Nunavut Quest mushers get visit from caribou
Day 4 takes racers to Qaanniqtalik, more than halfway to finish line
Mushers load their dogs into their qamutiit and ride to their camp at Qaanniqtalik on Sunday. Sunday was not a race day because of severe weather in the forecast. (Photo by Lindsay Kalluk, special to Nunatsiaq News)
Nunavut Quest participants had a visit from some caribou Sunday as the racers passed the midway mark.
Caribou approach Nunavut Quest participants on Sunday en route to Qaanniqtalik from Tasirjjuaaq. The racers and their support teams were about halfway to the finish line in Pond Inlet as of Sunday. (Photo by Lindsay Kalluk, special to Nunatsiaq News)
The mushers and support teams were travelling from Tasirjjuaaq to Qaanniqtalik, two points across the span of northern Baffin Island. They left Igloolik, where the race started, on Thursday and are making their way to the finish line in Pond Inlet.
During a tea break Sunday, a small group of caribou approached the snowmobiles. It was a special moment, because for some participants it was the first time they had ever seen caribou before.
The weather Sunday morning was – 30 C, with sun and wind.
The mushers had their daily meeting at 9 a.m. on Sunday and decided not to race. Instead, they pushed forward 97 kilometres on snowmobiles with their dogs loaded inside their qamutiit.
They based their decision on the forecasted weather conditions, and because the race was already delayed by two days last week because of severe weather.
The Nunavut Quest was originally scheduled to start April 7, but because of a weather delay, mushers started out on April 9 instead.
On Sunday, the group packed up camp and left at 12 p.m. It took roughly five and a half hours to travel the route. Along the way, it got very windy with whiteout conditions.
Nine teams are participating in this year’s race. They are supported by around 60 people of all ages, who are travelling with the racers.
The winner of Nunavut Quest is determined by calculating who had the fastest time over the course of the race.
Though Sunday was not a race day, on Saturday musher Jinneal Nanuraq Uttak arrived first at Tasirjjuaaq, followed by Tom Naqitarvik and Lee Inuarak behind. In fourth-place was Daniel Inuarak.
The route is roughly 500 kilometres from start to finish.
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