Once the cubs do venture out, they are unable to travel for several weeks. Cubs will lie on there mothers belly to nurse while their mother sits back and puts her head back and seems to slightly move back and forth as if to rock the cubs. Being out of the den makes this an easy position for the mother to be in while the cub's nurse. After several weeks past, cubs are ready to travel with their mom in search of food. The first problem cubs encounter is getting down from the Bogen Valley, which has a slope of about a seventy-degree angle.
Cubs have to be taught how to get down the side.
Mother goes first and slides on her belly and the cubs will follow her. The cubs may go rear first using their paws and claws to slow them down or go head first using their back legs to slow them slightly. Their mother will be at the bottom and will stop them from sliding. The mother polar bear will take a nap during the day during their travel to the ocean for their food supply. This trip may only be a day in travel or can be as far as a week away from the ocean.