I knew a couple of SOG guys in Alaska that used to go to Fort Drum, N.Y. to do winter ops training.......crazy
We were mostly in Tromso and a horrible place called Finse with no trees, no cover, just snow, blizzards and mountains and I can honestly say when your snow hole collapses in minus 30 air temps then it sucks .
Going through the ice with keeping hold of your equipment and weapon also takes your breath away the first time you hit that freezing water.