Day 10: The race is getting tight


The race is starting to get tight and the time between the racers is becoming crucial on this second to last day. All racers except one left Ivujivik at 11 o’clock in the morning in sunny spring weather. Once having left the harbour of Ivujivik they had to climb a big hill where two of their sleds were pulled up by snowmobile, but once they slid down the other side of the hill the trail remained flat.

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The race was postponed to 11 o’clock as one of the teams, Adamie Inukpuk’s, had lost three dogs. He was given some time to recuperate his dogs and joined the race again at 1:15 early in the afternoon. As the race took off and all teams began to ivakkak on the flat terrain, Nutaraaluk Iyaituk’s dogs picked up pace as they began to recognize the terrain. They come from Akulivik and they were getting excited to be getting home! Charlie Watt Jr.’s team has picked up pace as well and he is now in first position. Peter Kiatainnaq and Willie Kullulaaq are only 30 seconds apart as they aim for second place if neither of them pass Charlie Watt Jr. Bobby Novalinga finds himself at fourth overall so far, and if he wants to place a third he’s got to push extra hard now. The race has lasted longer and the trail has been more challenging than last year’s but Harry Okpik has done really well as he has advanced to a seventh place overall so far. Great improvement from last place position last year. Willie Cain Jr. removed his team from the race as his dogs could not run anymore from exhaustion. They have probably caught worms for which there was no remedy available for them and they will get a ride back. The race is expected to end in Akulivik on Monday.

Rank Racer Today’s Time Total Time
1. Charlie Watt Jr. 4hrs 31min 41sec 36 hrs 12 min 57 sec
2. Peter Kiatainnaq 4 hrs 43 min 22 sec 36 hrs 13 min 29 sec
3. Willie Kullulaaq 4 hrs 30 min 23 sec 36 hrs 20 min 23 sec
4. Bobby Novalinga 4 hrs 57 min 25 sec 38 hrs 57 min 29 sec
5. Tamusie Sivuaraapik 5 hrs 7 min 12 sec 42 hrs 57 min 10 sec
6. Charlie Inukpuk 5 hrs 56 min 13 sec 43 min 45 min 28 sec
7. Harry Okpik 4 hrs 59 min 29 sec 44 hrs 16 min 13 sec
8. Aisara Kenuajuaq 5 hrs 58 min 20 sec 50 hrs 44 min 58 sec
9. Rina Snowball 6 hrs 38 min 15 sec 51 hrs 26 min 37 sec
10. Juanie Beaulne 7 hrs 35 min 02 sec 56 hrs 31 min 41 sec
11. Adamie Qumaq 6 hrs 42 min 04 sec 58 hrs 48 min 24 sec
12. Nutaraaluk Iyaittuq 7 hrs 13 min 51 sec 59 hrs 34 min 04 sec
13. Adamie Inukpuk 7 hrs 03 min 23 sec 59 hrs 46 min 47 sec

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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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