"Cold" Music

Hi guys

I have been struggling on a piece that I very much want to write, but I can't figure out how to write it.  I'm basing the music of of Ernest Shackleton's journey to the South Pole, and I want to open with the a simple scene of the South Pole, but I simply cannot figure out how to write music that reflects the vast expanses and the dry bitter cold of Antarctica.  Perhaps extended technique? I don't know, but if anyone has any ideas please let me know.  Thank you.

One thing you could do is limit the melody to the upper register and the harmonies to the lower register, and keep it in a minor key. Try descending chromatic scales - this will give a sort of blizzard-like affect. Look up Franz Liszt’s Chasse-neige Étude and give it a listen - it should give you a lot of ideas. 

Interesting.

Perhaps you can look for inspiration in the great composers who wrote about similar landscapes.

For example:

He wakes up at about 2:00.  (:

Alright, thank you so much for all of your guys' suggestions.  I forgot to tell you that is piece is being played by my high school's orchestra (which is not very good haha) so I couldn't fully explore what I wanted with this song, but here is the first rough draft if any one would care to listen.  It's only the first movement, but I hope you enjoy!.