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The Adventure Zone

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Photo: courtesy www.cainsquest.com

Having laid eyes on the Labrador coast for the first time, Jacques Cartier made a comparison in 1534 that lives on to this day in the hearts and minds of those who live on the land.

The land was nothing but "stones and rocks, frightful and rough… for in all the coasts of the north I did not see a cartload of earth. I really believe this is the land that God gave to Cain," Cartier wrote.

Of course there is more than a cartload of earth inland from Labrador's rocky coast, but Cartier's first impression has influenced the area for centuries, and is the inspiration for the name of a young, but ambitious, snowmobile race preparing for its second season this March.

Cain's Quest takes two-man snowmobile teams across 2,000 kms of awe-inspiring, and often isolated, winter Labrador scenery.

"Cartier's words are associated with Labrador and make reference to the land being rough and challenging," says Jackie Mayo, the event's coordinator. "And this race is going to be rough and challenging so the name seemed fitting."

Beginning deep in the Labrador heartland of Labrador City, the race takes participants through 19 checkpoints before finishing up where it began. Each racer can take almost any route between checkpoints, using GPS to guide them through the rough terrain.

The teams will have to blaze trails through deep snow and cross windswept lakes, pushing themselves and their machines to the limit.

This is the second year for the event. This year's event is 800 km longer than the inaugural race last year. Organizers say they are not sure if the distance will continue to grow, but they hope to keep building the base of participants. Last year 15 teams took part and for this year's race, which begins March 10th and is expected to run four or five days, 18 teams are ready to hit the trails.

"With the extended winter season we have here, it's amazing an event like this did not start a long time ago," Mayo says.