Snow caves can be a fun alternative to camping out in the woods. They can also increase the chances of survival in an emergency; however, snow caves can also be dangerous if important details are overlooked.
If becoming one with nature is your idea of enjoyment, then leave your tent at home and plan to build a snow cave for shelter. If you find yourself in an emergency situation and are stranded without shelter available, then building a snow cave may be your best alternative. It really isn’t that difficult, but it will be much easier to create if you have at least one other person to help you build the snow cave. Just remember that there are definite safety precautions you will need to take.
The first rule of snow cave building is to pick your location wisely. Pay attention to the land. You don’t want to build in an area that could be covered by an avalanche or dig in an area that could become covered by falling snow piles from overhead branches.
Before you begin to work with the snow, make certain that your clothes are water resistant. Waterproof clothing is even better! This includes the type of gloves that you are wearing. You cannot keep your body temperature at a comfortable level if you have on wet clothing. Hypothermia can set in even in temperatures above freezing. Wet snow isn’t the only problem that you might encounter. If you work for too long and at a too strenuous pace, your body might start to sweat. Again, you don’t want to have a wet body or wet clothes, so take it easy!
Once you are properly outfitted, look for a small hill or bank that already has a good size snow drift. If there are several of you, building several small caves might be a better option than trying to build one large snow cave. Add to the snow drift with more snow from the surrounding area if necessary. It is always better to have too much snow than not enough. You want to have at least a four or five feet depth of snow to work with. Make the width as large as is necessary for you and whoever else might need the snow cave, keeping in mind that the larger the space the more difficult it will be to keep it warm.
After you have piled up more snow, don’t begin to dig immediately. The loose snow that you have piled needs to crystallize and bind together so that the walls of your cave will be stronger. You will probably need to wait at least an hour, so rest during this time and maybe eat an energy building snack.
To dig a snow cave, all that you really need is a good shovel. In an emergency, however, dig with anything you might have such as a pot or pan, snow shoes, and even your hands.
Begin digging into the snow at a downward slope, making sure that you place the extra snow that you are digging downhill from the entrance. When you have your tunnel the approximate horizontal length that you think will be sufficient for the number of people who will be using the cave, start digging in an upward motion. You will be creating a sleep platform on this higher level of snow, so make your cave as wide as necessary. Remember, heat rises, and it will be warmer towards the top of your snow cave, so this is where you will need to sleep.
Make the area above your sleep platform large enough for you to sit upright in and wide enough for however many people will be using it. As you tunnel farther into the cave, it will be harder to manage your shovel. You can move the extra snow out of the cave by pushing it with your boots. Make sure the walls of your cave are at least a foot wide. Use your shovel and your hands to smooth the snow into an arched dome along the ceiling of the snow cave. This will also help eliminate any direct dripping from melting snow.
Ventilation is an important feature of a snow cave. You will need to take some type of pole and work a hole into the top of the snow cave. You can make a hole directly overhead, but many people find that a hole that is angled to the side of the roof of the cave works better. You will need to monitor the hole and make sure it doesn’t become blocked. You may want to keep a pole in the hole as a safety measure.
Even though you might be tempted to bring a small propane light, heater, or stove into the cave to use, this is not a good idea. Carbon monoxide poisoning is a silent killer, and you don’t want to take the chance of any carbon monoxide buildup in the cave. Do your cooking outside.
For some extra warmth, however, a candle is much safer. Create a candle shelf in the snow and, if possible, line the shelf with aluminum foil to reflect the heat. Important! You will still need a ventilation hole in the ceiling of the cave!
Use your backpacks and any other material that you won’t be using to sleep with to close the entrance of your cave. Backpacks and extra blankets are much safer than trying to close the entrance hole with snow. Always keep a shovel in the cave with you. In case of a cave-in or a blocked entrance, you will have your shovel to help you dig out.
Common sense is essential to safely spend time in the outdoors. Always anticipate potential problems so that you can be ready to handle anything that comes along. Building snow caves can be an enjoyable and even a lifesaving venture, but keep in mind that snow caves can be dangerous if they are built and used incorrectly.
