dangers of spring travel on the barrens... .....actually I need to make a slight correction regarding the amount of snow that fell during the last blizzard. according to the Hamlet Council of Rankin Inlet; it was in excess of a 100 centimeters. Inspite of the blizzard condition, 55 kicks to the north of Pistol Bay, at the Agnico Eagle mine site (Meleine River) 3 snowmoblies were travelling during a shift change to a diamond drill site. Only 2 machines arrived. The driller who got lost; his wife was interviewed on the CBC North Radio. She told a harrowing story of how her husband surived two days and nights, holed up in a wet snow bank. Once the blizzard weakened; he could hear ski-doos off in the distance; but was unable see them. So he decided to walk in their direction and came across ski-doo tracks. He then went back to get his machine and followed the tracks until the machine quit. ( out of gas????) he was later picked up by the search party.
Two weeks prior to this incident, a grandson and his 72 year grandfather were travelling to Baker Lake from Rankin by ski-doo when about a 100 miles out, the grandson noticed his grandfather had fallen off the sled that he was pulling. He back tracked but to no avail.Now that the weather has stabilized; re-enforcements from the Yellowknife Rangers Corp. are coming in to the aid of the Baker lake, Chesterfield, Rankin Inlet and Whale Cove Rangers. Agnico Eagle is also put her chopper in the air looking for the 72 year old elder.
The search continues...