Planning, a snow shoe march, and 'preparing' 220 lunches.....

Yesterday was another big day, involving a morning of planning, then a four hour training march with snow shoes, and finally packing 220 lunches for the expedition! Everyday I can feel the expedition coming closer to my heart and soul, and as I get to know my team mates better, I am feeling good that we are going to be a good team together....There is a great mix of personalities and interactions are lively, diverse yet when we are on the ice we each slot in to our own groove....

The planning session resulted in a decision to delay flying to Resolute until the 24th February (was the 22nd). This only to optimise training rather than any problem. The weather here in Yellowknife is unseasonably warm at the moment, but a cold patch is expected in 6-7 days time, so we want to try and take advantage of that while here in Yellowknife. This change of plan will not affect the expedition start date. Still ahead in training here is a night out sleeping in the tent, testing our systems, procedures, final check on whether we use a 4 or 6 person tent, and testing the new sleeping bags. We will also be visiting the 'warm tub' on one of the smaller lakes for another dry suit, swimming session. Can't wait for that!

The four hour snow shoe march went well, I felt really good out there, even though it was only -16 deg c. On the return we had a strongish headwind that increased windchill quite substantially. I decided to use my new paintball mask, and wow how great that was! I am rally pleased with the protection it provides and how easy it is to breath versus some of the soft fabric ones I have used. It still remains to be seen how this mask will perform at -60 deg C an below! The experts remain skeptical! These daily training sessions are so good for the mind as it gets one thinking about the 'road ahead', and at the end of the day I have a lot of questions for which Richard inevitably has very simple and experience backed answers. A great comfort factor, and Richard has a very calming effect on the team.

Here is a photo of the snow shoes I'll be wearing for most of the first half of the expedition:

Due to the pack ice and pressure ridges we anticipate in the first section as we leave the land and start heading out into the Ocean, snow shoes are much more effective than ski's. The snow shoes provide so much more leverage when trying to haul the sled 'up and over' obstacles. Also in this first section we don't expect much thin ice, and mushy pans, which are the condition when ski's, due to there larger 'sole area', provide less risk of 'falling' through the ice / mush.

Here is a close up of my sled. Very simple, robust, short and deep for the pressure ridges, and as light as possible:

I will start the expedition carrying about 80 kilograms of food and gear in the sled. As we eat this will reduce in weight and become easier to pull. It will go back up to 80 kilograms immediately after the resupply (Around day 20 to 22). On top of this I will have a full back pack weighing about 20 kilograms.

After the training march we organised as a production line packing the 220 lunches we will be taking with us on the expedition. These lunches are part of our huge, 7500 kcal daily food intake, and consist of carefully chosen and prepared ingredients. The ingredients for one lunch are shown below:

All the items are chosen for their exceptionally high fat calorie content. The individual items are: Thick slices of smoked bacon, mixed nuts, a special high calorie fruit cake, a cube of butter, a chocolate truffle bar, and finally a chocolate 'Zero' bar, which is the highest calorie / gram chocolate bar on the market! Aren't I a lucky boy, HAVING to eat all this fat every day! As we packed these ingredients into small plastic bags, 1 per person, per day, we all looked at each wondering how appetising this will all be after 50 days of eating it every day. Then the banter and trading started with preferences rising to the surface and swap /trading prices being quoted on individual ingredients! Not the time to say "I don't eat bacon!" Fortunately we had tried all these ingredients in December, and I can honestly say I will look forward to my lunch and each ingredient, every day! Just remember the display of ingredients in the photo above were laid out for photographic presentation, on the day, most pieces are wrapped in plastic, inside a plastic bag, and at -40 and below is really cold and rock hard!! Hmmm, that just doesn't sound so attractive anymore!

Here is a photo of a snow plane landing on Great Slave Lake right in front of our Bed and Breakfast yesterday:

And finally...The Arctic Giraffe feels more at home every day, and my team mates are getting used to this 'non-essential' piece being part of me!.... Proud of my African heritage!

That's it for today.... Hope you all have a great Valentine's day!