Shakedown Confirmation Details
We are very excited to confirm your participation in the 2026 Polar Shakedown Ski & Pulk Training. The skills you learn on this training will tremendously enhance any of your future polar expeditions and cold weather adventures.
For your convenience you can find all these forms and resource links on our website anytime at this link: https://www.polarexplorers.com/shakedownresources. This page is password protected. The password is: shakedown (all lowercase)
This Confirmation Letter includes the following important information in this order:
Shakedown Dates and Arrival Information
This training begins as the team gathers in Ely, Minnesota on January 31, 2026. Arriving by 4 PM will allow you to get settled prior to any late afternoon or early evening activities. Please contact us if you are not able to arrive by 5:30 PM.
For more information about travel to and from Ely, Minnesota click here "Getting to Ely".
We will meet at Timber Trails Lodge which is located 7 miles NE of Ely on the shores of Farm Lake near the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. Once you have reached Ely, go east on 169 (also known as Sheridan St, the main road through Ely). Heading east, go one and a half miles past Ely and turn right onto Route 16 (also known as Kawishiwi Trail). Go five and a half miles and Timber Trails will be on the left. We will be in touch with you closer to the date to let you know which cabin you will be in.
Here are links for several forms you need to complete and submit
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PolarExplorers Application - Submit along with your registration and deposit
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PolarExplorers Medical Form & Waiver - Submit by December 1
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PolarExplorers Insurance Form (Submit by December 1)
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Rental Kit form (Optional - Submit by December 15)
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Polar Pack Gear Store (Optional - Submit by December 15)
Upon your arrival you’ll have a chance to unpack and organize your clothing and equipment in advance of your gear check with your guide. If time allows after the gear check and before dinner you'll have a chance to test out your ski system (boots, bindings, skis, skins) on the nearby lake. Dinner will be served around 5:30 PM. After dinner we will have a briefing about the coming days, what to expect, thermoregulation and the phases of every expedition. Your guide will also show you his/her gear, provide any necessary explanations and share with you some tips and tricks for staying comfortable. The following morning after breakfast we will cover several topics, including packing a sled. We’ll also introduce expedition tents, considerations when making and breaking camp, stove use/care, the basics of an expedition kitchen, and the basics of bindings and ski technique. This day will be spent mostly outdoors but the evening will see us indoors sharing a few more skills and getting ready for our departure the following morning.
The following morning after breakfast we will depart by ski for a mini-expedition exploring this incredible region. Days will be spent traveling by ski and pulk with periodic breaks for classes and snacks. Evenings will find us in our camps, cooking dinner, and talking about expedition travel. Readings from the journals of early explorers will add a magical feeling. By this point you will have developed the basic skills necessary to travel comfortably and safely in the cold. The mini expedition is a perfect opportunity to fine tune your skills and also test-drive all of your equipment. In the afternoon of the 5th day we will practice how to recover from a fall into icy water (conditions allowing) before heading back to our cabin for showers and individual feedback sessions.
The Shakedown officially ends on the morning of the sixth day (February 5). You may want to spend some time in downtown Ely before returning to Duluth or Minneapolis. There are several shops in Ely that sell quality cold weather clothing, and it might be worth your while to see what they have in stock or what you might want to order. We recommend that you avoid booking return flights any earlier than 12:30 PM on this day (from Duluth) or later (from Minneapolis).
Clothing & Equipment
Click here to see the clothing and equipment checklist and a thorough description of most items. We are happy to make recommendations for just about any item on this list but it's important to know that each person has different thermoregulation techniques and needs, and it's important to pay attention to what you know about your body. Do your hands get cold easily? Do you sweat a lot? Do you sleep cold? All of these things will help you find tune and modify your gear.
Expedition travel is all about maintaining a high level of energy so you can reach your individual and team goals. A big part of this is eating the right food. We will provide breakfasts and dinners during the Shakedown and lunch on the second day. You are responsible for your lunch snacks for three days of skiing (click here to watch a short video about lunch snacks.) The exact amount of lunch foods that you bring will vary from person to person based on your metabolism. As a general rule you should plan to consume at a minimum 1200 calories in snack foods each day, with higher metabolisms consuming more. The overall weight of your snack food should not exceed 16 oz / 450 gr per day with a total of four days for this training.Your snacks should contain both quick burning and slow burning calories including simple & complex sugars as well as fats (for example, chocolate, dried fruit and nuts). You should test your selection by putting it in the freezer for 24 hours and then attempting to eat it. Is it too hard? Will it break your teeth or fall into pieces? If so, look for something that will hold up well in the cold. Keep in mind that you will be wearing gloves and/or mitts so if you have foods that are small pieces (like nut mixes, etc.) consider putting them in a wide-mouthed bottle so it’s easier to eat them without having to remove your gloves or mitts.
Like many adventures this training represents both a financial and time investment on your part. To protect yourself we require that you purchase trip cancellation insurance or sign a waiver acknowledging that you are intentionally declining to do so. Trip cancellation insurance has many benefits including coverage if you need to cancel your expedition due to, among other things, illness or injury to yourself or that of a family member, especially when within 120 days of the training.
Medical Evacuation Insurance
Much of our Shakedown route is remote. Thus, medical evacuation insurance for at least $15,000 USD is required. Typically comprehensive travel insurance policies that include trip cancellation also include a medical evacuation component in excess of this amount.
Tipping your expedition guide is customary and always appreciated though it is not obligatory. The tip amount is at your discretion. Here’s a helpful resource about guide tips from Outside Magazine.
What is included?
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Double occupancy lodging in lodge and tent
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Dinners and breakfasts during the expedition
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All group gear (tents, cooking, safety, etc.)
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Skis
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Sleds and sled harnesses
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Emergency & communication gear
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Guide(s)
What is not included?
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Transportation to/from our meeting location
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Personal clothing & equipment
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Lunch snacks during the Shakedown
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Trip cancellation insurance
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Medical evacuation insurance
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Gratuity
We will be in touch on a more regular basis as the Shakedown approaches. We look forward to working with you as you prepare for this exciting adventure. Please do not hesitate to contact us if we can assist you in any way.
Again, thank you for joining us on the Polar Shakedown Training!