Another key to a snow cave is to have the area you lay on raised at least 6" above the floor. Keeping the cave small allows your body to help heat the small area. Laying up on a ledge keeps you above the coldest air in your cave. Not exactly for the claustrophobic, but could save your life if you get caught out in the elements. Also, don't put the air hole at the top, that will let your heat out. Put the hole where filled in your entry. Below ceiling level.
Sorry, I did more or less forget about that, Well Gaylord is in the upper portion of Michigan, USA. It is at the highest elevation for the northern lower peninsula and is in what is called the snow belt.
I find minimalist camping and survival in extreme cold fascinating. There is a Ray Mears video on Youtube where he does something similar albeit with denser snow; he also uses a ceiling vent.... Anyone who manages to spend a night out in those
conditions without experiencing extreme discomfort gets my vote... Looking forward to your next video...
CO2TROL - thanks for the comment but I disagree about the danger of being buried alive and frozen. With everything so white, it is difficult to see that the top is maybe a foot thick at the most. So if it did collapse you would not be buried, cold, yes, buried no. And I should have added this information: in a snow cave you sleep with something to dig with, you add an air hole at the top and take other precautions.
But thanks, this will have me do Snow Cave 2 this winter.
Another key to a snow cave is to have the area you lay on raised at least 6" above the floor. Keeping the cave small allows your body to help heat the small area. Laying up on a ledge keeps you above the coldest air in your cave. Not exactly for the claustrophobic, but could save your life if you get caught out in the elements. Also, don't put the air hole at the top, that will let your heat out. Put the hole where filled in your entry. Below ceiling level.
vangaurdx 1 month ago
where the hell is Gaylord? lol
MrNishi 2 years ago
Sorry, I did more or less forget about that, Well Gaylord is in the upper portion of Michigan, USA. It is at the highest elevation for the northern lower peninsula and is in what is called the snow belt.
Thanks for the reminder.
LD
MichiganHiker 2 years ago
you and your son were up inside a gaylord?
parkerandmarc 2 years ago
I find minimalist camping and survival in extreme cold fascinating. There is a Ray Mears video on Youtube where he does something similar albeit with denser snow; he also uses a ceiling vent.... Anyone who manages to spend a night out in those
conditions without experiencing extreme discomfort gets my vote... Looking forward to your next video...
CO2TROL 2 years ago
If that caves in you're dead, buried and deep frozen... I really wanna see someone sleeping in one of those...
CO2TROL 2 years ago
CO2TROL - thanks for the comment but I disagree about the danger of being buried alive and frozen. With everything so white, it is difficult to see that the top is maybe a foot thick at the most. So if it did collapse you would not be buried, cold, yes, buried no. And I should have added this information: in a snow cave you sleep with something to dig with, you add an air hole at the top and take other precautions.
But thanks, this will have me do Snow Cave 2 this winter.
MichiganHiker 2 years ago
@CO2TROL samme man, same!
K4bishk4 10 months ago