Members of the Canadian Forces and Canadian Rangers are nearing the end of their epic trek across the North.

Close to a dozen personnel have spent the past few weeks zipping across 4,500 kilometres of snow and ice on snowmobiles from Herschel Island, Yukon, to Churchill, Manitoba.

It’s part of Operation Nanook-Nunalivut — the military’s annual exercise to shore up Canada’s ability to defend the Arctic and the North.

Elanik says setting up camp in temperatures hovering around -50 C was no easy feat, making it tough to even wriggle into her sleeping bag because it stiffened in the cold.

“It's been exhilarating, but definitely required the most focus and attention … because the ice does not flex," she said. The jumbo ice, it's going to buck you off if it wants."