IGLOOLIK – As the long, dark winter approaches, Nunavut resident Joe Palluq has started the lengthy process of attaching snow chains to his dog team.
“When it was only -15°C back in July we didn’t have to worry about this,” said Palluq, reached at his home in Igloolik. “But these dogs just can’t grip when the temperature drops past -50°C. I guess that’s what I get for buying off-brand huskies.”
Igloolik, the starting point for the 2014 Nunavut Quest dog sled race, still has several residents who prefer using dog sleds over cars and skidoos. Proponents say that, in addition to being more environmentally friendly, the dogs almost never need de-icing or waxing. However, canine-based transport comes with its own dangers.
“I used to use all-season dogs until my brother caused a 48-mutt pile-up when he skidded into an intersection near Kugluktuk,” said Palluq. “Now that Nunavut’s population has spiked above 30,000 we have to worry about safety. There’s literally dozens of other vehicles on the road. We can’t keep sledding like we’re on country tundra.”
At press time, Palluq had been forced to use his spare dog after one of his Malamutes caught a flat on the highway.
