Global Courant 2023-04-13 17:32:00
Remote living has taught us to be more self-sufficient and prioritize our relationship with our incredible natural environment and each other.Hilary Messer-Barrow
I do a 10 hour round trip from our remote community in Canada to the nearest town to do some shopping.
We go to appointments and stock up on groceries for two months when we drive into town.
My favorite part of the day is an incredible 300-mile drive home through pristine wilderness.
About four years ago I moved from Vancouver to Beaver Creek, a community of about 90 people in remote Yukon, Canada.
After moving from a city to a remote area in Northern Canada, I realized that normal tasks like grocery shopping can be a huge undertaking. So my husband and I established a regular grocery shopping routine that we’ve stuck to ever since.
Every six to eight weeks, my husband, our dog, Chilli, and I drive 300 miles from the remote northern community of 90 where we live to Whitehorse, Yukon, to run errands and attend appointments. In general, the round trip is about 600 miles and takes about 10 hours.
During seasons when we get only four hours of sunlight and extremely cold temperatures, we stay overnight in Whitehorse.
On a recent trip, we tried to be as efficient as possible while working through darkness and extremely cold temperatures. Here’s how it was.
I got up early and started my day warming up my truck
Since we crammed two months of appointments, shopping, and groceries into our trip to Whitehorse, we started early. On this particular day, the sun didn’t rise until noon and it was -40 degrees Fahrenheit.
With the cold, we had to hook up the truck and get it up and running or it would be impossible to start. This kind of cold is hard on vehicles, so it’s important that we let the truck warm up before we leave.
As the truck warmed up, I got dressed to walk Chilli
My face was covered in snow by the time I got into the truck.Hilary Messer-Barrow
I stuffed Chilli into booties, a thermal layer, and a jacket, and I wore more layers than I could count, along with a thick parka. I also wore a face covering, a toque, snow pants and winter boots.
Due to the cold, our morning walk was not as long as usual. Still, the truck was ready to go when we got back.
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Once we started driving, I noticed that trucks and cars in the city were heating up. Not turning your car off while running into a store or having lunch is normal here when it’s extremely cold.
Our first stop of the day was the hospital for routine blood work
The community we live in has a small health center with a nurse and a receptionist.
Although a doctor visits our small community two days a month, we have to travel to Whitehorse for specialist appointments or procedures such as x-rays, ultrasounds and certain blood tests.
After my blood work, it was time to pack food for Chilli
We have over 100 pounds of Chilli dog food.Hilary Messer-Barrow
Once we got to the vet’s office, my husband loaded over 100 pounds of dog food (enough for about three months) into the back of the truck.
We like to have plenty on hand in case we are unable to complete our trip on time. Planning for contingencies is a big part of life in a remote community.
We also stopped at the pet store for treats and some new toys for Chilli.
My husband and I split up to do the next few errands on our list
While my husband picked up a new saw, fuel for the chainsaw and a waffle iron from the hardware store, I went to the hair salon.
It had been three months since my last visit to the salon, so my roots were in dire need of attention. While my hair stylist was applying color she said she would be gone next time we are in town and I complained that I have to go another three months before I will see her. She curled my hair and I walked away refreshed and generally a lot better about myself.
After my hair appointment, I took a cold, quick walk to pick up some new woolen socks, a gift for a friend, and some candles. Meanwhile, my husband and Chilli braved the cold for another short walk. We always take Chilli on our trips to the city so we make sure the time is fun for him too.
After reconvening at the truck, we headed to our favorite health food store for some specialty items
We went shopping last because it required the most coordination and organization. Our shopping list was long as we needed enough for almost two months including any special events, birthdays, holidays or get-togethers we will have during that time.
We made our way down the aisles, checking items off our list and noticing when something was out of stock. If we need to replace something, we go to another supermarket in town. Our cart was so full that other customers asked why we bought so many groceries.
We started sorting ingredients into bins and coolers as the cashier scanned them
We mainly got fresh products and dairy products.Hilary Messer-Barrow
We brought reusable bags, canvas tote bags and three cool boxes – two small and one large. We put frozen foods in the bins because they would be fine in -40 degree weather and put produce and dairy in the coolers so they don’t freeze.
Then came the hard part: loading the truck. This required spatial skills and teamwork. We didn’t want anything to shift on a 300-mile ride home, but we wanted snacks and dog food, emergency supplies, and extra clothes on hand just in case.
Loading the truck felt like a game of Tetris. We hoisted the bins and coolers into the back of the truck and my husband ducked under the canopy to arrange everything perfectly. Once the truck was packed, we gave Chilli one last short walk, filled our tank with gas, and hit the road.
As we drove home, we were prepared for emergencies
We had emergency equipment with us due to the extreme cold, lack of light and distance we have to drive. We took a satellite communication device, warm clothes, food, water and car repair equipment.
We also always let a friend know when we leave Whitehorse and what time we expect to be home.
I made sure to stay alert during our ride
I saw some amazing views on the ride back.Hilary Messer-Barrow
The ride required both of us to be constantly alert. When the light fades, it’s not always easy to see where the road ends and the frozen ground begins.
We didn’t expect anything to happen during our ride, but the only way to do it enjoy the breathtaking views is to know that we have prioritized safety.
The day was not over when we got home
Once home we had to unpack our fully loaded car.Hilary Messer-Barrow
We were exhausted after a long, incredible ride, but we still had to unload what we had in Whitehorse and put everything away, my least favorite part of the trip.
We dragged everything into the house through the dark and stocked the large pantry, stuffed the fridge and filled the freezer. Some things had to be broken up into smaller packages or emptied into containers to avoid spoilage or waste.
By the time we finished we were ready for a big salad full of delicious fresh veggies that will be a distant memory on our next grocery trip.
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