Thorunn Howatt
Northern News Services

Yellowknife (Jan 04/02) - Saskatchewan farmers and Newfoundland fishers have hopped in their rigs and boarded planes for an annual trek to Yellowknife that will see them hauling on the soon-to-be-finished ice road.

Last year more than 400 made the trip, hired by RTL Robinson Enterprises Ltd. said the company's risks manager, Janet Robinson.

They stay in camps then drive the ice road to Lupin, Ekati and Diavik diamond mines.

"The winter road camps are open or are in the process of opening," said Kirk McLellan, logistics manager for Echo Bay Mines Ltd. and joint venture spokesperson for the winter road.

"They are moving snow off the lakes on the south end, utilizing snow cats."

The ice conditions this year are better than last year with no slush showing up. Less snow fall combined with colder temperatures could lead to an earlier winter road opening.

The road starts at the eastern end of the Ingraham Trail on Tibbitt Lake and ends at the Lupin Mine site. It is used mostly by BHP Billiton, Diavik Diamond Mines and Echo Bay's Lupin mine trucks.

About 80 per cent of the 567-kilometre road is built on frozen lakes and ponds.

"We are probably six inches to eight inches (of) thickness better than last year," said McLellan.

Loads' volumes will be only slightly less than last year, which was the busiest ice road ever with a total of 8,090 loads hauled.

McLellan expects a report from site management that will tell him what the problem areas are and what can be done to correct them. Then after a lot of "ifs" and projections a tentative date will be set for road opening.

Camps are located at Dome Lake, Lockhart Lake and Lac de Gras. Last year the ice road opened on Feb. 5.