Julian Tomlinson, the project co-ordinator, hopes not. In the last-minute rush to pack a mountain of extra gas cans, spare snowmobile parts and high-tech communications gear into five sleds hitched to three snow machines, he said the trip could be the beginning of an effort that will link the Arctic wilderness with schools around the world.

"At the end of this we'll have videos, photographs -- a ton of photographs -- the web site, which will have all the data we've gathered, and this trip might even turn into a college option someday."

The team will carry a satellite phone and update an Internet Web site throughout their trip, during which they will carry out experiments designed by school children from as far away as Manitoba, although both Inuvik schools are taking part. The trip is a small-scale experiment in linking schoolchildren to Arctic expeditions with cutting-edge technology and could lead to bigger things if it is a success.

The team will also be evaluating different equipment in Arctic conditions and are towing traditional Gwich'in and Inuit sleds along with modern models to see what works best. Tomlinson, who began planning the expedition just two months ago after getting support from his bosses at Aurora College, said he expects the modern models to be the biggest headaches.

The team will travel both traditional coastal and modern inland routes in the round trip to and from Fairbanks, exploring the landscape, wildlife and traditional knowledge of the area on their way.

The members of the team were drawn from around the Arctic. Paul Iquallaq is a hamlet councillor from Gjoa Haven, John Roland is an Inuvialuit hunter and trapper from the Inuvik area who will navigate for the team and Seemee Nookiguak is an Aurora College mature student from Broughton Island.

"It's been interesting seeing how the three cultures do things differently, even down to the different ways they load a sled," said Tomlinson.

Nookiguak said he was doing the trip as part of his work experience for the recreation leadership program he is enrolled in. While going out on the land is nothing new, he said he will miss his four-year-old son for the duration of the trip.

"I went home and he looked at me and said 'Daddy, are you back from Alaska now?'" he joked.

Updates on the team's progress can be found at the Aurora College web site.