by Steve Selden | Mar 13, 2017 | Churchill News
Hudson Bay Quest musher off at the start. This year’s Quest is cancelled as a result of the recent blizzard! Brad Josephs photo.
Race organizers have made the decision to cancel the 2017 Hudson Bay Quest dogsled race due to the recent blizzard that buried the Churchill and Gillam regions this past week. The race was scheduled to depart Gillam this Friday, St. Patrick’s Day, and finish in Churchill.
Unsafe conditions are the main reasons for deciding to scrap the race this year as deep packed and drifting snow have blanketed the course and inhibited train service from Thompson to Churchill while track sections are being cleared. The train transports supplies as well as mushers and their dog teams to the race and serves as a lifeline to the south.
Just recently the Town of Churchill declared a State of Emergency, allocating resources toward snow removal and dealing with the aftermath of a storm that necessitated the Churchill community businesses to shut down for three full days last week. The race will be missed for sure, however the safety of the mushing teams and all support staff out on the trail between Gillam and Churchill is of prime importance.
Here is the official statement from the HBQ organizing committee: “While many sled dog races have cancelled due to lack of snow, we have wiped the smug looks off our faces now that we ultimately have too much snow. The Organizing Committee for the 2017 HBQ wishes everyone a safe and productive year as we navigate through this experience, and begin our planning for the 2018 Hudson Bay Quest.”
We look forward to the 2018 Hudson Bay Quest, back even stronger than before!
by Steve Selden | Mar 10, 2017 | Churchill News
Environment Canada defines blizzard conditions as visibility is less than 400 m resulting from blowing and/or falling snow for a minimum of four hours. Well, Churchill endured these conditions and more for over 56 hours and now the digging out begins.
Between 9 a.m. Tuesday and 5 p.m.Thursday the town and region was under siege from mother nature’s wrath and was under full blizzard conditions. Now the town looks like the north pole. Wind and frigid conditions have prevailed hindering clean – up efforts and it will be awhile before the town is functioning normally.
Peak gusts of 105 km/hr kept the town at a standstill with only the health center open after the loading dock was cleared and used as an entrance for patients. As usual in Churchill, snowfall will be hard to measure within town limits as the wind gusts move the snow into massive drifts. More accurate measurements can be found in the boreal forest but hard to reach for sure.
These photos are pretty unbelievable and are the most snow we have seen from one system in decades! What a ride the last few days have been for all the hearty Churchillians! We should be getting some epic northern lights shots within the next week with unique snow formations in the frames.
An eight-foot tunnel of snow to get into the house! Kelly Turcotte photo.
Churchill’s loader clearing the streets finally. Jodi Grosbrink photo.
No way out of the human door even. Jodi Grosbrink photo.
Snow piled up in Churchill all the way to second story of apartments. Jodi Grosbrink photo.
Churchill is surely snowbound. Jodi Grosbrink photo.
Engine compartment of a Churchill vehicle. Belinda Fitzpatrick photo.
by Steve Selden | Mar 9, 2017 | Videos
This time-lapse view from inside the Aurora Pod in Churchill was filmed by Natural Habitat guide Justin Gibson…pre – blizzard of course. Once the snow and wind stops we hope to see more amazing footage and photos from the site of the pod out on the Hudson Bay coast. With one of the most emphatic blizzards ever to hit Churchill still happening, the magical aurora borealis have obviously been obscured for the past few nights. This unique viewing and warming structure allows photographers to be on – site in an area that is remote and situated perfectly for prime northern lights activity. Stay tuned for when the snow stops and the lights come out again!
by Steve Selden | Mar 8, 2017 | Churchill News
A hellacious blizzard is continuing to bury Churchill with heavy, drifting snow. People have been advised to remain inside and stay safe until the weather lets up sometime on Thursday. In many cases leaving the house isn’t a choice as snow buried any access to doorways anyway. Northern lights will obviously be obscured for awhile as the storm rages on. This is by far one of the most incredible storms in a long time that the town of Churchill has experienced! Stay safe and hopefully the newly updated Hydro system will keep power on!
Check out this video on location in Churchill!
Snow creeps up to the edge of window in Churchill. Kelly Turcotte photo.
“Snowed in” just got real! Kelly Turcotte photo.
Blizzard causes havoc in Churchill! Jodi Grosbrink photo.
Buildings are barely visible in Churchill. John Hrominchuk photo.
Dogs getting out in Churchill blizzard. Jodi Grosbrink photo.
by Steve Selden | Mar 6, 2017 | Churchill Photography
Magnificent northern lights have been flooding the sky lately in Churchill and surrounding northern regions. Full panorama views have been the norm as opposed to last years waves of isolated aurora borealis. By all means the aurora last season was by far the most consistent year to date in Churchill. However, this season has produced incredible northern lights with more full sky – filled evenings. With still a few weeks to go we can’t wait to see what comes next! Enjoy!
Northern lights in Thompson, Manitoba. Andre Brandt photo.
Into the wild under the northern lights in Churchill. Alex De Vries – Magnifico photo.
Churchill cabin under the aurora borealis. Andre Brandt photo.
Wapusk Adventures warming tee – pee in Churchill. Andre Brandt photo.
Near Wekusko Falls in Wekusko Falls Provincial Park. Andre Brandt photo.
