"It's a group of guys who want to have a bit of fun, see some of the country and new developments here," he added.

The nine snowmobilers will leave Yellowknife April 6. The group hopes to get to Cambridge Bay 10 days later.

Wilcox said when the plan was being hatched organizers saw an opportunity to use the trip as a fundraiser.

Advertising space is being sold on the side of the sleds. All of the money raised through sponsorship will be used to support a trip by Cambridge Bay elders to one of their traditional summer camps.

Those interested in sponsoring the journey can contact Wilcox at Natik Plumbing and Heating or the group's Yellowknife contact, Glen Zolinsky of Frontier Mining and Industrial Supplies.

The adventure is also symbolic of the links between the Kitikmeot and the western territory.

"We have a lot of ties, for health care and business to Yellowknife," said Wilcox. "We're looking forward to division, but at the same time we want our links to the West to remain strong."

Zolinsky said one of the immediate difficulties he confronted in getting involved with the trip was finding the time to do it.

"But when I called my boss, he said, 'Geez, Glen, you better go, because if you don't I will.'"

Most of the freight the group will be towing on specially designed sleds will be fuel. Though they are arranging stops at the mines along the way, Wilcox said the group will be totally self-sufficient.

But along with the fuel, tents and sleeping bags will be a satellite phone, digital camera and computers, which hopefully will allow the group to stay in touch while alone on the land.