Snow Caves And Other Shelters
(Page 3 of 6)
After you've finished contouring each bench to your satisfaction, lay a thick "mattress" of insulating material-spruce or fir boughs, dry grass, or a backpacking padon top, and cover that with your sleeping bag. Be careful not to put any substantial weight on the bench just yet, however . . . you'll need to give the snow a chance to settle before you take your first nap.
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Since the next major step in the cave construction is to block up the original 4' X 4' entry hole, it's a good idea to move the rest of your gear inside first. (This is another advantage of my snow-caving technique . . . you don't have to push, pull, and squeeze your equipment through a tiny, confining burrow to get it under shelter.) You may also want to carve a shelf or two in the cavern's interior surface, to hold a candle and other small items . . . and thrust a short stick partway into the wall to make a handy clothes hook.
Now—using your shovel, a snow saw, or just your hands—fashion "bricks" from the material that you scooped out of the cavity. For starters, try to make a number of cakes that are the approximate size (precision isn't required here) of a standard 8" X 8" X 16" cinder block, and then—as you build the wall—custom-tailor whatever others you need to fit specific spaces.
To fill the opening, lay the bricks in courses just as a mason might. Start with a horizontal foundation of end-to-end bricks across the entrance, and then position each block in the succeeding rows so that—whenever possible—it straddles the juncture of the two cakes below it. Remember, too, to spread a handful or so of snow "mortar" between the chunks as you work. The final product will be a sturdy wall that completely closes off the cavity, bottom to top.
At this point, take a break (gather firewood, get some camp chores done, go on a hike, whatever) and allow the wall a chance to firm up. After 20 minutes or so, you and your domicile will be ready for the last few construction steps.
Using a shovel or flat stick, cut a small entrance hole (this one should be just big enough to crawl through) in the bottom center of the snow-brick wall. Ideally, the highest part of the opening should be lower than the top surface of the sleeping benches (rising body heat will then be contained inside the cave), so dig down as close to "floor" level as you can when you cut this cavity.
ABOUT VENTS AND FIRES
Just about here in their instructions, many survival and winter camping manuals will tell you to crawl into the cave and—with a stick or ski pole—poke a couple of small holes through the roof for ventilation. I don't follow this practice myself, however, for two reasons: [1] Snow is relatively porous and—in my experience—usually allows plenty of breathable oxygen to pass through the walls and into the cave from outside. [2] Vent holes let rising warmth escape and draw cold air in through the entrance . . . thus defeating the purpose of the shelter.
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