Planning for a four-month dogsled expedition to the Arctic is an elaborate process. It begins with the seed of an idea several years before a team is selected and a date finalized. For Will Steger, the seed was born out of a lifetime of travel in the polar regions.

There, he has all too often witnessed the impact of global warming on the ice, land, and people. During his 2004 Arctic Transect he met Theo Ikummaq, an Inuit community leader and seasoned hunter. As their friendship developed, so did the idea for a 2007 expedition to Baffin Island.

More than two years later this expedition is on the eve of departure. After a year of curriculum planning, organizational development, and fundraising, preparations have finally whittled down to the essentials: dogs, food, equipment, technology, and itinerary. For three days in late December, the expedition team and support staff met for a series of intensive meetings. We made lists, delegated tasks, posted a calendar of training events on the wall, and transformed our rustic lodge into a modern wireless technology center.

Over the last few weeks, our days have been filled with last-minute preparations. Sleds need to be lashed, tents sealed, clothing fitted, communications finalized, and food packed. A month at the Homestead has brought the team closer together. Our anticipation mounts as departure nears!