\"Maybe, the louder I bark, the sooner we\'ll leave\"
The dogs can\'t contain their excitement to finally get on the trail.
Eric harnesses the last in the team as the excitement begins to build.
Harnessed and ready to go.
The dogs are eager to get out into the open area of the lake.
The teams navigate the narrow portage leading to Great Slave Lake.
Eric pauses for a picture just before the expedition launch.
Eric escorts his dog from the dogyard to the sled\'s stake-out line.
A final wave to family and friends as Arctic Transect 2004 officially begins.
Everybody pitches in to get all 30 polar huskys harnessed up.
Hugh and his packed sled are ready to go. Now it\'s time to get the polar huskys harnessed up.
Hugh follows the lead with his team.
They begin to enter the vast expanse of Great Slave Lake. The dogs produce a cloud of steam from their bodyheat.
Paul and Aaron take to the trail, fully loaded and full of excitement.
Mille does her final packing.
It takes both mushers to control the dogs and sled through these narrows.
Paul calls out the commands to coax the dog teams along.
Paul, gets the dogs ready for the gangline.
Paul can\'t wait to hit the trail and get on Great Slave Lake.
The final lashing of the sleds secures the full 1,400 pound load of food gear and supplies.
Before getting to the main lake, the teams have to negotiate a narrow portage.
Aaron and Paul steering the sled through the narrow portage.
The thick sleeping bags are the last items to get lashed down to the top of the sled.
The sleds disappear into the distance. Will describes the scene as three boats leaving the harbor into the open sea.
The teams are greeted by a sundog as they enter Great Slave Lake.
Great Slave Lake is hundreds of miles across. It will be a long time before the opposite shoreline will be in view.
Everybody pitches in to get the dogs harnessed.
Aaron leads his on the launch.
Arctic Transect 2004 Library Photo Gallery Yellowknife Launch 
