Eagle Lake 100- and 30-miler dogsled race gallery

EAGLE LAKE - On Saturday, January 14, mushers, spectators and, of course, hundreds of dogs, gathered in the small northern Maine town of Eagle Lake to see the launch of the Irving Woodlands Eagle Lake 100 and Mad Bomber 30 dogsled races.

CLEARING THE PIPES BEFORE THE PERFORMANCE

It was a clear morning of single-digit temperatures.  The fans were freezing and the dogs were howling in excitement for the races to begin.

Folks can enjoy this gallery of images from the start of the races, which Fiddlehead Focus photojournalist Julie Daigle shot.

YAAAAAAAAAAAAWN...I'M NOT BORED

IF I BECOME ANY MORE EXCITED, I MIGHT LITERALLY BURST INTO FLAMES.

I WILL MAKE YOU PROUD OF ME. I PROMISE.

WHEN IS OUR TURN?

A MUSHER USES HIS JEDI POWERS TO PUT A DOG IN THE PROPER POSITION IN FRONT OF THE SLED

YOU THINK A SNOWMOBILE IS FAST?  JUST WATCH US.

NOTHIN' BUT A HOUND DOG?  THINK AGAIN.

YES-YES, WE LOVE YOU.  CAN WE GO NOW?

A ZEN MASTER

CAUTION, DO NOT GET IN FRONT OF THIS DOG

MUTT AND JEFF

LEADING THE WAY TO THE START

NO WORRIES.  OUR TURN WILL COME SOON.

PRE-RACE DANCE

I LOVE THIS.  THANK YOU-THANK YOU-THANK YOU.

ON OUR WAY

THE TIME OF OUR LIVES

LOOK, BOB, THERES A LADY WITH A CAMERA.  SHEESH, JEFFREY, HOW MANY TIMES DO I HAVE TO TELL YOU, JUST RUN.

NOT THE TIME TO CHECK YOUR HEART RATE

CATCHING MY STRIDE