Qikiqtarjuaq resident Celine Jaccard is heading a three-week ski expedition this month that will bring together locals and southerners. The group will spend the first week skiing near the community and move to a more remote location for the last two weeks. - photo courtesy of Celine Jaccard |
Three-week adventure on skis
Expedition could be start of developing tourism draw
Miranda Scotland
Northern News Services
Published Monday, April 14, 2014
QIKIQTARJUAQ/BROUGHTON ISLAND
After consulting maps and seeking advice from other Qikiqtarjuaq residents, Celine Jaccard went scouting for the perfect ski spot.
"We found paradise," said Jaccard, eyes wide and with a grin.
She arrived at the location after snowmobiling three hours south of the community.
The spot has it all - varying-sized mountains, the right type of snow, a lower risk of avalanches and the right ice conditions.
The 22-year-old is setting out on a three-week ski expedition April 18 with her husband, brother and friend, who is tasked with filming the adventure.
Residents will also be participating.
Jaccard held a meeting in March to gauge interest and eight residents, aged 19 to 30, volunteered. However, she isn't sure yet if everyone will show up.
The team will spend the first week training near the community and going over safety protocols. None of the Qikiqtarjuaq participants, aside from Celine and her husband, have tried touring skiing, which is a mix of hiking on skis and downhill skiing.
After the first week they will graduate to the more remote location, three hours south of the community.
The purpose of the ski expedition, in part, is to encourage the development of ski tourism in the area, said Jaccard.
"I think there is big potential in that region because of the landscape we have and the snow available and the mountains," she said. "Talking to local outfitters and the (community economic development officer), I've realized how much room there is for more outfitters and more guides and people taking care of tourists coming here."
Jaccard plans to produce a detailed report at the end of the project for use by outfitters who may want to consider offering ski expeditions to tourists.
The trip is also a chance to show residents what kind of expedition tourists from the south would enjoy, said Jaccard. However, she is quick to point out that it isn't a guide-training course.
"This is a way to give them a taste of what it could be and what it means to do that and what are the steps you need to do that," she said. "In that way I think it could be a start in developing tourism."
Community economic development officer David Grant said he believes its a wonderful way to expose community members to a different way of life on the land and another potential economic opportunity.
The project comes at an opportune time, he added, since Qikiqtarjuaq is getting a new community gathering centre in 2015 and with it comes a renewed focus on tourism.
"What she is doing fits really well in our overall plan," said Grant.
Jaccard, who is originally from Switzerland, moved to Qikiqtarjuaq with her husband in late fall after working as a medic at a nearby DEW line site. Not long after, she and her brother, who works as a ski guide in Europe, started planning the expedition, which they have dubbed AULLAQ Arctic Freeride.
Jaccard started skiing when she was four years old. She is also trained as a wilderness first aid instructor and an outdoor education instructor.
"I have a passion for skiing. One of the reasons why moving to Qik was interesting was because of all the mountains and it is actually one place in the Baffin region that gets a lot of snow."
The team received some funding for the expedition, which is being used to buy tour skis for participants. Touring skis are special because they have movable bindings that allow the user to raise their feet while hiking up mountains.
They also come with skins which makes it easy for skiers to climb up hills without worrying about sliding backwards.
The expedition is expected to wrap up May 10.
