270 likes | 592 Views
Snow Shelters. Winter School 2002 By Hector Briceno Pictures from Freedom of the Hills 6 th Edition or Princeton University Outdoor Action Program. Basic Winter Camp: Review. Shelter Protects you from the wind for sleeping and cooking Shelter traps heat. Anchors.
E N D
Snow Shelters Winter School 2002 By Hector Briceno Pictures from Freedom of the Hills 6th Edition or Princeton University Outdoor Action Program
Basic Winter Camp: Review • Shelter Protects you from the wind for sleeping and cooking • Shelter traps heat
Anchors • A little more difficult to “stake” the tent in the snow. You have different anchors: Ice Axe, Ice Screws, Snow shoes, skis, deadman anchors
Snow Shelters • Traditional Igloo (everyone is familiar with the idea) • Snow Caves • Snow Trench • Quin-zhee: low snow conditions
Possible Tools • Snow Shovel is key if you want to move a lot of snow (and if snow is icy is pretty much only choice) • Snow saw cuts nice blocks if snow is good • Snow Shoes • Sleds • Hands • Ice Axes
Igloo Construction • Need good snow that stays in blocks. • Make sure you sleep above entrance
Igloo From Inside • Igloos can be pretty big and cozy (right R and A?)
Snow Caves • Under branches is fast because the branches provide a natural roof • On Slope is good because it is easy to make sure you sleep higher than the entrance.
Snow Cave: theory • Snow caves require adequate snow depth • Are you on a potential avalanche slope? • Could wind blow over and seal you in? (that is why someone has to clear or dig opening every couple of hours or more • Easier to dig a cave on a steep slope than a shallow one. • Temperature can be around freezing when it is –10 outside • Takes time, 2 or 3 hours for a four person snow cave with 2 shovels. With experience a 2 person emergency cave can be built in as little as 30 minutes. • Make sure to keep your clothes dry during construction • Keep the ceiling smooth, and dig a trench around the base so water does not drip on you.
Snow Cave 1 • Dig a space (T) big enough to haul the snow out. This will later be covered with a pack or snow blocks.
Snow Cave 2 • Notice that you sleep higher than the entrance
Snow Cave 3 • Notice wands demarcate boundary so people don’t step over the cave
Snow Trenches • First one needs tarp • Second one needs branches
Snow Trenches • Can use skis or tarp, you sleep on the side chambers
Snow Trench • Need somewhat deep snow, but quick to build • Can dig a hole in the middle to trap cold air
Trench Igloo • More basic emergency shelter. • Vent a hole. • You can also dig a hole where the cold air will collect • Caulk any gaps between the blocks and smooth out irregularities in the ceiling.
Tree-pit Shelter • You can also use the tree-pit shelter for holding out a storm. Quick to dig. Shelters from the wind.
Quin-Zhee • For when there is little snow
Quin-Zhee continued • Make a big pile of snow (6 feet high and 12 feet in diameter with a stick in the middle) • Let it sit, then dig in