Another case of 'should have prepared more.'

I get that they had likely done this trip at least a dozen times successfully; not a walk in the park, but still doable.

However -- the Arctic in Winter is already an extreme survival situation -- the moment you step out your front door.

At a minimun: Arctic rated survival gear for each person: -20 bag, pad and tent, clothing, stove, etc.

Spare food (up to 6,000 cal / day) water, fuel, etc.

Better communications gear/ electronics: even a cheap 2nd gen. GPS would have prevented this mishap. ($10-25 on ebay)

Spare gas (!) tools, parts, for each snow machine

Signaling gear: mirror, radio* snow dye, panels, etc

Tools for the unique environment: snow knife, shovel, ( 1/person) snowshoes, bear gun, chemical heater packs

* I realize that not everyone can afford a sat phone or even the PLB technology...but a cheap GPS, spare gas and even a short range consumer radio (which might actually reach the promised 36-50 mile range given line of sight from person to an aircraft) they could have shortened the search time.