams take off from Fergi, spectators have few opportunities to watch the race. About an hour after starting the race, teams will pass by Salt Creek Summit. Another hour later, they will travel just below the creek. The area offers a good vantage point. It involves some hiking, about 200 to 300 yards. The terrain might call for skis and snowshoes. 

Unlike past courses, this years 200-mile run will not stop at Halfway. The expense of a base in hazardous areas, prone to an avalanche forced organizers to redraw the map. Instead, the course added a loop around Hells Canyon Overlook and Duck Lake.

However, teams will also go through Salt Creek Summit on their way back to the finish line at Fergi. Race Central will offer estimated arrivals at the creek, as well as estimated finish times. Spectators can drive directly to Fergi and park there for any finishes. 

Afterwards, Eagle Cap Extreme will host an awards ceremony Saturday, Jan. 8 at Race Central. In addition to dinner, mushers will share their experiences from the trail. Doors will open around 5:30 p.m. Tickets for dinner will be available for purchase at Race Central, the website or at the door. Seating will be limited, so advance tickets are recommended.

The roster of mushers registered as of Jan. 4 includes some familiar faces and newcomers. More are expected to sign up before the start of the race.

Musher roster

The 12-dog, 200-mile competition already features experienced drivers. Steve Madsen of Cougar, Wash., raced in last years Extreme. He finished in 47 hours and 56 minutes, good enough for fourth place. This year, he will go against another tough group. 

Karen Ramstead of Alberta, Canada, has run the Iditarod eight times. Richard Todd is traveling to Joseph from his home overseas in England. Darle Halsnes of Steamboat Springs, Colo., two years ago finished a mid-distance competition, the Race to the Sky, in second place.

Meanwhile, the 8-dog, 100-mile race will be close. Paul Dee Ogden of Idaho City ended last years Extreme in second place, at 17:54. He has won it twice, in 2009 and 2007. Rick Katucki of Eagle, Idaho, last year came in third place behind Ogden. 

Another returnee is Bino Fowler of Sunriver, who took first place in 2006. Tim Curley of Sandy is back after running the Extreme in 2008. Carol Pepsick of Estacada run last winter. 

This years competition also features the Mullen family from British Columbia. Steve started racing in 1982. His daughter, 18-year-old Brandi, will debut at the Extreme.

Eagle Cap retrospect

Eagle Cap races have blossomed over the past six years. The first run, 2005, included only a handful of teams. Wayne Kaaen of Walla Walla, Wash., won the 100-mile race. Perry Solmonson of Oak Harbor, Alaska, bested the 200-miler. 

The following year, Eagle Cap became a qualifier for the Iditarod. Fowler took advantage, with a victory over the 100 miles. In the longer course, Billy Snodgrass of Dubois, Wyo., won the first of his three titles over here. 

The 2007 champions included Ogden and Dean Fairburn of Garden Valley, Idaho. In 2008, Frank Caccavo of Deerpark, Wash., finished the 100 in first place while Jerry Joinson of British Columbia won the 200. The next year, Ogden and Snodgrass repeated as champions. 

Last year, Caccavo earned his second triumph in the 100, while Snodgrass did it again in the 200.