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, because it'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 you have 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.