A perfect spring day for Nunavut Quest mushers

After two days of bad weather, Tuesday was a perfect spring day.

On Day 8 of Nunavut Quest, the goal was to get to camp in the open sea ice close to Igloolik, where the annual dogsled route ends this year after an approximately 500-kilometre journey from Pond Inlet.

Nunavut Quest musher Joshua Qiliqti Ivalu (#7) from Igloolik is greeted by his wife and son at checkpoint 6. (Photo by Shanshan Tian, special to Nunatsiaq News)

The trail for the day was an 84-kilometre mix of bumpy, hard-packed snow and smooth sea ice.

The support teams and officials stopped at the narrow channel where elders Quvaqtaa Charlie Inuarak and Niaqutiaq David Irngaut told stories of past travellers who had accidents near Aukkarnaajuk (the open-water polynya in the area that never fully freezes).

The elders emphasized how important it is to know the area well and to stay close to land to avoid areas of hollow ice that can be fatally dangerous.

As is tradition during the final camp, people from the community came to visit family and friends, many of whom have travelled far to come to Igloolik.

When the support teams arrived at Ikiq, the last camp before arrival in Igloolik, a number of snowmobiles from Igloolik were already there waiting. A camp was set up with tents where family and friends hugged and greeted one another.

First to arrive at the checkpoint on Day 8 was Jinneal Nanuraq Uttak (#1) from Igloolik, followed by Joshua Qiliqti Ivalu (#7) also from Igloolik.

In third place was Lee Inuarak (#6) from Pond Inlet, who found his way back to the top three after Day 5’s shuffle to 5th place.

The excitement is building up for the highly anticipated arrival of Nunavut Quest to Igloolik on Wednesday.

After the final checkpoint in Igloolik, all daily running times will be totalled, penalty times will be added and awarded time will be subtracted for each musher’s final time. The final times and placing will be revealed only at the closing ceremony.

Day 8 order of arrival:

1. Jinneal Nanuraq Uttak (#1)
2. Joshua Qiliqti Ivalu (#7)
3. Lee Inuarak (#6)
4. Donovan Qaunaq (#4)
5. Isaac Irngaut (#5)
6. Tom Naqitarvik (#2)
7. Daniel Inuarak (#3)
8. Aidan Qaunaq (#8)
   

Igloolik residents visit the final camp of Nunavut Quest on Tuesday to greet mushers and support teams. (Photo by Shanshan Tian, special to Nunatsiaq News)