OldJimbo said:We don't have a lot of time if you don't want to go to a really miserable experience or looking like a refugee from an Inuit tourist store.
I have pretty much new wool pants (linesman about as thick as they come) in size 40 waist, with legs that can be resewn to go to 34/36. They've been washed in hot water and have felted up nicely. You'll be needing to get things set up over there, with pants altered to fit WHEN YOU"RE WEARING ALL THE UNDERWEAR THAT GOES UNDER AND TUCKS IN.
A great alternative is to look for old heavy wool suit pants in thrift stores. I just wear heavy duty poly/cotton) workpants with lots of underwear. They're cheap, heavy duty, spark resistant and dry fast.
I haven't looked for leather outer mitts in a while but I should be able to come up with some. They're huge and tough - the 3-4 pairs that are suggested refer to the inner liners/gloves. The leather just keeps the wind and moisture out - but trust me the wind blows in Alberta!
Boots are pretty vital. The best route is a pac style with the new style liners that dry faster - with an extra set of liners. High are best with sewn tongue to prevent snow getting in. Remember that they have to fit over pants and underwear on calf.
Email me if you want me to send you the pants and go looking for mitts.
My boy works in Ft McMurrey which is a bit further north - but he's in camp and working long shifts.
I think the main ideas are clothing that doesn't let snow in, and that's easy to dry out. It's pretty darned dry there, but any moisture will freeze you. It could be 0 degrees with a chinook - but then it could well be -50 before adding on windchill. Pretty extreme place!
Thanks Jimbo but I'm a size 34" waist even with all my layers on I don't think I could fill out a size 40".
I am going to see an expedition supplier on wednesday and see if they can solve any of my problems with the trousers and mitts.
the boots are going to be the biggest problem though.