After long wait, bridge dedicated to Beckstrom

(Story Edited by Jean Pocha)

LINCOLN -- Seventy-five years of sled dogs and sled dog racing in Montana was celebrated Oct. 8 with the dedication of a permanent

bridge on the Race to the Sky route over Beaver Creek outside of Lincoln. The bridge will provide multi-use access to

trails connecting Lincoln and Seeley Lake. The dedication honored the history of The Race to the Sky, co-founder Jack Beckstrom and Camp Rimini War Dog.

The Race to the Sky, originally known as the Governor's Cup, was developed in 1986 to commemorate the sled dogs and mushers from Camp Rimini War Dog in Rimini, Mt who served in World War Two, according to Racetothesky.org. In the early years the race was 500 miles and began at Rimini, west of Helena, Mt.

In 1943, 500 sled dogs and about 125 soldiers were brought to Camp Rimini War Dog Reception and Training Center outside Helena to train for a potential World War Two military action in Norway. The action never happened, the sled dogs were then used in wintertime rescue operations from Newfoundland to Alaska. They retrieved thousands of dollars' worth of equipment for the U.S. Government and were a legend in mushing history.

Over time the Race to the Sky became a 300 mile race, starting in Lincoln. Jack Beckstrom was one of the original founders of the Race to the Sky. His vision for sled dog racing in Montana made Race to the Sky one of the 300-mile qualifying races for the Iditarod and gave sled dog mushing a hold in Montana.

A British publication noted that without Beckstrom's dedication, sled-dog racing in Montana "might be a footnote rather than a major attraction in Big Sky Country."

The bridge was placed by the U.S. Forest Service, Lincoln District. The bridge and commemorative sign can be accessed on Beaver Creek Road outside of Lincoln.