After a two year hiatus the 2019 Hudson Bay Quest is back on. With this year’s entries the HBQ should be one of the most competitive races closing out the season. This year’s registration has the 2019 Beargrease Marathon winner Blake Freking from Finland, Minnesota and Martin Massicotte from St. Tites, Quebec who just claimed his 10th Can-Am 250 Crown in Fort Kent, Maine.

Also this year’s race has returning HBQ Champions Shawn McCarty from Ely, Minnesota and Peter McClelland from Ely, Minnisota.

The field of ten mushers will depart from the Stephens Lake Boat Launch in Gilliam, Manitoba in two minute intervals starting at 12 noon on March 15th. The teams will be travelling 220 miles north on a combination of hydro roads, tundra, lakes and rivers ending up at the finish line in Churchill, Manitoba.

The HBQ is a very unique race. The introduction in the race rules reads as follows:

The Hudson Bay Quest is a wilderness race. It is a competition between musher, the musher's dog team, the weather, terrain and other competitors. You have the possibility of encountering severe weather conditions. Past races have had temperatures of +5 C with rain to -30 C with 40 kilometer winds (equaling -45 C). Trail terrain will range from lakes, rivers, tundra and snow roads. Possible snow storms or ground blizzards may stop your progression for up to 36 hours.

Racers are required to carry mandatory equipment such as a two person tent, snowshoes and enough supplies to complete the total 220 miles. Even though there are 4 checkpoints throughout the race, racers are not allowed drop bags at any checkpoints except their 6 hour mandatory stop at McLintock. This one drop bag is for emergency purposes only. The mushers are not allowed to use their emergency supplies unless approved by the race marshal. The drop bags are there to replenish the musher’s supplies if the race is delayed because of unforeseen circumstances (ie. weather, trail conditions). Two years ago the week prior to the race Churchill, Manitoba was hit with a snow storm that dumped one metre of snow with 120 kilometer winds that shutdown the town down for three days because of the 3 meter drifts in town and people being trapped in their houses.

Past HBQ competitors that have completed the Iditarod, Yukon Quest and other mid and long distance races, have been asked for suggestions of races that could be used as pre-qualifiers for the HBQ. No one has been able to come up with a suggestion because of the unique terrain and conditions the HBQ presents to racers. It’s a race that a lot of first timers do not complete. But when asked at the finishers banquet if they will return and try again, they always ask “if they can sign up now for next year’s race”.

Information about the 2019 Hudson Bay Quest can be found at http://www.hbqrace.com and can be followed on the race website in really time by GPS Trackers that each competitor carry.

So make sure you keep an eye out for this race of champions and enjoy this unique race we call the Hudson Bay Quest.