As frigid temperatures gripped Northeast Oregon and much of the West last week, volunteer organizers continued to prepare for an event that thrives in the cold the 10th annual running of the Eagle Cap Extreme sled dog race.

The upcoming Wallowa County event scheduled for Wedneday, Jan. 22, through Saturday, Jan. 26 will see a route change for the 200-mile race that will benefit both sled dog teams and spectators. ECX will also welcome a new race marshal, Dona Miller, from Seely, Mont.

In the past, mushers in the 200-mile race drove their teams from the checkpoint at Ollokot to Twin Lakes and back twice. The Twin Lakes stretch is gone from this years route. In its place is the Carrol Creek loop, a 30-mile trail that runs north and east from the Salt Creek Summit portion of the route.

We are always looking for ways to improve the race, ECX president Randy Greenshields said. Feedback from mushers over the years indicated that the Twin Lakes stretch was particularly difficult, and that the dogs didnt like traveling the same section twice. The new race route also means less avalanche exposure for the teams, making logistics easier for the communications and search and rescue volunteers.

Race fans will also benefit from the course change. Salt Creek Summit is accessible by passenger vehicle (with chains or winter tires) on plowed roads during the race, and the new route brings the teams through Salt Creek Summit one more time than in past years.

We are excited about race fans having more opportunity to see the mushers and their teams, public relations coordinator Troy Nave said.

If the Carrol Creek loop does not receive enough snowfall by race week, the original 200-mile course will be used. The 100-mile and 31-mile courses will remain the same as in previous years.

The new race marshal, veteran ECX race judge Miller, began mushing 25 years ago, running Siberian huskies in competitive sprint and mid-distance races. Now retired from mushing, Miller still attends to her kennel of huskies and is involved in Siberian husky rescue.

Miller replaces longtime ECX race Marshal Terry Hinesly, who is unable to attend this years race.

New to the 2014 ECX is Millers husband, race Judge Gary Kyrouac. Gary also mushed for many years, running sprint races in Colorado and mid-distance races in Idaho. The race judge assists the marshal in all aspects of officiating mushing events, from the pre-race mushers meeting all the way to the awards ceremony.

Returning for his second year as lead veterinarian is Jim Leach, of Big Lake, Alaska. Dr. Leach spent many years mushing sprint races in Alaska, Canada, and Russia. He has been the chief veterinarian for 10 sled dog races, and has worked as a trail veterinarian on both the Iditarod and the Yukon Quest for many years. Dr. Leach ran his own veterinary practice in Alaska for 28 years, during which time he and his wife operated a veterinary flying practice that offered veterinary service to rural Alaska.

The 2014 Eagle Cap Extreme includes three races: a 12-dog, 200-mile race, which is an Iditarod and Yukon Quest qualifier; an eight-dog, 100-mile race; and a six-dog, 62-mile pot race, which consists of two 31-mile stages held on consecutive days.

The 2014 race will begin with veterinary checks in downtown Enterprise and Joseph on Wednesday, Jan. 22.

All three race starts take place at Ferguson Ridge ski hill beginning at 1 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 23. Pot race finishers return to Fergi later that afternoon, and again on Friday; 100-mile finishers arrive early- to mid-morning on Friday, Jan. 24; 200-mile finishers arrive early on Saturday, Jan. 25. The ECX finale is the mushers banquet on Saturday, Jan. 25, in Joseph.

All events except the mushers banquet are free to the public. For more information, visit www.eaglecapextreme.com, and also find the ECX on Facebook.

The ECX operates as a 501(c)(3) organization, and is put on with the help of 150 volunteers. Its supported by nearly 100 local businesses and individuals.