h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Entry: Digging a snow shelter - A802676
Author: sprout - U192568

Worryingly, there doesn't seem to be anything in the guide to assist researchers who might find themselves caught out up a mountain and needing to find shelter...

This article fills the gap

Sprout

Hi,

Looks pretty good to me.

I've slept in a snow mound a few times. In Canada it's called a Quincie (not sure of the spelling). You can save yourself some hard work if you pile up all of your equipment (rucksacks,etc) and make the snow mound around them. Then, after you've tamped it down and waited for it to harden, you can tunnel in and pull out the packs one at a time. Another trick I've used (below the tree line) is to collect some twigs, all the same length representing the desired thickness of the quincie wall. Poke them in from the outside. When you are hollowing out the centre you will know when to stop and you'll have a safe, consistnent wall thickness. It's so easy to break through accidentally.

Even a candle will provide some heat. You can get up to 0 deg. C when it's -14C outside. That's fine for sleeping in a good down bag.


I've never used the other kind you describe, but everything you've said seems to make sense and agrees with what I've read.


Awu

I just saw your last comment about a tent being better.

If you have the time (I've never built one out of necessity - just as a training exercise) then a snow shelter is warmer I think. A tent is quicker and if if it's getting cold and dark and you are hungry, then a tent is better.

Awu

Good entry

One thing I learned when trying out snow shelters is when you're excavating the main part, at the back of the shelter (opposite your tunnel) dig a little alcove about 2 feet off the ground, big enough for you to sleep in comfortably. This means that in the event of a cave-in, you should be relatively safe and will still be able to dig your way out pretty easily.

I like this article a bunch and feel it can fit into the Guide basically as is.

The above comments would mesh nicely with what's already written.
Also, a better mention about using wahtever is availible might proven helpful. Rock formations, equipment, (if below the snowline) small trees and branches will all save time and add stability to an ice shelter.

Also about tenting/camping in ice. If camping gear is availible, partially burying the tent in snow (especially on the windward side) will cut down the wind shear a bunch and make the tent much easier to warm up.

Friar

Nice entry!

You can also build a debris hut in snow if there are evergreens around, using pines and evergreen boughs to make the insulating dead-air space.

You might also want to link to 'How to survive extreme weather' <./>A456068</.> which has a mention of snow shelters.

Ready for inclusion in The Guide I think

As there wasn't an entry on building a debris shelter, I've done one. <./>A802964</.> Thanks for the push, Sprout!

Thanks to all for the helpful comments on this

It's interesting to get a North American perspective - you can really see how the different climactic and geographic conditions lead to different techniques.

For instance in the Pyrenees/Alps/Scotland I can't think of a situation where if you were near the timber line, you would be further then 2 hours from a road/4 hours from a phone - so you'd probably never build a snow shelter somewhere where you were near to trees.

Also I think in North American snow conditions you might need to use a snow mound more often because it stays colder more consistently and so you get that very fine snow that is not that stable if it isn't moved and left to consolidate?

I will add all the comments that have been made above to the article, as well as links to the extreme weather article and the new debris shelter article and some footnotes when I find out how to do those two things! (I'll have a look at someone else's article, that seemed to work for the basic Guide ML bits).Should I link to the debris shelter article while it and this one are in peer review or will this be unhelpful when it gets to be edited?

Ford's Prefect - I'm guessing the alcove tip would be most appropriate where a) there is plenty of snow (the alcove is 2 feet above the main floor of the shelter?) and b) you are intending to be in the hole for a few nights (too much extra digging for an emergency shelter?) If so I'll add it in those terms. For my own curiosity - would you then sleep in the alcove?

Sprout

Yep, you would. It's warmer near the roof of the shelter...

I guess this is a technique that is most appropriate for a one-person snowhole then. Otherwise you are going to have do some serious digging to do an alcove for three or four sleeping people on top of the main cave.

Sprout

OK

Article now upgraded, another bit of Guide ML knowledge acquired...

What's the protocol on credits for helpful suggestions? More than happy to credit y'all if you like?

Sprout

The shelter I suggested is indeed one you would make if you can see yourself being out in them there wilds for a couple of days or so. It's best to build a shelter like this into a snowdrift so you have enough snow. And yes, you sleep in the alcove

As for adding researchers' names, it's best to add names to the Contributors box when editing the entry - you're not able to put footnotes or whatever saying 'thanks to....' unfortunately.

Generally speaking it is best to link to an entry that has already been edited, however where a couple of entries are likely to be recommended around the same time (as in my entry on matches and Bels entry on the clockwork radion), you could link to another entry in PR. The Sub-Editor should be aware of the status of the link as s/he will read the PR thread before doing the subbing.

It's not unknown, if entries hit the front page on different days, that the Subs will make the adjustments as and when.

Does that help, Sprout?

I guess so, yes. Unless you've got plenty of time to construct it, or you're planning on staying for a while.

If you dig a hole in the floor of your snow cave, off to the side, then the cold air will flow into it and pool there, leaving the main room warmer.

Thanks to all for helpful comments, both on snow holes and on edited guide practice.

I have now sorted the credits to the people who have contributed and added the bit about the hole in the floor.

I'll keep the link to the debris shelter article - as you say, Zarquon's singing fish, the sub-editors can always remove or modify if it doesn't prove to be appropriate at the moment of appearance in the EG.

Subject to further comments, I reckon this is ready to go.

Sprout

Awww, thanks!

Your Guide Entry has just been picked from Peer Review by one of our Scouts, and is now heading off into the Editorial Process, which ends with publication in the Edited Guide. We've therefore moved this Review Conversation out of Peer Review and to the entry itself.

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