Last musher to start is first to finish on Nunavut Quest Day 1

Apak Taqtu, wearing pinnie 11, was the first to arrive at Camp 1 at the end of the first day of Nunavut Quest, even though he had been the last musher to leave Arctic Bay when the race began Tuesday.

Nunavut Quest mushers and their dogsled teams are on what’s expected to be a roughly one-week journey to Pond Inlet.

Friends and families of the competitors gathered on the ice to wish the teams good luck and safe travels. Students from Inuujaq School came down as well to join in the excitement.

Charlie Inuaraq, right, a Nunavut Quest committee member, and Alex Ootoovak from Oceans North take a break during the first day of Nunavut Quest racing on Tuesday. Ten mushers and their teams headed out Tuesday afternoon from Arctic Bay on their way to the finish line in Pond Inlet, approximately 250 kilometres away. (Photo by Kenneth Owen Angilirq, special to Nunatsiaq News)

Ten mushers and their teams are competing for a total of $54,500 in prize money with the first-place finisher collecting $20,000.

On Tuesday afternoon, the mushers were focused on getting their teams ready by harnessing the dogs one by one. The teams’ drivers and helpers quickly tied up qamutiks, the traditional Inuit sleds that are pulled by dogs.

Those who were ready offered others some help, regardless of which community they were from or which team they were part of. The sense of unity in this significant cultural event was powerful.

The drivers broke trails ahead at 2 p.m., led by Alex Ootoovak of Oceans North and Charlie Inuaraq, a Nunavut Quest committee member. The sight of almost 30 snowmobiles and qamutiks leaving the bay was exciting to see. The drivers made two trails, side by side, to allow the dog teams to pass.

The race officially began for the dog mushers at 3 p.m. By pinnie numbers, which were drawn during the April 13 opening ceremony, mushers were each released in intervals of one minute.

Camp 1 is located at Iqalulik, meaning Day 1’s distance was 55 kilometres.

The starting order for Day 2 will be based on the order mushers arrived on Day 1.

Day 1 order of arrival:

1. Apak Taqtu (#11)
2. David Oyukuluk (#1)
3. Qilliqti Ivalu (#3)
4. Nanuraq Uttak (#9)
5. Tom Naqitarvik (#8)
6. Lee Inuarak (#2)
7. Donovan Qaunaq (#4)
8. Jeremy Koonoo (#7)
9. Daniel Inuarak (#5)
10. Owen Jaworenko (#10)

This article and the accompanying pictures are the result of a partnership between Nunatsiaq News and Igloolik youth participating in the Nunavut Quest Field Course, a project sponsored by QIA and the Ilagiiktunut Fund.