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SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE - Hardy Yellowknife campers toughed out the weather for their love of camping, as temperatures hovered below freezing over the Victoria Day weekend.

"It was cold but it was good," said Aaron Toole as he stood around a fire with his friends at the Fred Henne campground Sunday. "You can still see snow around the campsite but at least it's not -48," said Toole.

Rod Connell, left, and Aaron Toole finish up a weekend of camping by the fire at Fred Henne Territorial Park, Sunday. - Tim Edwards/NNSL photo

Kate Barnes, who was working at the gate at Fred Henne, said the campground - which hosts 106 campsites - was about half-full over the weekend. The campground officially opened for the season May 15.

"I don't know how keen people are to be sleeping in tents at -10 degrees," she said. "Still, lots of people came out. A lot of locals, I think. The same people who come out every year."

Pam Fitzmaurice, communications and marketing specialist with Industry, Tourism and Investment, said 61 out of the 106 Fred Henne campsites were occupied over the weekend. At Prelude Lake, 16 out of the 44 campsites were occupied, and 12 out of 76 Reid Lake campsites were filled.

According to Environment Canada, Saturday's high was 0.5 C, and the low, -5 C. Sunday was even colder, with a high of only -2.7 C, and a low of -9.6 C.

Kim Morrison-Connell was at Fred Henne with her friends and family and said she enjoyed her weekend, despite the cold.

"It's our last summer in Yellowknife, so we want to get as much camping in before we head out," said Morrison-Connell.

With a laugh, Rod Connell - of the same party - pointed out a beer that had frozen and exploded overnight.

Connell and Toole both work for the armed forces, and have thoroughly enjoyed the Northern outdoors during their posting here in Yellowknife.

Dan McQuillan was out with a group of friends as well. He said he had a good time, although it was cold.

"Our liquids froze overnight," said McQuillan. "It was really cold in our tent."