Day 2: The Qimutsiit make it to Raglan Mine


This morning, the qimutisitiit awoke to a clear sky. Although the wind was still blowing, making the temperature bitterly cold, it didn’t keep them from reaching their destination for the day, Raglan Mine.

___________________________

Everybody got ready early this morning. By 8 o’clock, the tents were packed up and the qimutisitiit were getting their dogs ready, harnessing them and fine tuning their sled runners before the start was kicked off at 9 o’clock. One after another, with one minute intervals, the qimutsiit were on their way again. The trail was a bit rough in the beginning, as the previous days’ storm had left its mark on the snow, leaving a white sea of waves, which the sleds had to surf on. Once on top on the mountains plateau, the trail got more even, but the suddenly soft snow slowed down the dog teams’ pace. The first team, Peter Kiatainaq and his dogs, only arrived after lunch at Camp 1, near the Donaldson Airport of Raglan Mine, after covering another 25 miles today. Other teams came in throughout the whole afternoon. Once everybody had arrived, a bus brought the qimutsitiit and their crew to the main site, at Katinniq. After most guys got settled in the gym for the night, they got to play volleyball, basketball, pool and even bowling in the complex, which is sort of like a hotel in itself, employees living there weeks on end. After a good shower, they also enjoyed a nice hot meal in the fine cuisine cafeteria. Some then returned by bus to spend the night closer to their dogs, while most stayed in and bunked together in the gym, after watching some TV or checking their e-mails in the Internet room of the complex. ZZZzzz…

Rank Racer Today’s Time Total Time
1. Peter Kiatainaq 4 hrs 3 min 39 sec 6 hrs 15 min 40 sec
2. Willie Kulula Sr. 4 hrs 18 min 45 sec 6 hrs 30 min 56 sec
3. Charlie Watt Jr. 4 hrs 19 min 56 sec 6 hrs 33 min 16 sec
4. Bobby Novalinga 4 hrs 22 min 20 sec 6 hrs 44 min 37 sec
5. Tamusi Sivuaraapik 4 hrs 46 min 25 sec 7 hrs 30 min 6 sec
6. Aisara Kenuayuak 5 hrs 21 min 40 sec 7 hrs 53 min 18 sec
7. Harry Okpik 6 hrs 15 min 58 sec 8 hrs 38 min 21 sec
8. Charlie Inukpuk 5 hrs 19 min 1 sec 8 hrs 45 min 23 sec
9. George Annanack 6 hrs 51 min 54 sec 9 hrs 56 min 43 sec
10. Willie Cain Jr. 6 hrs 43 min 17 sec 10 hrs 9 min 38 sec
11. Nutaraaluk Iyaituk 7 hrs 2 min 52 sec 10 hrs 30 min 13 sec
12. Adamie Qumak 7 hrs 3 min 56 sec 10 hrs 30 min 19 sec
13. Juani Beaulne 6 hrs 59 min 27 sec 10 hrs 33 min 45 sec
14. Adamie Inukpuk 7 hrs 39 min 22 sec 10 hrs 44 min 9 sec

Search

RSS

Subscribe now!

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 (...).

Read more...