With an average annual snowfall of 241 inches, it should come as no surprise that residents living near Houghton, Mich. in the Upper Peninsula have chosen to embrace the cold weather and all of the exhilarating opportunities it brings – especially the annual CopperDog 150 and CopperDog 40. These annual sled dog races bring together mushers from around the world to Calumet, Mich. – just a few miles north of Houghton – for an event unlike anything else in the world.

The CopperDog races are usually held on the first weekend in March (Feb. 28 – March 2 in 2014) and feature a mixture of professional and recreational teams. The mushers, along with 440 sled dogs, will spend upwards of three days traveling across miles of pristine, rolling, back-country trails. All along the way, they are greeted by cheering volunteers who help with the dogs, provide housing, oversee trail crossings and ensure the safety of everyone involved. For spectators, the community holds “Meet the Dogs” events and even free sled dog rides to help educate everyone on the history and sport of sled dog racing.

After the races, visitors can continue enjoying Houghton’s winter wonderland by hitting the slopes at Mont Ripley. Besides its ideal locale – right between Hancock and Houghton cities on the campus of Michigan Tech – Mont Ripley is known for having the most snow in the Midwest. The ski area features 24 trails, three lifts and 112 acres of skiable terrain, and is perfectly designed for skiers of every level.

With two daily United Express flights from Houghton County Memorial Airport (CMX) to Chicago (ORD), operated by SkyWest, it’s easy to get to Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. To get started on an unforgettable, snow-filled adventure, go to www.United.com and book a flight today!