I'll be on the ice off of Banks Island by Thursday night, April 1. Accomodations will be a dog sled and a tent. Forecast for the next few days that I'm there is for windy and -25F to -10F. Here's my gear list. Anything I've missed?

Northern Outfitters EXP package, ie, parka, bibs, boots,mittens, etc
Light and heavy synthetic underwear
Cabela's TransAlaska pac boots for backup
Fleece stocking caps, insulated hats
Neoprene face masks
Wool gloves and leather gloves
Multiple glove liners
Sock liners and heavy synthetic socks
Julbo mountaineering glasses and ski goggles
Wool pants and heavy wool sweater with Gore windstopper
Berber fleece pants lined with Gore windstopper
Windstopper fleece jacket
Digital camera
Heat packs to put in camera bag
Satellite phone
GPS
Lithium batteries
Beef jerky and peanuts
Misc personal care items
416 rem mag
Randall knife
Leatherman

That's a lot of stuff, but once the plane leaves I'm stuck there for 2 weeks.
Any suggestions would be much appreciated.

Thanks
Wes

Yeah,

You're supposed to take me with you!

Have fun, write about the hunt in these forums and show us the pics.

Mac

Mac's got it all wrong I'm supposed to go with you

Have fun and enjoy the hunt

Dress warm,degrease your rifle and shoot a big one.

I'd add cartridges to the list.

kk

Wes, your getting ready to go on one of the most interesting exotic hunts that is available to the hunter/explorer today. Language, food intake habits, time schedule importance, dealing with sled dogs, traveling by dog sled, extreme cold, unstable ice if your hunting the flow edge, to some real heavy awkward lifting if your hunting that rough flow edge helping the guide and dogs to move the sled are some of the things I remember. Watch your legs so you do not get a leg caught between a crossmember on the sled and a piece of frozen nonmoveable ice underneath, your leg will snap as easy as snapping a tooth pick if the dogs are pulling very hard. Dangerous footing is a concern from just taking a slip/falling to breaking through the ice, or getting wet when you step in a crack in the ice that is hidden by the blown in snow. Pay attention to your guide you walk where he walks. Simply trying to complete body functions are sometimes a challenge especially if the dogs are loose, try to sneak away and get down wind so you can leave a chewer in peace, you will know what I mean right quick if the dogs are running loose about camp when mother nature calls. I wouldn't let them lick your face because of that, let alone they might bite your face off. I would include a couple rolls of Charmin though Northern may be more appropriate. It is real interesting when they feed the dogs if the dogs are whipped back while they chop up a seal/caribou and then turn them loose. Be prepared at night, though you should have considerable dark hours as compared to late April/May. When the weather is colder that is usually when I saw most of the polar bear activity. If it gets too warm you will be hunting much earlier in the day because the sled dogs get too hot pulling the sled. Though you are going pretty early for the real weather warm up. Back to the night time hours, be ready with your clothes available so they can be quickly pulled on, these bears are hunting much of the night, your camp has a good potential for a meal and at night is when sometimes things get interesting. Be prepared for fast action. Do not go out into the cold if this does happen without getting fully dressed, any exposed skin will freeze in minutes and you might get caught up in all the action and expose yourself to serious problems. Take extra sunglasses and a extra pair of goggles. The synthetic long underwear has greatly improved since I went but when I slept in them I was uncomforable on my trials in the winter of Wyoming prior to leaving for my hunt. I found having a set of seperate gloves, hat, socks and a cotton set of jogging pants/sweatshirt combination which I left in my sleeping bag for sleeping only, I felt much more comfortable while sleeping in these clothes, they were completely dry with no clamy feeling from the days sweat. When you crawl into the igloo, built if it is really cold and windy as compared to using a tent if the weather is calmer or any other time you get snow or ice on your clothes brush off your clothing so your clothes do not have any extra chance of getting wet. If your a coffee drinker take some instant coffee, most Inuits' are tea drinkers. A really good thermos is nice to have and is appreciated as an accessory to any tipping. I really enjoyed my time with the Inuit, they are very intelligent people and have much to share.

I am sure you will pack it but your list did not include ammo nor a flashlight.

Have a great time and please keep us posted. I truly hope you get a big one.

Guys

I'm too tired to respond right now. I guess its "nervous
exhaustion" from worrying about getting everything packed
(including cartridges!!!!!can't believe I didn't list them).

Talk to you tomorrow and thank you very much.

Wes

Wow, you must either own an oil well, or be single to afford that hunt.
Good luck and stay hydrated. Lots of water. Its very easy to dehydrate and not know it in the extreme cold up there.
Trigger

Goin on a bear hunt (repeat)

I'm not afraid (repeat)

Got a real good friend (children hug each other during this part...repeat)

By my side (repeat)

Oh, Oh (repeat)

What do I see? (repeat)

Oh look! It's some tall grass! (repeat)

Can't go over it (repeat)

Can't go under it (repeat)

Can't go around it (repeat)

Got to go through it (repeat... Make motions with arms like you are clearing a way thru grass)



Goin on a bear hunt (repeat)

I'm not afraid ( repeat)

Got a real good friend (repeat with hugs)

By my side.(repeat)

Oh, Oh! (repeat)

What do I see? (repeat)

Oh look! It's a tall tree.(repeat)

Can't go over it (repeat)

Can't go under it (repeat)

Can't go through it (repeat)

Got to climb up it (Repeat and pretend to climb up the tree)



Goin on a bear hunt (repeat)

I'm not afraid ( repeat)

Got a real good friend (repeat with hugs)

By my side.(repeat)

Oh, Oh! (repeat)

What do I see? (repeat)

Oh look! It's a wide river. (repeat)

Can't go over it (repeat)

Can't go under it (repeat)

Can't go through it (repeat)

Got to swim across it. (Repeat and pretend to swim.)



Goin on a bear hunt (repeat)

I'm not afraid ( repeat)

Got a real good friend (repeat with hugs)

By my side.(repeat)

Oh, Oh! (repeat)

What do I see? (repeat)

Oh look! A deep, dark cave. (repeat)

Can't go over it (repeat)

Can't go under it (repeat)

Can't go through it (repeat)

Got to go in it. (repeat, close eyes as you pretend to enter the cave)



Oh,oh! It's dark in here. (repeat)

I feel something (repeat)

It has lots of hair! (repeat)

It has sharp teeth! (repeat)

It's a bear!! (children love to scream this part)



(At this point, increase the speed of your thigh slapping and swim back through the river, back up and down the tree,

back through the tall grass, till you get safely home and lock the door.)



I'm not afraid! (Repeat)

You have my sympathy. Now, degrease your rifles bolt and trigger to be sure it will not gum up when it gets cold.

DWS,
You appear to have a good equipment list and as I have never hunted Polar Bear, I couldn't help anyway. I do have one suggestion that I learned from my youth. I had something that I did (and not just once -may show you my mentality at that age of development) that created some problems in very cold weather. I remember doing this when I was pre school age in Eastern Montana and it created some serious difficulties that you will want to avoid.

If you are out one day hunting and you see a parking meter ........... DO NOT STICK YOUR TONGUE ON IT.

Well, I've run out of time and I never got a chance to respond and to ask a few more question. Plane leaves in a few hours and I'm still trying to squeeze in a couple of more things.
Thank you all very much for your comments, suggestions and
kind words. I really appreciate it.

Be back with a report on April 18 or 19,
Wes

Dalawa day !

I know this is too late, but for posterity's sake, I'd have included a fleece face-mask to put over the neoprene one... I double them up when hiking up to the bowls and back-coutry if the wind is really ripping... the neoprene gets wet with breath and freezes up, the fleece really seems to minimize that issue.

I probably missed you, but I've learned a few tricks about winter camping here. The best is to heat water before bed and pour it into a bottle. Ten min before you turn in, toss it to the bottom of your sleeping bag. It will be luke warm in the morning. Put a sock around it to keep it warmer and to keep from over-heating your toes. I used to mix hot chocolate so as to have a drink ready in the morning. It also makes a good warm-up sipper during the night for bathroom breaks and such. Nalgene bottles work great. Have fun.