Day 3: Life in the fast lane leading to Nastapoka River


Dogs pick up speed, as the blowing wind makes for harder snow. Everybody makes it to the campsite near the Nastapoka waterfalls in time for an early supper made up of today’s ptarmigan hunt on the bushy river side.

_____________________________________

After a night filled with anguish over the loud noises made by the shifting sea ice over which the dog teams and their crew camped out, everybody seemed anxious to get out of Pamialuk, which is renown for its spine-chilling cracking sounds, and get to the next stop to finally get a good night’s sleep.

Luckily, the snow was cooperative, as it hardened over the course of the day, the light morning breeze soon becoming a blowing wind. The dog teams hence picked up a faster pace.

For Junior May and Peter Kiatainaq, who were leading all day, the pace got even faster, as the dogs spotted a seal sun bathing on the sea ice. Frightened by the pack of eager huskies coming at him, the seal soon dove back in under the ice.

But even though seal was not on the menu end of the day, food was not scarce for those men who gave their 100% all day. The first team making it to camp early in the afternoon, the men had plenty of time to go look for supper. I wasn’t long before they discovered a flock of ptarmigans, hiding in the bushes nearby.

Their hunt brought them to catch sight of the beautiful Nastapoka River, flowing down in a humongous waterfall that sprinkles the air to form a couloir of gigantic icicles.

The wind picking up, it is with wonderful images in mind that the men retreated into their tent to savour their catch and rest for the day ahead, which, weather permits, should lead them to Umiujaq, the mid-point of their journey down by the Hudson Bay.

Rank Racer Today’s Time Total Time
1. Junior May 4 hrs 1 min 47 sec 14 hrs 11 min 10 sec
2. Peter Kiatainaq 4 hrs 7 min 30 sec 14 hrs 16 min 34 sec
3. Harry Okpik 4 hrs 23 min 26 sec 14 hrs 51 min 48 sec
4. Bobby Novalinga 4 hrs 16 min 5 sec 14 hrs 56 min 12 sec
5. Tamusi Sivuaraapik 4 hrs 17 min 10 sec 14 hrs 57 min 30 sec
6. Adamie Inukpuk 4 hrs 46 min 47 sec 16 hrs 5 min 29 sec
7. Willie Kulula Sr. 5 hrs 8 min 36 sec 17 hrs 7 min 38 sec
8. Aisara Kenuayuak 4 hrs 49 min 59 sec 17 hrs 35 min 43 sec
9. Juusipi Qisiiq 5 hrs 36 min 7 sec 18 hrs 36 min 15 sec
10. Willie Cain Jr. 6 hrs 11 min 18 hrs 55 min 44 sec
11. Nutaraaluk Iyaituk 5 hrs 34 min 20 sec 19 hrs 3 min 19 sec
12. Matthew Nassak 6 hrs 53 sec 19 hrs 38 min 22 sec
13. Simeonie Elijasspik 5 hrs 52 min 19 sec 21 hrs 12 min 28 sec
14. George Annanack 6 hrs 29 min 20 sec 21 hrs 51 min 9 sec
15. Adamie Qumak 7 hrs 35 min 10 sec 24 hrs 56 min 35 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...