by Steve Selden | Apr 10, 2013 | Churchill News
11 Teams Prevail in 10th Hudson Bay Quest Dog Sled Race
Written by Tom Terry of Sioux Lookout, Ontario (Team Handler and Father to HBQ race veteran Jesse Terry)
Churchill, Manitoba — Musher Peter McClelland of Ely, Minnesota and his team of ten hardy canines were first crossing the finish line in the 10th Hudson Bay Quest dog sled race, held March 15–18, 2013, with the last of the original 15 mushers and 150 dogs arriving in Churchill, Manitoba after more than two and a half brutally challenging days on the trail from the start at Gillam.
Churchill race organizer and musher Dave Daley. Tony Loewen photo.
Strong north winds (>70 km/h) and cold temperatures (–32° C) accompanying an arctic weather system proved to be the most daunting obstacle for all teams as wind chills exceeded -54° C for almost the entire race on the open tundra. Teams found little if any opportunities for shelter either on the trail or at the various checkpoints along the way, and race veterans stated the conditions this year were the most challenging faced since a three-day blizzard forced a mid-race cancellation several years ago – that year along the route from Churchill to Arviat, NWT.
Churchill musher Charlie Lundie. Tony Loewen photo.
After slipping away from the Lamprey checkpoint, McClelland maintained an average speed of almost 11 km/h over the remaining 120 km to Churchill, including stops. A group of four teams followed two and a half hours later, regularly changing places vying for position as the end neared, but McClelland’s team kept their pace and maintained their lead to the finish.
2013 HBQ champion Peter McClelland.
Four teams made the difficult decision to withdraw at the halfway checkpoint at M’Clintock (a mandatory six hour rest with a second veterinary check of all dogs), and several teams made extended stops there and at other checkpoints. Teams withdrew for a number of reasons, all related to dog and or driver health and well-being. The fact that more than one of the drivers and teams which withdrew were Iditarod and or Yukon Quest veterans attests to the challenges faced by mushers in the Hudson Bay Quest 2013.
2013 HBQ runner-up musher Sean McCarty.
In addition to the cash purse distribution to all finishers, a number of awards were presented to mushers at the HBQ Awards Banquet held on Monday, March18th at the Churchill Town Centre Complex. Troy Groeneveld, of Minnesota, won the Churchill Northern Store Award for the First Team to Halfway Point (M’Clintock Checkpoint). The Veterinarian Award, presented to the musher selected by the Race Veterinarians as having provided the best care for their dogs, was presented to Jesse Terry, of Sioux Lookout, Ontario. The Calm Air Sportsmanship Award, along with the Red Lantern for being the last musher to successfully cross the finish line, was presented to Churchill musher Dan DiMuzio. The Award for the Best Checkpoint, selected by the mushers themselves, went to the Canadian Rangers (Churchill) manning the Lamprey checkpoint.
Final Standings:
1st Peter McClelland, White Wilderness, Ely, Minnesota (37 h, 19 m, 47 s)
2nd Shawn McCarty, White Wilderness, Ely, Minnesota (38 h, 57 m 44 s)
3rd Troy Groeneveld, 10 Squared Racing, Two Harbours, Minnesota (39 h, 01 m, 21 s)
4th David Daley, Wapusk Adventures, Churchill, Manitoba (42 h, 09 m, 30 s)
5th Matt Groth, 10 Squared Racing, Two Harbours, Minnesota (42 h, 15 m, 44 s)
6th Jesse Terry, On the Land, Sioux Lookout, Ontario (45 h, 22 m, 25 s)
7th Hank DeBruin, Winterdance, Haliburton, Ontario (45 h, 24 m, 52 s)
8th Ed The Sled Obrecht, Cayamant Kennels, Otter Lake, Quebec (49 h, 38 m, 08 s)
9th Jim Oehschleager, Ozone Sled Dogs, Newberry, Michigan (50 h, 35 m, 25 s)
10th Charlie Lundie, Charlie’s Tours, Churchill, Manitoba (54 h, 11 m, 21 s)
Red Lantern/11th Place Dan DiMuzio, Sled Dog Energy, Churchill, Manitoba (62 h, 58 m, 20 s)
Scratched: Ryan Anderson, Stefaan DeMarie, Julie Robitaille, Al Hardman.
Sponsors
The Hudson Bay Quest Race Committee and competitors are very grateful to the many sponsors and contributors, without whom this race would not be possible, including the Platinum sponsors (Calm Air International, the Canadian Rangers, The Churchill Mitigation Trust Fund, VIA Rail Canada), the Gold sponsor (Manitoba Hydro), the Silver sponsors (Aurora Inn, Churchill Chamber of commerce, Exchange Petroleum, Hudson Bay Railway, Churchill Wild, Frontiers North Adventures, Manitoba Liquor and Lotteries, Town of Churchill, Town of Gillam) and the many friends of the HBQ!
by Steve Selden | Apr 1, 2013 | Churchill News
Get immersed in the intimate lives of polar bears with National Geographic WILD and Ice Bear. Using stereoscopic 3D camera technology, the complexities of polar bear survival is brought to life as never before with an immersive 3D experience and point-of-view shots that will take you right in to the polar bear’s sensory and physical world.
Through the course of Ice Bear, we follow individual bears and entire families as they make the treacherous journey from the hunting grounds on the winter ice fields, to the highly contested summer pack ice of the Hudson Bay. In the winter, bears can use the ice platforms to hunt seals and fish which provide them with a rich source of protein. With the encroaching summer, the ice begins to melt, leaving the bears to fight for their patches of hunting ground. Opportunistic packs of hungry wolves and a shortage of available prey could mean a bear won’t survive the summer. But when bear meets bear, a whole new set of challenges arise. -National Geographic.
Enjoy this video of a three-year old polar bear out on his own. The Arctic can be a truly formidable place to live…even for polar bears.
by Steve Selden | Mar 28, 2013 | Tour News
Natural Habitat guide Karen Walker finished off the northern lights season with a fun group of travelers that flew in and out of Churchill. “We arrived and had snow the first evening, but the sky cleared around midnight, so I woke up the guests and we drove down to the inukshuk behind the town complex for a nice view of the aurora.” reported Karen. High winds hampered the outside time a bit and soon the clouds appeared driving the group back to the hotel and warm beds. Great start to the adventure!
Karen’s last aurora group poses for a photo at the airport in Churchill.
The following day was a full one starting with Dene elder Caroline Bjorklund giving a cultural presentation on the native traditions of the Dene people. An exhilarating dog mushing trip on a beautiful, clear day got everyone’s blood flowing while gliding through the boreal forest…only the sound of paws breaking the crust of the snowy trail singing through the thin, black spruce forest.
A cozy dogsled trip through the boreal forest. Photo Brad Josephs.
That evening viewing the northern lights was incredible. Two hours of arches and swirls of greenish, diffused light in the sky above the Hudson Bay left lasting bonds between travelers and a everlasting memory of their journey north. A nice display indeed.
Aurora borealis over the boreal forest in Churchill,MB. Brad Josephs photo.
A visit with Myrtle and a presentation on Metis people and native culture the next morning followed by a drive out to the Churchill Northern Studies Center launched another active day in Churchill. A demonstration on snow testing gave the group some insight into what scientific research happens at this amazing, revamped facility. The sky was overcast all day, but cleared later in the evening in time for the traveler’s arrival at the aurora domes outside of town. The aurora appeared just as the group got settled in. “The lights grew brighter, then suddenly gave us quite a show — fast dancing curtains, tinged in pink, swirls, and a corona right overhead. It was a short but awesome display.” Karen reported. Everyone was thrilled with another stellar viewing night.
Since the Anglican church was under construction, Bill Calnan had the group out to Goose Creek to give his Hudson Bay historical talk and give people a feel for living in the snowy, cold conditions in Churchill. A fine way to round out an amazing trip to the sub-Arctic!
Another year of incredible immersion in Arctic culture and fine aurora viewing…every season is different and surprising. Another group of travelers will get to experience the same, hopefully, next year. For now, the next phase of natural adventure in Churchill will come in the form of beluga whales finding their way to the Churchill estuary in the Spring-time. Natural Habitat Adventures provides summer trips that are well rounded and all encompassing. Birding, botany and ample wildlife sightings fill long days of exploring. Can’t wait.
by Steve Selden | Mar 25, 2013 | Tour News
The Natural Habitat northern lights trips concluded last week in Churchill but the lights shine on amidst icy temperatures..some of the coldest in years for this time of year. Guide Brad Josephs lead photography tours around the area in search of amazing shots….he found them along with a touch of frostbite in the extreme temperatures. Luckily the warmer southern air of Colorado cured him and no body parts were lost. He’s safely back in Alaska ready for next year in the chilly Arctic. Seasoned aurora guide Karen Walker also wrapped up an incredible , and yes, cold season with memories to last a lifetime. I’m sure their groups of travelers have memories and photo’s they also will have for life as well.
Aurora shining in the Arctic sky above the boreal forest. Brad Josephs photo.
Interest in the northern lights & Arctic cultures trips has been growing yearly and increasing this past season to seven traditional and new photography trips. Despite the often uncommonly cold temperatures, travelers brave them to embrace the storied intrigue of the north. Many have ventured to Churchill previously for an up-close encounter with polar bears in the fall or a drifting in the Churchill River with Beluga whales in the summertime.
Well built inukshuk and igloo in Churchill. Karen Walker photo.
This year was amazing to say the least. Heightened solar activity has translated into more frequent scintillating auroral displays. All seven natural Habitat groups experienced the “northern lights” this year with many groups having multiple viewing experiences. Last year weather hampered the experiences of a few groups but this year has been incredible.
Photography of the northern lights has become a passion in the north. Brad Josephs photo.
Swirling aurora over the Hudson Bay in Churchill. Brad Josephs photo.
There are few comparisons to gazing up at the sky and witnessing the aurora in all its’ splendor. Each experience can have profound affects on one’s psyche…and create memories to last forever.
