Heading out on the water or to the land Iqalummiut embrace summer

It's the start of a long weekend and for many people across Nunavut it means heading outdoors to enjoy the precious few warm summer days the Arctic offers.

In Iqaluit, after weeks of endless rain and fog, the town was buzzing on Friday with people getting ready to head out to cabins or on the water.

One of the busiest spots inthe city was the gas station, with people stocking up on jerry cans of fuel to power their boats and cabins.

"We're going down to our cabin for the long weekend with our family and friends hopefully they will enjoy their long weekend I'm excited," said Charlie Audlakiak.

Another hopping areawas the causeway with droves of boaters coming by all day to get on the water.

The Phillip boys, all avid hunters, were in a rush to head out for their weekend trip along with their dad.

"We're going to our cabin this weekend," said Gary Phillip as he got the boat ready for the water.

He'splanning to "relax, enjoy the sun, do some seal hunting, some fishing and if there's caribou, get some caribou."

The sunny forecast was a call to head out on the land for anothergroup of young hunters.

Jimmy Nowdlak, Jaypetee Peter and Nathan Kunilusie are heading out to the eastern edge of Baffin Island, not far from the mouth of Frobisher Bay.

"We're going caribou hunting, we go every weekend," said Peter, adding that the good weather is going to make the journey that much more fun.

For some this weekend will be their first chance to go fishing.

"We're just going to put the boat in the water and the wife and the kid are coming soon," said LucPothier.

Iqaluit's Alexia Galloway-Alainga is using her long weekend to try her hand at scuba diving with a group of other young women from Iqaluit. They're being trained by the Sedna Epic Expedition team.

"I'm super excited I've grown up here boated here, fished here, I have a kayak now so I've been doing that a little bit but now I actually get to go in the water and I'm super stoked for that."

For those in the tourism industry, the long weekend is just an extension of the work week.

"I'm an outfitter in the area, we do kayaking trips and a variety of boat trips and various activities like that and long weekends mean much work," said Russell Dunkley.