Building a Snow Shelter

Building a Snow Shelter

• The speaker builds a snow shelter in approximately 4 hours, which is less time than some of their other snow shelters.
• The shelter is cozy, with room to sit, cook, and sleep, and provides a beautiful view.
• The speaker emphasizes the importance of key features in keeping the shelter warm:
  • Ensuring the sleeping area is not the lowest point in the shelter, as cold air tends to collect at the bottom.
  • Having multiple corners to prevent wind from blowing straight into the shelter.
  • Creating extra room at the entrance to allow wind to pass through instead of being funneled into the shelter.

Snow Shelter Specifications

• The inside of the shelter is approximately 5 feet wide and 6 feet tall.
• The shelter is 11 feet from the back to the mouth.
• The speaker had to move approximately 230 cubic feet of snow to excavate the shelter.
• The total amount of snow moved is estimated to be around 423 cubic feet, equivalent to the max capacity of a commercial dump truck.

Snow Conditions and Maintenance

• Soft snow can affect the quality of the snow shelter and make it easier to build.
• The speaker notes that the snow shelter will sag over time and may need to be re-dug to maintain its structure.
• Fresh snow can increase the avalanche danger, but the speaker is not in an avalanche zone.

Testing the Snow Shelter

• The speaker tests the snow shelter by jumping up and down on the roof, but it does not collapse.
• Eventually, all snow caves collapse, but this one has held up so far.

Leaving the Snow Shelter

• The speaker has to dig out their car from the snow, which is stuck due to the heavy snowfall.
• They use snowshoes to beat a path to the plowed road and eventually get assistance from a gentleman in a 4x4 pickup truck to get out.

Building a Snow Shelter

• A snow shelter can be built in approximately 4 hours, depending on the individual's experience.
• A well-built snow shelter should have room to sit, cook, and sleep, and provide a good view.

Key Features of a Snow Shelter

• The sleeping area should not be the lowest point in the shelter to prevent cold air from collecting.
• Multiple corners are necessary to prevent wind from blowing directly into the shelter.
• Extra room at the entrance allows wind to pass through instead of being funneled into the shelter.

Snow Shelter Specifications

• The inside of the shelter is approximately 5 feet wide and 6 feet tall.
• The shelter is 11 feet from the back to the mouth.
• Building a snow shelter requires moving a large amount of snow, approximately 230 cubic feet.
• The total amount of snow moved is equivalent to the max capacity of a commercial dump truck, around 423 cubic feet.

Snow Conditions and Maintenance

• Soft snow makes it easier to build a snow shelter, but affects its quality.
• Snow shelters will sag over time and may need to be re-dug to maintain their structure.
• Fresh snow can increase the avalanche danger, but it's important to check the avalanche zone.

Testing the Snow Shelter

• The speaker tests the snow shelter by jumping up and down on the roof to ensure it's safe.
• Snow shelters will eventually collapse, but this one has held up so far.

Leaving the Snow Shelter

• The speaker has to dig out their car from the snow, which is stuck due to heavy snowfall.
• Snowshoes can be used to create a path to the plowed road and get assistance.
• It's possible to get help from others, such as someone with a 4x4 pickup truck, to get out of the snow.