Exercise Sub-Zero brings army cadets to Labrador for training

Army cadets from all over Atlantic Canada are in Happy Valley-Goose Bay this week for a winter camping expedition.

The exercise, called 'Exercise Sub-Zero,'has 25 senior army cadets testing their survival skills in the harsh Labrador winter climate.

The cadets are from all over Atlantic Canada, and came to the Happy Valley-Goose Bay area to experience what it's like to try and survive in freezing temperatures and deep snow.

Kurklyn Hefford, a cadet from Newfoundland, said Labrador's climate is unforgiving even compared to back home.

"I think the hardest challenge is to get up in the morning," she said.

"The cold in the morning is actually ridiculous, becauseit's like -20 and you try to get up and everything's froze."

For eight days, the cadets are trekking and camping in the Labrador backcountry.The goal is to cover 40 kilometres on a pair of snowshoes until they reach Dome Mountain.

Mitchell McLean, training officer of regional expedition, said the challenges come right at the start.

"There's a huge hill at the beginning of the trek, and it's tough pulling a 200-pound toboggan up a hill, " he said.

"So when youhave three people, every person counts ... and everyone has to pull their own weight, so you really have to work as a team."

Check out the video above to see the Exercise Sub-Zero in action.