Indian Summer Race am Schacht | Oberharz 2024
In October 2024, it's that time again: the big Indian Summer Race at the shaft is entering its 5th round in Clausthal-Zellerfeld. Be there when the huskies race through the autumnal colours of the Harz Mountains on the grounds of the "Ottiliae Shaft" in Clausthal-Zellerfeld and watch the spectacle from the roadside. For decades, the mountain and university town of Clausthal-Zellerfeld, one of the highest places in the Oberharz, has been a well-known and popular venue for sled dog races. In addition to the winter race, the Indian Summer Race - also known as the Sled Dog Carriage Race - marks the start of the racing season for all competitors.
At the Indian Summer Race at the shaft, GLC Glücksburg Consulting AG, together with SRSD e.V., presents another exciting competition with a wide variety of companions, international mushers and a large open-air fairground with many different stands, including an adventure area. The musher evening with baking bread on a stick and a proper musher party including live music on Saturday also invites you to discover the Ottiliae shaft in Clausthal-Zellerfeld.
From 18:30 on Saturday, you can explore the sled dog race track on a torchlight hike in the moonlight.
Indian Summer Race Oberharz kicks off the winter sled dog racing season
Traditionally, autumn is the start of the race season preparation for the winter sled dog races. The Indian Summer Race is therefore an ideal prelude for all competitors. Clausthal-Zellerfeld in the Oberharz will once again become a Mecca for beautiful huskies and malamutes. Numerous sled dog teams of the Siberian Husky, Samoyed and Alaskan Malamute breeds from all over Northern Europe will be taking part. It is mainly cyclists and scooter riders who take part in the sled dog chariot race with their single or double teams, as they are unable to take part in the annual sled dog adventure in Clausthal-Zellerfeld in February. But there will also be teams of four and even teams of eight. Clausthal-Zellerfeld is once again exclusively for races with purebred sled dogs.
Venue "Ottiliae-Schacht" and adventure museum railway
At the beginning of the last century, the facilities at the "Ottiliae Shaft" and their processing were among the most modern in Europe. The shaft served as a hoisting shaft for the ore delivered underground on barges from the Clausthal-Zellerfeld mines. Today, the oldest preserved steel headframe in Germany and the functioning hoisting machine are unique testimonies to industrial history.
Following the decision to set up the deepest water section as the collecting and main conveyor section, the facilities of the "Ottiliae Shaft" were extensively expanded and modernised between 1900 and 1905. A new ore processing plant was built, the shaft was deepened to its final depth of 594 metres and converted to electric Koepe hoisting.
From 1984, the route of the day conveyor railway was renovated and has been in operation as a museum route for tourist adventure rides since 1994. As part of our "Indian Summer Race at the Shaft" event, it is possible to visit the above-mentioned shaft as well as travel to the event site on the museum railway. The attractions are included in the admission price.
