Now for the rest of the story and the Duluth connection many don't know about. Roy Halvorson, president of Halvorson Equipment and Halvorson Trees was acquainted with Dr. Aufderheide, Walt Pederson was a Ski Doo dealer for Halvorson Equipment who was the distributor for Bombardier products which included the Ski Doo and logging equipment line among many others. Roy and Dr. Aufderheide were friends as were many of the others. Roy Halvorson kept a regular contact with the Plaisted Polar Expedition from his amateur radio station in his home on Branch Street in Duluth. Much of the radio equipment was supplied by Collins Radio Co. in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Art Collins the owner and Roy Halvorson were acquaintances for many years. A good bit of the spare parts came from the parts department at Halvorson Equipment, which was located at 246 S. Lake Ave. and later at 325 S. Lake Ave. 

I remember Walt Pederson fondly and had many a lengthy conversations with him before and after the trek to the North Pole. Ralph Plaisted was a blowhard and thought he was above talking to common folks such as the people that supported the expedition and worked for Halvorson Equipment. Jean Luc Bombardier was a wild child and a live wire who liked to party. He died at a young age. There was a big party at the Kitchi Gammi Club after they returned.

I was the parts and warehouse supervisor for Halvorson Equipment in those days and remember the excitement created by that event.