Another blizzard finds the dog teams


Although it was quite windy this morning, the dog teams decided to continue on the river valley where they camped last night. Meanwhile, 61-year-old musher, Zachariasie Elijassiapik, who had been having trouble breathing, was brought by snowmobile to the Raglan mine dock on the shore of Deception Bay, to see a nurse. She was able to prescribe him the right medication and soon after he started feeling better. But unfortunately, it wasn’t the case for the weather, which had gotten worse. By noon, the forecasted blizzard had found the dog teams on the trail. Zachariasie’s dog team, lead by his nephew Arthur, as well as Adamie Inukpuk’s team, Daniel Annanack’s, Johnny Arnatuq’s and Etua Lucassie’s, who had covered some 15 kilometres up the river valley hence decided to stop at Pangaliriaq, where a long lake meets the river, and where they could find shelter in a cabin. As for the dog teams that were farther ahead following the road leading to the mine dock —Tamusi Sivuaraapik’s, Peter Kiatainaq’s, Novalinga Novalinga’s, Junior May’s and Juusipi Qisiiq’s— they decided to push on. Facing the wind, they could barely see their lead dog in front of them, so they had to rely on their dogs’ sense of smell to find their way to the Deception Bay dock, where the Raglan mine offered them room and board for the night. As for Johnny “Akutaq” Angnatuk’s team, they were brought by snowmobile to Deception Bay, where they met up with the other teams there. Meanwhile, the dog teams of Willie Cain Jr., Willie Kulula Sr. and Harry Okpik, had decided to stop together and set their tents at about halfway between Pangaliriaq and the Deception Bay mine dock. Everybody is doing fine, especially those at the Deception Bay mine camp, who are enjoying a game of a pool. But since the blizzard is supposed to last until tomorrow, they might have to wait some more before they get going again. If the weather improves enough tomorrow afternoon, the dog teams at Pangaliriaq and on the trail will try to make it to the Deception Bay mine dock, to meet with the others, so that they can all leave from there when the weather finally enables them to get going towards Salluit. More news tomorrow on that…
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Note: Due to the problems encountered on the trail yesterday and due to the storm today, the race officials may decide, along with the dog teams’ consent, not to take the times for those two days into account. Therefore, no new results have been compiled yet. So, for now, the standings remain the same as when the dog teams left yesterday morning (see below).

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The return of the Inuit Dogs

At the end of the last century, the pure-breed Husky dog was nearly extinct in Nunavik. Nowadays, Inuit people mostly travel by snowmobile. Yet, the memories of another time when dogs were man’s most reliable partners are not so far behind. Long known to be man’s best friend, dogs were once essential to the survival of Inuit in the merciless arctic environment. In fact, only a few decades ago, sled dogs were a foundation of the Inuit nomadic way of life.

These brave allies were central to seasonal Inuit movements, especially in the winter.Strongly built with a thick fur, huskies can withstand bitterly cold temperatures and are capable of lugging their share of supplies during long hours travelling across the endless tundra. Harnessed to a sled or simply keeping pace alongside their master, dogs made it possible for Inuit to cover great distances in their search for game to provide for their families, and to transport heavy loads (...).

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