SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE - The best way to tell it's spring in Yellowknife isn't necessarily the weather - it's the trailers that come to dominate parking lots of stores like Wal-Mart and Extra Foods as they prepare for the spring break-up of the Mackenzie River crossing.

Trailers loaded with goods line the Wal-Mart parking lot as the store prepares for the annual closing of the Mackenzie River crossing. - Kevin Allerston/NNSL Photo

For Terri Andre, general manager of Wal-Mart, this is her second season dealing with the isolation that comes with the spring break-up.

"I learned that every year is different," said Andre. "Last year they were predicting it would be closed for 10 days, and this year they are predicting it could be a lot longer."

There are currently 10 trailers loaded with goods in the Wal-Mart parking lot. "This year we have $1.5 million worth of product set aside between our warehouse and our trailers. We have about half as many trailers this year because we fit more in the building," said Andre.

Andre says the store will be stocked with all the consumables shoppers expect to find during a trip to Wal-Mart, including baby formula and diapers, health and beauty products, and of course, food.

"We're ready. As soon as the crossing goes out we are good to go," said Andre.

The Yellowknife Direct Charge Co-op is also prepared for break-up.

"We've got all the gas across the river, so people don't have to worry about that. We've got enough gas to last us five and a half weeks," said Ben Walker, general manager of the o-op.

"We also have about three-quarters of the dry groceries people will be looking for, and at the beginning of next week we will bring in the milk and things like that people need," said Walker.

Walker says that if the store runs low on supplies they will fly them in to make sure people have what they need.

"I don't want to say it will be a cake-walk, but we have done this before and we are prepared," said Walker.

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