It's sad really when you think that a few decades ago we used to be one of the prominent winter warfare militaries, along with the Norwegians and the Finns. We were so good at it that the Americans used to send their troops and instructors up here to get qualified.
Then there was our EME's who kept our vehicles and LOSV's running, most of the time working in exposed conditions with the mercury dipping well below -30, but they did it.
A point to bring up here about water in the fuel lines, why didn't the CQ have Isopropanol to mix with the gasoline, this would have solved their engine problems. A few ounces in every gas tank and voila, no more condensation, works everytime. Contact gloves, what, we don't issue them anymore? Common sense, hand warm, metal cold, touch cold metal, hand sticks to metal, get frostbite, or worse loose some skin.
You don't use regular MRE's in the artic, of course they freeze. Hot water freezes three times faster than cold water. Doesn't the military have dehydrated rations anymore? Add hot water stir, eat. Chilli-con-cardy, eat one of these and you could crap through a cheerio at 30 feet, standing up! Just don't let anyone smoke near you. ;D
I think the powers to be in Ottawa have to go digging in the pham library and dust of a few of them old winter warfare phams and start teaching how to properly train troops in winter warfare. Starting with the basics, because we seem to have even lost that.
Damn shame.