Supporting Permafrost Science Across Northern Canada
Client: University of Alaska Fairbanks
Contact: Dr. Kenji Yoshikawa
Permafrost researcher Dr. Kenji Yoshikawa from the University of Alaska Fairbanks approached Kolibri Geo Services with a bold idea: to join a six-week snowmobile expedition from Prudhoe Bay, Alaska to Iqaluit on Baffin Island—a 5,500 km journey across the Canadian Arctic, mostly through uninhabited tundra and over frozen ocean.
Kolibri was hired to support the expedition with navigation, technical backup, and field drilling expertise. Travelling by snowmobile with limited resources, we carried both electric and fuel-powered percussion drill systems, installing thermistors to monitor ground temperatures in the few communities we passed along the way. The expedition combined field science with outreach, as we also visited schools to give presentations on permafrost and Arctic change.
In addition to scientific responsibilities, Kolibri served as the “repairman”—fixing everything from sleds to drills, as equipment inevitably wore down under the strain of weeks on rough terrain. Our background in remote repairs and improvisation was essential to keeping the expedition on track.
This project highlights Kolibri’s ability to combine science, survival, and storytelling across national borders and cultural landscapes—delivering practical support for Arctic research, wherever it’s needed.
“Ulli and I travelled across North America, primarily along the Northwest Passage, by snowmobile. We visited native villages and studied the thermal state of the permafrost. His great skill and knowledge made the extreme trip easy and enjoyable.”
- Dr. Kenji Yoshikawa, University of Alaska Fairbanks
