Kugluktuk (DEC 09/96) - The comfort and conveniences of town life are not enough to keep Charlie and Marion Bolt off the land.

With the temperature hovering around -35 last weekend, the couple were contemplating a journey to their outpost camp, a 5.5 by 5.5-metre cabin 240 kilometres northeast on the shore of Victoria Island. They had just returned from it a week earlier.

"The reason we like the camp is it's nice and quiet. There's no alcohol, drugs or trucks, only us," said Charlie.

There Charlie runs a trap line and Marion helps prepare the pelts and teaches their daughter Helena to sew.

"I know it's going to be better than last year, for sure," said Charlie of the prospects for arctic fox this season.

"We've noticed lots of snowy owls, mice and lemmings -- all a good sign," said Marion.

The trap line generally runs 50 to 80 kilometre from the cabin, but Charlie will travel up to 150 kilometres when going for colored foxes or wolves.

The couple will be staying at the camp for only two weeks. They will return together for Christmas, but Charlie will stay only briefly, going back to the camp to take advantage of the prime trapping season.

"We live in town, but we like it better out there," said Marion. She added life on the land is not always a bowl of roses. "It's more work, we have to chop wood get ice for water."

The couple built the cabin seven years ago. While out there, the only contact they have with others is through a radio, used only for emergencies. So far they have not had to use it.

In the fall Charlie guides southern hunters going for caribou and muskox.