Questions & Answers Week 02
Every week Team GoNorth! answers ten questions related to the module topic from student explorers -- so stay tuned and submit YOUR questions!
The dogs are like family to us. They are our very best friends. We know them from the day they are born to the day they pass on, and we spend almost everyday of their lives with them. We go on our expeditions together, having incredible experiences with them that they make possible!
The Polar Huskies are all very unique with strong personalities. We all have dogs we really like to hang out with—or work with—for various reasons. But it tends to be that, as the dogs get older, they are the ones you are really close with since you have traveled with them for so many years, been to so many amazing places, they have saved your life, been your friend, and they are what makes all of this happen. They are simply just amazing animals for which we all have the greatest admiration.
Sometimes you appreciate the shy ones, and sometimes you just want to hear the howl of one of the “crazy” ones. When the terrain gets rough, you look to the strongest pullers, and when the route gets complicated, you turn to the leaders. Each of them has their own strengths and weaknesses—just like people. So we can't really say which one is our favorite, because they all are. They are all important to the success of this expedition and to our survival on the trail. We love all of the Polar Huskies!
Who is your favorite sled dog?
A., B., J. & M.
Rush Creek Elementary
During Live Chat, March 1, 2007 Grade
Butter! No, that of course depends who you ask. Paul absolutely loves caribou meat fried in lots of butter. Actually we all do. Maybe except for Aaron, who really needs his meat cooked well-done. Aaron loves mashed potatoes with fried salami and oregano... Followed by a cookie from his moms kitchen, that is! Mille.. she really does love that butter—but she is also a huge fans of the cookies, and one of her favorite meals is "pesto pasta." When in a community, Mille is particularly fond of frozen caribou meat dipped in aged sealskin oil.
What is your favorite food to eat on expedition?
S.
Cuyuna Range Elementary
You can adopt a Polar Husky at any time.
By making a $60 donation to the University of Minnesota, your name (or that of your class) is added to a list of proud sponsors and you will receive an official Polar Husky adoption certificate for your Polar Husky in the mail.
Your adoption helps to support this free GoNorth! education program and the Polar Huskies on the journey ahead!
Learn more about how to Adopt-A-Polar-Husky in the Dog Yard.
When can you adopt a dog? Does it have to be by a certain time?
S.M.
St. Ann
6th Grade
Natural Bridge
It is basically a full-time job to prepare the electronics to go in the field and to keep them working while we are out there. The most important thing is to ensure that the electronics do not collect moisture on the inside parts. To avoid this, it is very important that we warm all the equipment up to inside temperature (inside the tent's temperature) before we try to turn it on. And we keep everything in Ziploc bags and as airtight as possible for the same reason.
So, when we need to use the computers on Education Day, the morning starts around 5 am to get the heat going in the tent. Then, we take the computers and lay with them in the sleeping bags, for example. It easily takes 3-4 hours to get everything—cords, computers, cameras, etc. warmed up from the time we wake up. Then we need to power everything—including the batteries for the cameras that we use during the week.
We have three ways to power our technology. We use solar power whenever possible. Then we have a small Honda generator. Last, we have what is called "expedition grab it batteries." These work for a number of hours down to -40 degrees F (-40 C), but cannot be recharged. They are good if we run completely out of other power sources.
How do you keep all of your electronics working? Did you have to bring a lot of batteries with you? How do you charge your computers and stuff?
Z.
Richfield ECP
6th Grade
Richfield, MN
GoNorth! is a five-year program, and one of our goals is to travel around the "circumpolar" Arctic to collect our science research—and to make it possible for students like you (and three million others!) to see the many different and incredible regions of the Arctic to learn about the different issues in different regions.
We would not be going circumpolar (around the pole in a circle) without traveling in the Russian Arctic. With that in mind, we sat down and decided where we thought we should be heading to "learn the most" and experience different cultures and lands. We did a lot of research of what locations would work best from the standpoint of getting to and from there and so-on. And then we looked at where there were issues and questions good to work with in the curriculum. So, it is a long process, really!
Why did you choose Russia as this year's expedition location?
L.
LeTort Elementary
Pennsylvania
It’s true that there is a lot of work to be done before we can go on Expedition. It takes a couple of years from start to finish—so, as you can figure, we are working on more than one program at a time. Once an expedition ends—in late May early June, we return to wrap up the program that just ended; we clean gear, fix what is broken and pack it all away. We make evaluations, talk to our sponsors, and make sure that the funding is secured for the upcoming program. Then, we set out full-force to get ready for the next program ahead. Expedition leaders plans out the route in detail, works on permits, visas, Team Members, etc.
Over the summer, the gear gets prepared, resources are finalized for the website, and the writing of the curriculum begins. Writers continue to write throughout the winter!
All summer, fall, and winter long, we work with the Polar Huskies, taking care of them and training them for their jobs.
So yes, to answer your question, it is really a lot of hard work getting ready to go—it is something we plan for and work towards for years! But it is worth it, doing all this work and planning, so that you can explore the Arctic along with us (from the comfort of your cozy, warm, and dry classroom!).
Is it hard getting ready to go? I mean because you have to train the dogs and pack the food.
Carrie
Cuyna Range Elementry School
5 Grade
Crosby mn
Yes! Excellent question. That is an important part of the logistical planning.
If a Team Member—whether two- or four-legged- gets hurt or ill during the expedition, we are trained to deal with whatever is possible in the field. We have an extensive first aid kit— one for the Polar Huskies and one for the humans.
We also have both a veterinarian and a doctor on call while the expedition is on-going. So that as long as we can get connection with our satellite phone, we can call with any questions 24 hours a day all days of the week.
If either one of us or the dogs are hurt or sick, we will most likely take a rest day if possible. Otherwise, we may tie either down on the sled. Yes, that is indeed scary but sometimes necessary. If worse comes to worst, we will call for a rescue to transport the Team Member or Polar Husky out for care.
When you are planning the expedition, do you think about what you will do if someone or some dog on the trip gets sick?
B.D.
Juniper
Third Grade
Bend, Oregon
Great great question!!
Yes, this a major concern of ours while out on the expedition. The Arctic is actually a dessert - a polar dessert. So, it is very dry, and our bodies loose a lot of water in a day - sweating (!) and just breathing in the cold air.
Add to that, that if we do get dehydrated, it is very dangerous and can lead to hypothermia.
An adult normally loses about a quart (1 liter) of water a day through evaporation from the skin and lungs. But during a day of strenuous activity—such as traveling alongside the dogsled and setting up and breaking down camp—we loose 2-3 gallons (10 liters) of water from our body.
The tricky part for the Team members is that, in the cold, you tend to think less about drinking … and if you wait until you feel thirsty, you are already behind in water consumption since "thirst" indicates that yes, you are getting dehydrated!!
If you ask Mille, she will tell you that she finds it difficult to drink that much water …. But if she doesn’t drink it, she will get sick from dehydration. Dehydration worsens fatigue, decreases our ability to exercise efficiently, and reduces mental alertness. You can even go into shock. In short, dehydration is very dangerous and, in the worst case, may lead to hypothermia—a deadly condition.
Staying hydrated is simply a cornerstone in Arctic traveling.
To find out how the Team gets its water, visit H20 in Polar Husky A to Z.
Do you ever get dehydrated on the trail?
jsimmonds
Live Chat, March 1, 2007
