Arctic Activities: Ham Radio?

Aside from simply "being there", photography and fishing are high on my list of things to equip for in August. What about ham radio? Perhaps...but only if it is very minimal. I'm thinking the ATS-3A (already built) or an ATS-3B (to be built), the T1 auto-tuner, and a BuddiStick-type vertical with an elevated radial. Would my fly rod work as the "whip", holding a wire parallel to it and a coil held into the reel seat? A hiking staff could provide the base mast and "something" could hold up the end of the counterpoise.

A possibility...