1. OK, to start with, you can learn a lot from the pros on their website; www.ousland.com (check the blog, A LOT OF INFORMATION BURIED IN THERE)

2. If you want to know, what not to do... ;-) check this link: http://www.wh3.org/Adventures%20of%20Dim%20Sum/main%20page.htm You can also check the website on www.earthtrekuk.net (fyi, this site address is going to change soon, I will try to let you know the new address in the next few weeks).

3. OK, now in regards to gear, a few things that I have learned lately:

• Check the picture attached to see the gear we are currently using. It's going to change when we are going to swim across the Bering strait. 
• Sled: get a good study sled. shop around. ropes are better than poles (that break)
• - Shoes: I always enjoyed using the Sustina montrail gore tex shoes ( did 1000 miles in one pair straight last winter, I had back up Neo Boots if I got into overflows but never use them). They are warm enough until -30F if you keep on moving. Montrail Bivouac shoes are good for inside the sleeping bag at night Now for colder and damper weather, go with the Bunny Boots, definitely; Bunny Boots: http://west.loadup.com/military/surplus/30221.html
• - Snow shoes: you can think of using yupi ski shoes: http://www.yupiskishoes.com/ However, if you are going to be in much deeper snow, think of back country skis or at leat big traditional style snow shoes.
• - Use moleskin on your face to protect it from frost bites. Tape moleskin directly underneath your nose and your eyes in -30F weather.
• - Sleeping Bag: may need to sleep in a big plastic bag inside your sleeping bag to absorb your condensation and maintain your heat. (we still have to try that one). If you know you are going to get wet, get a synthetic sleeping bag (North Face Dark Star is pretty good), the warmer the better. You won't regret it.
• - Learn to pile snow outside your tent before you fall asleep, so that you have to provide less effort in the morning to start melting your snow and make your water.
• - Forget camel backs who turn into frozen popsicles on your back even if you protect them with neoprene. Go with classical thermos bottles or nalgene bottles with thermos covers and put hot liquid in them in the morning.
• - learn to stop less often and drink 1/2 liter at once. Last year, on the iditarod I was consuming the following: 1.5 liter in the morning with 2 dehydrated meals, 1.5 liter in the evening with 2 dehydrated meals and 3 during the day.
• - During the day consume fatty products [smoke salmon, lard, bacon, olive oil, chocolate, muktut (hard to have access to it, i know), crackers, chocolate powder for hot chocolate, bars that do not freeze like Larabars, vitamins, etc...]
• - Be careful how you handle white gas. From what I understand, it can lead to frost bites if you get some on your skin.
• - Only use Lithium batteries at -30F, the others are a waste.
• - Clothing:
  • - Wool / Polar Fleece clothing and clothing with hoods which will keep you warmer. Multiple layers that you can take on and off to control heat.
  • - Down w/ shell cover and/or fur mittens are good to fit on top of regular gloves.
  • - Use face mask but don't hesitate to carve a big hole for your mouth to avoid condensation around your face.
  • - Avoid at all cost to sweat or get your hands or clothes wet. It can lead to instant frost bites. - Fur is good for hat, ruff and gloves at -30F. Wolverine fur does not freeze and protect your face.
  • - Day and Night Goggles are a must (forget sunglasses if you have strong wind). They will still frost from time to time however.
  • - Get some extra large plastic gloves for when you need to go #2, which you can fit on top of your base layer gloves. It's better than getting the bare hand of your skin exposed
  • - Get a piss bottle for the nights in the sleeping bag and learn to empty it right after. You don't want to deal with a frozen bottle in the morning... No idea how the ladies handle this one.

  That's all what I can think for now. Let me know if you have any more questions. I am going to be off email for the next week though since we will be walking between Brevig Mission and Wales in Alaska. Cheers Mate ! Dimitri