Jackson, Wyo. » The International Pedigree Stage Stop Sled Dog Race -- IOPSSDR -- is scheduled Jan. 29 through Feb. 6.

A full roster of 20 teams will leave Jackson on Jan. 29 for the 15th annual race and is part of the Jackson Hole Winter Carnival that includes fireworks, torchlight parade, music and food booths. From there, the race heads on to stages in Lander, Pinedale, Cora, Big Piney/Marbleton, Alpine, Kemmerer/Diamondville and Uinta County followed by the finish on Feb. 6 in Park City.

The roster for the popular race has been full since June. Some visitors follow the race from start to finish. Many of the small town stages are known for family-friendly and "meet-the-musher" events from dog parades, kids' dog sled races and ice sculpture contests to banquets, carnivals and pie socials.

The race was founded in 1996 by Frank Teasley to make sled dog racing more accessible to the public. Information on the event is available at www.wyomingstagestop.org.