Early winter storms ripped the shore ice away a couple of times but right enough falling temperatures and slack in the wind meant hunters on foot were soon out on the ice before the dog teams.

Ice thickened and hunters’ floe edge boats were soon lashed to their sleds and the dog sledding season was under way.

At last, on the 24th I made the first run to open our season on the sea ice (same day as last year). I ran six dogs for one hour: Loads, Girly, Hot Dog, Knuckle, Bigness and Mettle.

November temperatures dipped to minus 30 and daylight was reduced to a blink on the horizon before it finally left us in the dark until the end of January.

This year Outdoor Designs brought out the best glove range I'd ever used. My favourites remain their mckinleymountain gauntlet, winterflex inferno and the mckinleymitt. But. There’s one glove I have been waiting years for, the ultraflex inferno. Brilliant.