After two and a half days of intensive systems training and some short ski trips, we're out in the trail now.

Everything from just using the most efficient methods to setting up the tents to planning out 5 days of food down to the calorie to keeping goggles clear. These and many other small systems are required to stay warm, safe and working together as a team.

Our final task of the day was planning the load of our sleds, organizing the gear for weight distribution and also making stuff like quick layer changes easily accessible.

It was nearly evening when we headed out on to the ice. It was a short first run, maybe only a kilometer, but the real challenge of the day was to putting the systems into practice with one if the most important big systems - setting up camp and eating dinner.

We've eaten now and we are telling stories in the tent while I type this. Getting to know one another as we get mentally prepared for our first full day in the ice.

Lake Winnipeg is beautiful with wind sculpted sastrugi and upended plates of ice. Temp is a very pleasant -5f with no wind. It's overcast so no stars tonight.

Image: Camp cook for Scott manning the MSR XGK!