25 and March 1 for the first big race. All were local. There were two teams from Harriman’s Railroad Ranch, one team from the Utida Gun Club, one from the Trude Ranch, several from West Yellowstone, one team from Henry’s Lake, one team from Kilgore, one team from Spencer, two from Marysville, one team from the Mesa Hunting Lodge, and several teams from Ashton. It looked to be a grand affair. The heavy snows started falling in Island Park the beginning of March. Between 20 and 40 inches of fresh snow fell by the 3rd. It was deep and soft enough that only four teams were able to make their way through Island Park to the starting point at West Yellowstone. In spite of the elimination of 12 of the 16 entrants, things went well, Sunday morning, for the remaining four teams at the start of this 55-mile run down to Ashton. It was still snowing, however, and at 8 miles, assenting to Rea’s Pass on the Continental Divide, the teams encountered 20 more inches of new light powdery snow. They took turns at breaking trail. At 14 miles and entering Island Park near Big Springs, the winds began to blow and the snow storm became a blizzard. The mushing became even slower and more exhausting but the four teams pushed on through the flat Island Park country all day in the blizzard. With fading daylight, the teams realized that an exciting finish before a cheering crowd was not to be. They finally holed up for the night at a fish hatchery on Warm River at the 40 mile mark. Meanwhile, in Ashton, the spectators waiting for them in the milder climes of the valley were having a pretty good time. It was described as a “large” crowd by the papers but the numbers were tiny when compared to those of following years. They watched or participated in the many other events of the American Dog Derby such as ski races, ski jumping, and a 200-yard boy’s dog sled race. Each “team” in the Boy’s Race consisted of one boy, one sled, and one dog. There were 15 teams, and at one point, it was reported, all 15 dogs were in one big fight with all 15 boys trying to untangle them. It was all great fun and, though going home and not seeing the big race finish, most spectators