I applied to the ERT program with the intent to get into mineral exploration and wanted to take the co-op as an opportunity to get introduced into the profession. I spent some time in my first semester getting excited about the co-op, researching different companies, different job opportunities, and different areas to work in. From the very beginning, the Yukon had my attention. From the Northern Lights, to Jack London’s beautiful snow ridden descriptions, an image was painted in my mind of the Great White North, and I felt drawn to see it for myself. After researching different companies, I decided GroundTruth was the one I found most interesting. I applied to GroundTruth among several other northern companies, and was excited when offered first a Skype interview, and then a job as a soil sampler.

Incredibly excited, I got home and set about packing for the summer in the Yukon. Thinking of Jack Londons bitterly cold unforgiving winter wonderland, I packed 2 fleeces, 4 long sleeve merino wool shirts, 2 sets of long underwear, 2 pants, hats, gloves, and multiple sweaters. Imagine my surprise when I stepped off the plane into a heat that was warmer than what I had left back in Ottawa. It was then that I learned that while the summer period was shorter in the Yukon, it still got just as hot as back home. And I had only packed one pair of shorts. Pajama shorts. Nice.

I had about a week up there before training started, and I spent the time exploring the tiny town of Dawson city, and appreciating the landscape (mountains, mountains, mountains!) and trails surrounding the ‘city’ (population 1400). When the first day of training rolled around, I stood in front of the people I would be spending the summer with, very confused. Where were the other girls? I was the only girl in a group of about 25 other soil samplers. What weird all male job did I sign up for?? When I asked about the lack of girls, I was told there was a significant lack of females in the pool of resumes, and not worry, there would in fact be 2 other girls joining at the end of training (they are returning from the previous seasons).

Training consisted of a packed week learning about how to identify the different soil horizons, how to use a GPS to follow a preset path, how to take a proper soil sample, and (the coolest one), learning how to use a helicopter safely and effectively. After training we were divvied into crews of 5-6 (I was placed on a crew with one of the other women) and we were all packed into a cramped 6-seater plane with all of our gear in one go and flown out to our new home!

The standard for field work in the Yukon is 28 days on followed by 4 days off. This took a bit of time to get accustomed to, but after a couple of weeks my mind and body were used to it. My day consisted of waking up, having breakfast (we would take turns with who was going to be cooking breakfast that morning), getting picked up by the helicopter, soil sampling an average of 32 samples, cutting a helicopter pad, going back to camp, scanning samples, dinner (taking turns), having laughs with the crew, and fiiinnaally bed. Repeat this 28 times and my first shift was done!

Now, to break down the actual soil sample itself. I was given an auger as a standard tool for taking soil samples (although when we were on north facing slopes permafrost was impermeable layer for the auger and we had to break out our mattock). I would follow a pre-determined line on the GPS and take a soil sample every 25 to 50 meters through any and all terrain imaginable, and record information that may be useful to future analysis (ground cover, tree types, soil colors, nearby outcrops etc.). I would then bag and tag the soil, then at the end of the day would scan all my samples into the system.

My favorite part of the job was just opportunity to work outdoors; I love being able to spend the day outside for work (although I did question this briefly on the days it hailed) and in such beautiful scenery. I also really appreciated gaining knowledge of the mineral exploration trade. The second camp I was at we were working alongside a group of geo probers (a hydraulic push probe on a tank!), and I spent a lot of time picking their brains about the different kinds of work you can get into, a lot of which I previously had no idea there were jobs out there like that! Days off in town were a lot of fun as well, going to the Gerties shows, rafting down the Klondike river, and hiking through Tombstone national park. I have nothing but praise for the people that I worked with as well, they were such an important part of making this summer so memorable. As I said earlier, I was worried about the lack of females, but I felt nothing but friendship and respect from my crewmembers and everyone else in camp. They are friends that I have been keeping touch with and I look forward to seeing again one day.

Overall, I thought that GroundTruth was a great company to work for. The job itself was labor intensive and sometimes would push you to your limit, but it was also full of beautiful views, great people, northern lights, self-growth, and hands on knowledge that you’d be hard pressed to find anywhere else. I would recommend soil sampling as an opportunity to get into the mineral exploration field, though next summer I would prefer to go back up north to work with the geo probe or as an assistant to a geologist, in a position where I can put more of the skills I learned at Fleming to use.