Armed forces members are on Lake Winnipeg Saturday, preparing for a 300 kilometre snowmobile trek into the arctic.

Capt. Ray Taylor said Saturday's exercise is in preparation for an exercise called Northern Bison that will see members of the forces snowmobile from Churchill to Arviat, Nunavut from Feb 19 to 27.

Soldiers from Ontario, Manitoba and Saskatchewan will be carrying their gear on long sleighs called Komatiks, which they made last month.

"It's several steps into improving the Canadian Forces ability to operate in the North," said Taylor.

For many of them, it will be their first time to the arctic.

"It's an amazing experience and it's a part of the country not a lot of Canadians get to see," Taylor said.

Fortunately, they will have the resources to keep warm.

"The army saw fit to make sure we got the best gear out there," Taylor said.

On Lake Winnipeg Saturday, soldiers are practicing their movement on skidoos. They will be travelling in platoon-sized units of 30 to 35 skidoos, he said.