Agree on how important good boots are. I use Meindl's when it's warmer and Schnee pacs when the snow gets deep. Your 300 mag sounds like a good bet, but my 300 WSM prefers 180 grain Accubonds. I think a 10x binocular is probably to much power for elk hunting, I use a 8x32 Pentax and have a spotting scope that usually gets more use from the truck. Good Luck
I have a pair of really heavy duty hiking boots with excellent ankle support that I use. Maybe Sorel leather pac boots in case of snow.
The 10x42 were a stab in the dark. Maybe a 8x or something compact after doing more research. I also have a nice compact Remington 700 BDL with a 24'' barrel in 30'06 I could bring. But not to stray from my original plan, Two more inches of barrel should be okay.
