Northern Manitoba, Canada

[Houndoc]

Last month I was once again lucky enough to spend a week in the northern reaches of Mantoba. Flew into Churchill (easy place involved to look up on a map), then headed north from there, camping just a few miles south of the boarder between Manitoba & Nunavut, along the shore of the Hudson Bay.

Churchill, known as the "polar bear capital of the world" once again treated me very well the days I was there. First day high roughly -12F, with windchill when we landed of -45 or so.

Some views from town:

(sign on the edge of the parking lot of the community center)

Sadly, two days before the start of the race some trouble at the dog yard by the starting line left 8 dogs hurt and 2 dead. While still under investigation, looks at this point that the two dead where most likely killed by a polar bear, with the injuries being by other dogs in the excitement. Happened about 1/3 mile from my hotel.

Injured dogs were treated in a 'hospial ward' set up at the maintance hanger at the airport (got to love heated floors!)

The next morning, the day before the race, I loaded up my gear and headed out by Bombadier snow coach, accompanied by 3 snowmobiles, with the able assistance of the Canadian Rangers (good group of guys and gals).

Significant portions of the 'trail' are across the sea ice of the Hudson Bay.

An amzingly stark, but beautiful area.

 

[Houndoc]

Our destination is the abondoned Hudson Bay Company camp of Nunala, located about 120 miles north of Churchill. It is the mid-point of the Hudson Bay Quest dog sled race, and I was there to check on and treat any dogs needing care at that point in the race.

Along the way we stoped to see just what a polar bear can do to a cabin.

We passed the 'big rigs' of northern shipping (only access to the towns further north are air, sea (for 4 months of the year) or travel across the ice. The large "Four Tacks" can haul several of the sleds seen in the back ground. I was told this load of two sleds is a small load.

Here is a view of our camp at Nunala.

Home for 4 days:

Next up: life around camp!

 

[Houndoc]

We do not use the cabin, except to shelter the porta potty. Why? The door this snow is drifting in through opens to inside of the cabin, not out!

Although I have yet to cross paths with a bear, a rifle is always kept close at hand (in the tent at night and I got in trouble for preparing to leave camp by snowmobile unarmed.)

View of the sun and snow are changing and beautiful!

 

[Houndoc]

The mushers and dog teams left Churchill starting at 9am Saturday morning, and started to come into Nunala less then 13 hours later. We were up until 6am Sunday morning examining dogs and working with the mushers.

waiting for their arrival:

On the tundra at -20F (fortunately only light winds) is a cold way to treat dogs, but with the northern lights blazing above is unforgettable! (sorry, was too busy with the dogs to get photos of the norhtern lights)

The dogs all came in in pretty good shape. A few stayed behind do to minor joint issues or simple exhaustion (can't imagine why running 120 miles would make you tired)

They rode out in the sled behind the Bombadier.

Wildlife seen included caribou, ptarmigon, arctic fox, arctic bunting and hare:

 

[Cody]

beautiful dogs and scenery! What a cool experience.

 

[Houndoc]

We broke camp and headed back towards Churchill Monday afternoon. Travel was fairly uneventful. Some mild problems with over flow (or "flooding") on the ice caused by high tides forcing water onto the surface of the sea ice. Caused on snowmobile break down:

We also had some issues with fuel lines to the Bombadier, but untilmately got it running smooth.

We met up with the Rangers at another check point (Canton Lake) and two musher who quit the race and made it as far as Seal River that night.

Spent the night in the comfort of a cabin:

A little crowded with 8 of us in it (plus two tents set up to take on the crowd).

The Rangers and myself ready to get back on the trail Tuesday morning:

We ran into some severe flooding problems that day. Resulted in both the Bomb and one Ski-Do stuck in the half frozen sea slush (roughly knee deep where the Bomb was stuck...fortunately I was not required to get out a dig on that one!)

Once all where safely back to town, we enjoyed a great awards banquet with the mushers and volunteers.

Me and the mushers:

 

[Spork]

Cool Pics, looks like a great adventure.

 

[Greg]

What an Adventure, thanks for sharing!!

 

[Houndoc]

beautiful dogs and scenery! What a cool experience.

The dogs are what got me into sled dog medicine. Any athlete who can run 120 miles, rest for 6 hours and be up a ready to run again has my respect!

It is a great side benefit that they run the races in some interesting, remote areas, inhabited by some real interesting people.

 

[ichi-san]

WOW - thanks for sharing!

 

[zukijames]

amazing pics thanks!

 

[Grim]

what an awesome report !

 

[Houndoc]

thanks, all. It is a very different world up there!