Migrating with the Porcupine Caribou: Planning and Packing for Survival Karsten and Leanne were very careful packing for their 7-month migration with the caribou. A long ways away from the nearest store, their decisions about what to pack are serious considerations. Below Karsten describes just what is inside their backpacks. One Change of Clothing Karsten Heuer Leanne Allison We'll be trying to fit everything into one big backpack each (about 80 litres in volume each). We're hoping that Leanne's pack won't weigh more than 60lbs, and 75lbs for mine (a little under half our body weights). We won't really be taking too much clothing - certainly not more than one change. On the last trip we did, we wore the same shirt and pants for 188 days (with a few washes in between)! On our feet we'll be wearing ankle-high ski boots in April and May; hiking boots for the rest of the trip. We'll have a warm winter toque, a facemask for when the wind really picks up, thick mitts and thin gloves, 3 pairs of heavy wool socks, a sunhat, a mesh bag that fits over our head to keep the bugs out in summer, and mosquito-proof shirts. We'll be taking layers of clothes instead of one big parka: underwear; long underwear; fleece pants and a fleece sweater; down jacket; and Goretex jacket and pants. Besides clothing, we'll be carrying food, a camera each (Leanne will be carrying a video camera), spare lenses, a solar panel to charge batteries, a satellite phone, our tent, sleeping pads, and a sleeping bag (Leanne and I will be sharing a sleeping bag to save weight). 22nd Century Innovation The biggest difference between Arctic travel today and what it was like 20 years ago is that we'll have the ability to call for help (using the satellite phone) should anything go wrong. There are also new innovations in clothing and tents that will make a huge difference. Our tent, for example, is made from the same lightweight but tough material as parachutes (extremely light - weighs just over 2 pounds). And our jackets (made out of Goretex) are water and rain proof, yet breath enough to let the sweat we'll be generating to escape. Many of the fabrics we'll be wearing next to our skin (polypropolene and fleece, for example), wick away moisture and keep you warm even when wet (like wool - but much lighter). Wondering With the Caribou This trip will be very different from any expedition we've done before in that we won't have goals each day or week other than simply trying to keep up with the caribou. Every morning we'll be getting up not knowing where we'll be going. It will completely be up to the animals. As a result, we're not even going to take detailed maps, just let ourselves be pulled across the landscape instead (i.e. following caribou trails). And if the caribou aren't stopping at night, we'll try to keep going as well (especially during the arctic's 24-hour daylight). And when they sleep during the day, we will too. Living with the Caribou: Dangers Involved Karsten and "Webster" his companion on the Y2Y hike We've asked biologists questions about hiking so close to the caribou and generally have got the answer that we shouldn't worry about it; the caribou are too focused on traveling to pay much heed to us. They'll likely keep their distance (i.e. a few hundred meters away). We won't exactly be rubbing shoulders. As you know, caribou tend to travel in scattered groups more than in one huge herd, and it's likely that we'll be traveling with one group one day, and another the next, rarely the same group for more than a few days at a time. And because we're going to be trying to travel with the caribou, we won't be bringing Webster, our dog on this trip. That would be too disturbing to the caribou (he's the size and shape of a wolf - one of their major predators). Copyright 2003 Journey North. All Rights Reserved. Please send all questions, comments, and suggestions to our feedback form