Building a Snow Shelter Could Save Your Life
Photography: Mark Nelson
So, you’re outside in the winter forest, and you’ve found yourself in a tough spot. You’re either injured, really lost or freezing wet, and a long way from any of the comforts of home. The slow realization that you may be in a survival situation begins to creep up on you. Recognizing you’re in a tough spot sooner rather than later will make all the difference in your survival. Learning how and when to build a snow shelter can save your life.
A snow shelter will get you out of the wind, and can help you to conserve your energy and heat. With the aid of some kind of digging tool (like a shovel or snowshoes), it’s easy to construct a simple snow trench in which you can lie down. After digging out a trench in the snow, thickly insulate the bottom with anything that will keep you off the wet and cold surface — extra clothing, gear or even tree branches will do the job. Next, create a roof overhead, placing across the trench whatever will keep out wind and snow: tree branches, a tarp, or even snow blocks cut and laid against each other to create an “A” frame like that of a tent are possibilities.
Also very simple to make is a snow cave, much like a bear’s den. You must dig this shelter into a deep snow bank or hillside, big enough to curl up inside. Again, layer the sleeping area and block the opening with something that will protect you from the wind.
Spruce wells also make a good, quick rescue shelter. These are the hollowed out areas around evergreen trees with the lower branches buried in snow — the rescue hole is pre-made for you. Dig down as deep as you can, breaking branches along the way to create some wiggle room against the tree trunk. Be sure to cover the opening overhead.
A snow hut takes more time to make and requires more skill, but can provide excellent insulation and wind protection and can be made large enough to sleep three to four people. Shovels are the best tools for this ambitious construction project. Pile up a good four-foot mound of snow, letting it settle for at least an hour. Then hollow out the inside in the shape of a dome, creating a cozy den. Pile up the dug-out snow around the hut’s sides to add even more insulation. The digging out work will get you perspiring, so you’ll need to get a fire going nearby to warm up and dry out.
None of these shelters is the Taj Mahal, but as long as you’re out of the wind and staying dry, you’ll conserve heat and energy, enabling you to make it through the night.
Bonus tip: One nice trick I’ve learned to get through cold weather, especially at night when lying down, is to do some isometrics — applying equal force against equal force, exercising the muscles with minimal movement. It works very effectively. For example: Put your palms together in front of your chest, press for six seconds, then release and repeat. You can continue this practice throughout your entire body to warm up. Another technique to use when traveling with other people is to spoon bodies. Put the coldest person in between two others to provide the best care.
A winter survival camp is difficult at best, but rest assured, if you have a positive attitude and keep doing your best to improve your situation, you’ll see it through. Be prepared, keep your head, and you’ll be okay.
Chas Rauch is a longtime mountain man who has lived in the Utah mountains for 22 years. He is the Wilderness Guide and Naturalist for the Talisker Club in Park City.
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