Watching the Atta Boy 300 sled dog race

The mushers are coming. photo provided Two stages of the Atta Boy 300 World Sled Dog Championship Race will be held in the Sisters area on January 10-11 -- at Hoodoo Mountain Resort on January 10 and at Upper Three Creek Sno-Park on January 11.

The Atta Boy 300 has drawn such notables as Doug Swingley, four-time winner of the Iditarod.

Race coordinator Cheryl Rhea expects between 60 and 70 mushers from all over the world. Five, from South Africa, Scotland, Sweden, New Zealand, and Poland, will be in the United States for the first time.

Viewing points for the Hoodoo stage are the Hoodoo ski area itself (start 9:30 to 11 a.m., finish 3 to 4 p.m.), Highway 242 parking area (ETA noon to 2 p.m.), junctions #504 or 505 on Trail 12 from Corbett Sno-Park (ETA 1:30 to 2:30 p.m.), and Ray Benson Sno-Park (ETA 2 to 3 p.m.).

The other Sisters area stage race begins and ends at Upper Three Creek Sno-Park (Start 9:30 to 11 a.m .; finish 3:30 to 4:30 p.m.).

Other viewing areas include Road 16/1628 Jct. (ETAs 9:35 to 11:45 a.m .; 12:45 to 1:30 p.m., 3:30 to 4 p.m.), Road 370/4601 Jct. (ETAs 11:15 to 12:30 p.m .; 2:15 to 2:30 p.m.) and "The Hill," one mile north of Triangle Hill (ETAs noon to 1 p.m .; 2:30 to 3:15 p.m.).

Detailed course descriptions and maps for all stages are available at http://www.attaboy300.com/coursmps/coursmps.htm.