Snowcaving

Have you ever had the urge to go snowshoeing on a clear winter night?  If you can get high enough and far enough away from the city the view is often very clear and can provide some amazing views, especially if you get to the top just before sundown...

 

















However, hiking back in the dark can be a chore sometimes, especially if your energy was sapped in getting to the summit.  So why not build a snow cave and hike out the next morning?  Here are some pros and cons:

Cons:

• Equipment & food necessary for overnight camping adds a lot of weight – you may not be able to make it as far as you would like (however you should always bring basic survival tools)
  
• If the snow conditions are not right you may not be able to construct a snow cave.  This could turn into a serious problem if you are not prepared.
  
• Spending the night allows more time for snow conditions to change.  This also can become a serious problem if the slope becomes icy or a lot of snow falls.  Always be aware of avalanche danger.
  
• Building a snow cave can take a lot of work and you might not sleep very well :(

Pros:

• Get experience for possible survival situations in the snow.
  
• Enjoy the sunset and a clear view of the night sky (if it isn’t cloudy).
  
• Enjoy the sunrise (possibly the best picture taking opportunity)
• Be able to go farther and spend more time outdoors.

Of course you could also just hike in during the day and out at night if you aren’t opposed to snowshoeing at night.  Night hiking is actually quite peaceful in the snow and surprisingly bright because the light from the night sky is reflected by the snow.  Be careful though, weather can change quickly and cover your tracks; it is a good idea to have a GPS with you even if you are familiar with the area.  Also, you may not be the only predator out there – cougars, wolves, etc. do not hibernate; try not to mimic their prey.

Building a snow cave

There are several types of snow caves you could build depending upon the snow conditions and how hard you want to work at it.  The easiest (and coldest) is a snow trench.  This is simply a trench dug into the snow with a tarp put over the top and anchored down so it doesn’t blow away.  Getting out of the weather (wind/rain/snow) is the most important function of a snow cave.  The second most important function is to hold heat in.  A snow trench will not hold as much heat if it is not insulated, however, at least it will help keep you dry and out of the wind.  Insulating a snow trench is relatively easy but will not be discussed here.  See the topic at http://www.survivaltopics.com/survival/snow-trench-shelter/

My favorite type of snow cave is a hybrid between a snow trench and snow cave.  The idea behind it is to build a warm snow cave without having to invest too much time (I have been able to build a nice one in under 3 hours).  To do it properly, this type of snow cave requires at least five feet of snow. 

1. Dig a trench about five feet deep (with steps so that you can get out) and about five feet long.  Don’t make this trench too wide because you want to be able to cover the top with a tarp and have enough space left over to pile snow around the edges (holding your tarp down).
   
2. Carve out a hole toward the bottom of one of the walls of your snow trench.  This will be the entrance to your snow cave so make it large enough for you to comfortably enter but small enough that you can keep as much heat in as possible.
   
3. Continue to carve and shape your snow cave alternating between carving and throwing the snow out of the trench.  For tips on how to shape the inside see http://www.etisurvival.com/snocv.htm
   
4. When the snow cave is shaped how you like it, stretch your tarp over the trench leaving a space just above your stairs so that you can get down in.  Put big chunks of ice and snow on the edges of the tarp to weight it down and keep the wind from blowing it away.  This will be your vestibule area where you can keep your gear for the night.

Ridge above Big Springs near Cascade Peak, Provo Utah

          




If the snow is not deep enough to carve out a snow cave you may need to pile it until it is deep enough.  This method will not work if the snow is too powdery.  Pilings must be stamped down frequently to provide snow that is hard enough to hold its own weight when it is carved.  The following pictures illustrate this idea.
     


Try to build the walls high and vertical with the bigger chunks of snow holding the looser snow in the middle and stamp it down using the same ramp each time to get to the top.

Bear Meadow, Provo Utah

Several pilings and stampings were skipped in the preceding sequence of photos.  (This method can be very time consuming and exhausting especially if you have less than two feet of snow to work with.)  This snow cave was completed in about 8 hours.  With two people working, this time could probably be reduced to three hours due to the more effective division of labor (someone can be carving while the other person is removing snow).     




When snow conditions are not right for a snow cave, you may be forced to build a windbreak instead.  These conditions include snow that is too powdery or snow that is not deep enough.  If the snow is more than three feet deep you probably have conditions good enough for a snow trench.  If not, then building a windbreak should be your last option.  These conditions ought to be avoided unless you are out for the true survival experience. 

A windbreak is best placed within a stand of healthy trees (avoid dead and unstable looking trees because they might fall on you).  Use what you can to provide a barrier to the wind.  If you have a tarp be sure to tie it down securely on at least four corners.  Pile snow on the edges of your tarp to keep the wind from catching it and to provide extra insulation.  This may not be the warmest night you’ve spent outdoors but if you have a dry sleeping bag it ought to keep you warm enough to get a little sleep.

 

Cautions and General Tips

• Do not make the roof of your snow cave too broad or wide.  Also, do not make the roof flat – arch the roof to provide structural balance…  this will keep the ceiling from caving in when it warms up.
  
• Do not start an open fire in the snow cave.  Large fires will heat the ceiling too quickly (could cause it to collapse), use up your oxygen supply, and poison your air with carbon monoxide, etc.  A small fire may be safely contained in the vestibule area of a snow trench / snow cave hybrid if there is adequate ventilation.
  
• Be aware of your terrain.  Do not hike in steep drainage areas (avalanche danger).  Do not approach the crest of a summit (often windblown summits have steep drop-offs).  Remember going downhill can be harder than hiking up.  See other snowshoeing tips.
  
• Go with someone else or at least tell people where you plan to go so that they know where to look if you don't come back.
  
• Stay dry.  Don’t allow yourself to sweat too much (bring layers of clothing).
  
• The smaller your snow shelter, the less air you need to heat, the warmer you will be.
  
• If this is your first snow cave try constructing it in your backyard or within 100 yards of your car so that if things go wrong you can retreat to warm shelter.

 

Things to Pack

Absolutely Necessary:

• Winter-rated sleeping pad or some type of insulation thick enough to keep you from losing your body heat to the ground.  Therm-a-Rest does a great job.  Closed-cell foam pads work just fine too.
  
• sleeping bag
  
• shovel (lightweight & collapsible is nice)
  
• gloves
  
• layers of clothing (take a layer off if you get too warm)

Recommended:

• plastic tarp
  
• rope (tie your tarp down to a support structure)
  
• wool socks (and another dry pair for morning)
  
• wool long-johns