This is the following of the article concerning snow shelters.

2- Snow trench

As the name implies it is about digging a deep trench

from which you will make cells (either in the depth or length direction) for sleeping, like in the japanese capsule hotels.

Cells will be elevated from the ground of the trench to keep cold air at the bottom. Finally cover the trench with a plastic sheet or branches.

3- Snow mound

It’s a simplified igloo. Put all backpacks together on the ground, cover with a plastic or survival sheet, then pile 2 to 3 layers of snow on top. After piling up each layer, pack it and leave it freeze for a while (time will depend on snow conditions) to create a 40cm high roof.

Then dig under to remove backpacks.

Then simply enlarge the interior by digging deeper.

Another way to do it if there’s not enough snow on the ground is to pile up a larger amount of snow on the backpacks (about 1 meter) and insert poles about 40cm deep.

Once you removed the backpacks,

hollow snow from the roof until you reach the bottom of the poles.

4- Snow cave

The concept is to just dig in a slope a hole deep enough to spend a night. Using the probe you must find a place where the snow depth is sufficient. Areas where the wind carried a lot of snow, like snowdrifts, are good spots. There are also 2 techniques. The first one is to dig the entrance tunnel going up (this is where cold air will be trapped). Then dig the cave while removing the snow outside.

The second one is to dig the entrance tunnel horizontally. Instead of removing the snow when hollowing the roof of the cave, you leave it at your feet to rise the sleeping area.

Whatever the method it will look like this :

Recommendations :

• Construct a shelter no larger than needed. This will reduce the amount of space to heat. A typical mistake is to make the shelter so large that it steals body heat rather than saving it. Keep shelter space small.
• building a shelter takes time. It is preferable to stop your hike early.
• when you dig you sweat, especially when digging inside the shelter. You might end up soaked. A extra pair of gloves is necessary. Work calmly and if you are not alone, work in turn inside the cave.
• to be efficient, one person will dig inside, the other one will remove the snow.
• to sleep comfortably, it is necessary to have a mattress (preferably an inflating one) to insulate from the ground, a plastic sheet below will increase insulating power, a warm sleeping bag (preferably synthetic because of humidity inside these shelters), a sleeping bag cover to protect it from humidity. A candle placed in the lower part of the shelter will warm the interior.

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