Snow%20Shelters

1
Snow Shelters

• Winter School 2002
• By Hector Briceno
• Pictures from
• Freedom of the Hills 6th Edition
• or
• Princeton University Outdoor Action Program

2
Basic Winter Camp Review

• Shelter Protects you from the wind for sleeping
  and cooking
• Shelter traps heat

3
Anchors

• A little more difficult to stake the tent in
  the snow. You have different anchors Ice Axe,
  Ice Screws, Snow shoes, skis, deadman anchors

4
Snow Shelters

• Traditional Igloo (everyone is familiar with the
  idea)
• Snow Caves
• Snow Trench
• Quin-zhee low snow conditions

5
Possible Tools

• Snow Shovel is key if you want to move a lot of
  snow (and if snow is icy is pretty much only
  choice)
• Snow saw cuts nice blocks if snow is good
• Snow Shoes
• Sleds
• Hands
• Ice Axes

6
Igloo Construction

• Need good snow that stays in blocks.
• Make sure you sleep above entrance

7
Igloo From Inside

• Igloos can be pretty big and cozy (right R and
  A?)

8
Snow Caves

• Under branches is fast because the branches
  provide a natural roof
• On Slope is good because it is easy to make sure
  you sleep higher than the entrance.

9
Snow Cave theory

• Snow caves require adequate snow depth
• Are you on a potential avalanche slope?
• Could wind blow over and seal you in? (that is
  why someone has to clear or dig opening every
  couple of hours or more
• Easier to dig a cave on a steep slope than a
  shallow one.
• Temperature can be around freezing when it is 10
  outside
• Takes time, 2 or 3 hours for a four person snow
  cave with 2 shovels. With experience a 2 person
  emergency cave can be built in as little as 30
  minutes.
• Make sure to keep your clothes dry during
  construction
• Keep the ceiling smooth, and dig a trench around
  the base so water does not drip on you.

10
Snow Cave 1

• Dig a space (T) big enough to haul the snow out.
  This will later be covered with a pack or snow
  blocks.

11
Snow Cave 2

• Notice that you sleep higher than the entrance

12
Snow Cave 3

• Notice wands demarcate boundary so people dont
  step over the cave

13
Snow Trenches

• First one needs tarp
• Second one needs branches

14
Snow Trenches

• Can use skis or tarp, you sleep on the side
  chambers

15
Snow Trench

• Need somewhat deep snow, but quick to build
• Can dig a hole in the middle to trap cold air

16
Trench Igloo

• More basic emergency shelter.
• Vent a hole.
• You can also dig a hole where the cold air will
  collect
• Caulk any gaps between the blocks and smooth out
  irregularities in the ceiling.

17
Tree-pit Shelter

• You can also use the tree-pit shelter for holding
  out a storm. Quick to dig. Shelters from the
  wind.

18
Quin-Zhee

• For when there is little snow

19
Quin-Zhee continued

• Make a big pile of snow (6 feet high and 12 feet
  in diameter with a stick in the middle)
• Let it sit, then dig in