THE SNOW HOLE TRIP

This trip started out horrible, me and Paige took a bus that seemed to have something against us, every customer had a problem, we stopped at every red light so we missed our other bus. After a great panik and calling and calling Len we got the number for Caitlin and her and Adam the most amazing heroes ever were only two in his car so they agreed to turn around and pick us up!
When we got to the meeting place where the car park was we got our skis ready, we added some snow saws and snow poles to our backpack and splitted into two groups. After talking about our trip, looking at the maps, talking about what was to have since we would have a little difficulty with the snow conditions we split the orienteering amongst us.

We got to the cabins first and Tim told us that we should go in there to seek shelter instead of going straight to digging the snow hole. I wasn’t very happy about it because I know how hard it is when you are wet and cold to go inside for just a little bit only to have to go outside again and especially for having to dig for several hours. But then after talking to us and explaining the DNT huts system he told us we were going to sleep for the first night there. I really didn’t believe him at all at first but when everyone started bringing their stuff inside I thought it must be true. The first night was great since we stayed up and were telling stories and asking each other silly questions which was a lot of fun.

The next day it was time for a little day tour around the area. We skied around looking for different possibilities for a snow hole, talked about what kind of conditions are best, used the snow pole a bit to test the hills and practiced our ski techniques. Then we went up the big hills on the other side of the valley and met Lens group there we skied down a bit to practice with the other group. Then we went to get our stuff and start our snow hole dig.
Me, Stella and Line had decided to be together in a snow hole and we had a very good place with the best view down the valley and to the sunset.

The dig was very interesting, not at all what I expected. It was so warm outside that we had t shirts on and we took it very easy. We thought that we should dig one big hole for us and on the other side there was a bench. I thought it was easier to dig with the shovels instead of with the saw in the beginning before I properly got the hang on how to use the saw, then it was better to saw out big blocks of snow that we could also use to build around the entrance. We kept switching the work between us and overall it took around 7 hours. First there was only room for one to work so the other two were making a bench and sunbathing. When the entrance got big enough we started being two that worked on the snow hole while the other rested. We felt like we had a good snow hole, there was a good hole for two people and bags on one side with a little bench to sit on for two persons and a seat at the end for one. On the other side was a bench where there was room for one to lie down with bags. The first night was interesting, we had warm water bottles in our sleeping bags and I had a heating pad as well to get my sleeping bag warmer as soon as possible. It was a little strange to feel the snow beside me and at the end but I kept telling myself that it was just nice and cozy and not at all scary and coffinlike. Thank god we had a candle to bring our spirits up!

When we woke up the ceiling had lowered dramatically, so much that I could no longer sit upright in our sleeping area. That was a little scary but I also thought it was a little cool. This day was dedicated to a long snow tour where we focused on navigation, leading the group, emergency shelters and skiing technique. Tim started leading then one by one everyone in the group got to lead. We had all kind of weather this day there was sun, a lot of wind and very cold. My part was leading the group up next to a peak so we were walking upward on a hill until we had to zig zag up as a leader i had to have delegate a person to be last and keep an eye on the group and make sure that everyone was alright walking up. When we got up it was difficult to see exactly where we were on the map because everything was covered in snow, it was so windy and blowing the snow in our eyes so we had to make an emergency shelter so we could have a small lunch break. It was really cool to see and feel how much of a difference a small cloth can to in extreme circumstances. But then we had to go down, which was not fun at the time (but funny now), the hill was very steep and it was like I had forgotten everything about skiing because I was really struggling, I probably spent more time trying to get back up from a fall then skiing down. But the lower we got the softer the snow so it wasn’t hard falls but very frustrating since I thought I was a better skier than this. And right when we left the shelter my fingers were freezing so I had to stop and put more on and move as much as I could to get feelings back into my fingers and toes. There I learned a valuable lesson, to always have my backpack organized so I didn’t have to take everything out to try to find what I was looking for. When we finally got back we went to one of the huts to have a talk about writing down our coordinates for a trip. So we had a little exercise to write down the trip we just had and also to make up a trip for the next day and the way home. Us girls had the assignment to make up a nice and easy way straight to the car park and it took some time and a few wrong tries until we got it right. Afterwards it was straight to the snow hole to fix the roof. We also made some changes to make some room so we all three could be together, then we could be warmer. This night was a little more tight but still nice.

Last day and we started packing and cleaning making sure that we leave the area spotless! When we were done we gathered around the huts to get ready for skiing back to the parking lot. There were some changes to the groups but I didn’t realise until we were starting that I was in the group who was taking the more difficult way back. I asked myself so many times that day what I was doing there that I lost count. First off in the first little bit I noticed I had my skis on the wrong feet! So my part didn’t start off so well but thankfully I noticed in the beginning. I was third in the front and the snow conditions were icy so I felt like I was struggling the whole way up. I kept sliding when turning so I probably didn’t wax enough or the wax went off really fast. This walk going up was definitely the biggest challenge for me so far. I kept trying to keep up with the others on what I think was skates instead of skies while the two in front of me were just running up the mountain and I thought I had some rocks as souvenir in my bag and it was really sunny and warm which didn’t help at all. It helped that after the hardest when we were almost to the top, I just stopped to catch my breath but then it meant that every single person behind me walked up to me to ask how I was doing and if I was alright. I told them I was catching my breath because there was absolutely no way that I would admit that I was dying inside. I adjusted my clothes and when the last person reached me I kept going. I tried to take slow and heavy steps to really press the kicker part of the ski into the ground for a better grip and I focused on taking good steps and it seemed to work a lot better. I made it to the top and it was such an amazing feeling, completely worth it to be able to see the wonderful view.

But what goes up must come down and since it was such icy conditions we had to be extra careful since it would really hurt to fall down. We basically snow plowed down the worst part and when Tim felt like he found a good place he had us do an exercise or a little competition in emergency shelter building.
We had 20 minutes to dig us in the snow and make a shelter for us so we could survive the night. Since I hadn’t done that well with the skiing I was determined to do well in this challenge. I was quick to jump down and start digging, I started digging straight in and then down an up to make room for my legs and head. I made a shelter that fit me as I would be sitting with my mattress and using my backpack as a block. I felt I did pretty good, I was one of the first ones to finish, get my backpack and try it out and I was one of the few who actually fit in theirs at the end of the time, then again I was the shortest person there. Afterwards we went to each shelter, tried it and explained the pros and cons to each one and Tim explained what was ideal to do when having to use these shelters.

On the way down we change leaders and my part was taking us the rest of the way down to the parking lot.
When we got there I was extremely tired but happy, it had been such an incredible experience. Even though I felt like it wasn’t my best job at skiing I still felt is if I improved, I went out of my comfort zone and challenged myself to go a harder, more difficult way then I usually do and I survived! I learned a lot about organising these types of trips and how to lead a group in this environment, I learned about shelters and different snow conditions and also about food and the importance of having the right nutrition and having a food you want to eat.

-The best snow hole group!!