The Snow Hole Trip started the first of April in Berldasbru, Bykle. It was three days on the mountain where we skied, built the snow hole and others snow shelters, and learnt some safety techniques. The place was full of snow; about 4 feet deep so we could not see much of the flora and fauna, only the tall trees at the bottom of the mountain.
The plan was to build the snow hole near the DNT cabin. For that, we skied around 6 km until we found out a good place to build the snow hole.
How to build a snow hole?
Need to build an emergency shelter in the snow? Or are you intending to camp out in the snow on a ski trek? Regardless of your reasons, snow is an amazing insulator against the cold and makes a fantastic shelter.
- Tools Needed:
In order to build an effective snow cave, a good backcountry snow shovel will help immensely. Look for a lightweight but sturdy shovel that has a collapsible handle and can fit easily into your backpack. An aluminum shovel should be one item you carry as part of your essential avalanche gear kit, but if you are planning on hiking, snowshoeing, skiing, or winter backpacking, it can come in handy even in areas that that lack avalanche danger.
If you need to build a snow cave but you do not have a shovel, then survey your gear and surroundings and look for something from which you can fashion an improvised shovel, such as a backpack or a flat piece of wood.
You will also need carving tools and a snow saw.
- Steps:
- Find a large open spot with a lot of snow. It’s important to have enough snow that will make a large enough shelter to house the number of people you intend to sleep inside the snow cave.
- Pick a suitable site. It helps if the site is level. It is also important not to be under the path of a potential avalanche. The best location for a snow cave is in a drift of snow with a fairly steep face where excavated snow can be disposed of down the slope. Probe before starting to ensure there is sufficient depth of snow (Langmuir 2013).
- Dig a tunnel into the snow, several feet deep, sloping up slightly. You will find this a lot easier if you have a shovel made for digging snow caves. Consider carrying one with you.
4. Hollow out a domed cave in the snow, large enough for two or more people to sleep and sit up in.
5. Smooth the inside roof if it drips. That way, the sleeping bag will not be soaked by “drips”.
6. Carve in benches and sleeping areas as needed. The higher the benches/sleeping platforms are, the better, as cold air will sink below the bench keeping you warmer. “For the maximum insulation and structural stability the walls and ceiling should be at least 60cm thick” Langmuir 2013.
7. Block the entrance with a backpack, branches, snow… to stay as warm as possible.
Tip: It’s recommended to wear waterproofed clothes and mittens while building it. Digging snow is warm work. Remove as much clothing as possible to avoid making clothes damp with sweat which may freeze later. Building a snow cave “takes approximately one hour per person sheltered”, Langmuir 2013.
- Emergency shelters:
- Blocked Hole.
“This is the better option if the snow is hard or the slope shallow angled. Dig a slot a bit more than shoulder width back into the slope and make it a bit more than your height when sitting. Make a seat and then use blocks to cover up the front to leave as small an entrance as possible at foot level. If the blocks are not strong enough to form a lintel, then use poles or similar and build on that. A vertical block can often be used to reduce the entrance size. If there is a hard layer in the snow, it may be possible to tunnel upwards beneath it so reducing the amount of blocking required”. Langmuir 2013.
- Nutrition.
- What eat on the mountain?
Food of sufficient quality and quantity will help to maintain the motivation to complete an expedition and enjoy it, whilst reducing the risk of injury and fatigue.
Food provides the body with the energy and nutrients necessary to keep it alive and healthy. More about nutrition here.
2. Where cook and eat?
It’s nice to build a wind common protected place where you can stay while you are cooking and eating. You can put some benches on the seat for the isolation.
3. Food selection and menu planning.
Planning for adequate nutritional intake improves your ability to operate safely in the hills and mountains and decreases the risk of injury and fatigue. Skiing, sleep outside, etc takes a lot of energy so you must take this in consideration and provide your trip with a lot of food.
The requirements for expedition food are not the same as those of a healthy, balanced and varied day to day diet. Consequently, careful planning is required to ensure that the quality and quantity of food taken will meet the energy demands of the group, and individuals within it.
Our menu was:
- Noodles with veggies and sauce. Cooked fast (advantage). Also you can use the boiled water to drink.
- Rice with veggies and mushroom soup.
- Breakfasts and lunch were individually.
You must eat around 2000 kcal per day because of the cold, the exercise (ski, dig the cave…).
- Skiing with a heavy backpack.
It was our longest ski trip with a heavy backpack. We carried all our equipment, food and drink. It was a little bit challenging for some of us.
The snow was very icy so Trollaktiv provides us some skins to do it easily. It’s a good way to learn about balance on skies.
- Equipment.
When your trip is going to take place in the snow you have to prevent some bad moments. You must have in your backpack: dry spare gloves, hat and dry clothes because you can get wet easily and this could be a problem up in the mountain. You also need to know that it’s possible that you don’t find dry wood with which do fire, so you should wear appropriate clothing. (more about clothing)
- Self opinion about the trip:
It was great! We achieve all our goals: carry a heavy rucksack on skies, build a snow hole and sleep on it, daily skiing trip, navigation, food.
It was a challenge, of course. For most of us it was our first time building a snow hole, skiing with that weight on the back…; but we worked like a group, a team: helping each other, motivating others, melting water for everybody.
The physical challenge was a sophisticated experience as well as the experience of the cold.
- Literature
- http://www.wikihow.com/Build-a-Snow-Cave
- http://survival.about.com/od/7/a/How-To-Build-A-Snow-Cave.htm
- Langmuir, E. (2013). Mountaincraft and leadership. Mountain training boards of England and Scotland