Somehow the crucifix around my neck worked its way out. I noticed because it was frozen to my cheek. Camped close enough to the shoreline I was bothered enough to climb a cliff face for a picture. My dogs wondered what the hell I was up to.

After my breakfast, something inside of me encouraged me to sit quietly and pray. So I did. Not for myself but people I care about like a kid kneeling beside his bed.

For twenty-four miles, at - 30ºC, a tail wind caned my back as I skied cheering the dogs on. They loved it. With a mature team during a nine-hour day I’d stop once to rest. This young team warrants rest every two hours within their shorter travel day. This had been our routine until today. I didn’t take my skis off as usual but stood resting. I’ve not worn a single bit of fleece this year but successfully layered my RAB Vapour-Rise gear. RAB clothing and Outdoor Design’s gloves protect me like fur does for my dogs.

Sunset at 9.15pm.

A rest day. I seriously expected us to be in for another rough, be it stationary day. But today was calm, like I was the only human on the planet. I enjoy watching dogs on their stakeout. Piston and Bomber sensibly curled resting all day. Saxon flicked his head once in a while. He appears irritated by a huge itchy scab that’s formed on his muzzle. Twizzle plays. The others preen, sit or look all about identifying smells wafting off the tundra. Probably caribou. We passed hoof tracks and droppings yesterday.

Thoughts flit all over the place as I dozed. The way our journey is progressing, my dogs and for some reason my schooldays. I don’t remember much about school, except my desire to leave lasted years. I repaired both ski bindings and fiddled around mending a few holes before downloading camera SanDisk flash cards on to my Smart Disk Flash Trax hard drive to backup pictures. Day ends with melting snow and feeding.

Very bright, cloudless day. Warm too at - 16ºC. Easily secured on top of my sled an eleven Watt Uni-Solar FLX-11 solar panel recharged a fist-sized 12V 7Ah battery, essential for recharging my Panasonic Toughbook laptop, satellite phone and camera batteries. Since that first slither of January horizon sun, the polar dark has been giving way to ever increasing daylight and this faultless power system once again provided me with the only means to an independent power source miles from anywhere. Even on cloudy days the tiny multimetre I use registers the panel has charged my battery.

Tonight’s camp is our last on Husky Lake before heading inland over tundra.

A fine day. Saw coveys of milk white ptarmigan and a herd of around two hundred caribou. Animal tracks dissected our own throughout twenty-one travel miles. Every single task is mine to do. Anything that saves time and keeps me organised on the move is a bonus. One of my favourite items of kit is an Arktis chest rig. It enables me to grab essentials without stopping. The Velcro pouches stow without fuss my map, Recta compass, Garmin GPS and PowerBar chunks.

We’re camped within sight of Tuktoyaktuk.