Author’s Note – This is just a quick summary of
what to do to survive in Arctic or blizzard conditions. Entire books have been written on this and on
building snow-shelters, read them before trying this yourself.
The National Weather Service defines a
blizzard1 as a winter storm which contains large amounts of snow, or
which whips up and blows around snow that is already on the ground2,
with winds above 35 mph (56 kph), and visibilities below 1/4 mile (400 meters) for
at least 3 hours. Oh, and after the Sun
goes down, the visibility will get even worse.
According to the National Weather Service, blizzards often develop on
the northwest side of a storm system. The
contrast between the lower pressure center of the storm and the higher pressure
to the west creates a pressure gradient between two locations, resulting in
very strong winds. These winds will pick
up any snow from the ground, or blow any snow which is falling, creating
significant drifting and low visibilities.
Did you ever wonder what you should do if you got stuck out on foot,
in the middle of a blizzard?
First, don’t keep walking, unless help is clearly visible within 100
yards (91 meters), and don’t panic.
Next, Stop, Think, Observe and organize, and then Prioritize
and plan. Remember, with the windchill,
you don’t have long to plan, because even if you are properly dressed, with the
wind chill you could freeze to death very quickly.
First things first, get out of the wind, the wind is a killer! You need shelter NOW! But what’s around you that you can use for
shelter, that’s right, snow and snow drifts!
So, how do you use the snow for shelter?
Let’s talk about it.
First, look for an area of deep snow or a snow drift on the leeward
side3 of a wind barrier. In
North America, or anywhere between 35 and 60o north latitude, the
prevailing winds during the winter blow most often from the west or northwest. This means that you will generally find snow
drifts on the east and southeast sides of hills, gullies, trees, shrubs, or
other wind barriers.
There are four types of shelters you can build depending on the conditions
you find in your immediate area, a shelter-trench in shallow snow, a tree-hole
under an evergreen, an emergency snow-cave in a drift or a snow-hole in deep
snow.
But remember, while you must work quickly because of the windchill,
digging in the snow is hard work and you don’t dare work up a sweat, so you
also must also work slowly. Remember, the
key to survival is to “take your time”.
Keep your shelter as basic as possible; it will be less work and it
will be easier to build. Don’t spend much
time digging your shelter, keep it simple!
If the snow is less than three feet (1 meter) deep, dig and kick out a
trench, lie down in it and cover yourself with loose snow.
To make a tree-hole shelter under an evergreen, an emergency snow-cave
in a drift, or a snow-hole in deep snow, you need to find a snow drift or an
area of snow at least three feet (1 meter) deep, so that the roof of your
shelter is at least six to eight inches (15 to 20 cm) thick, although two feet
(60 cm) thick would be better.
And once you are in your shelter and out of the wind, get some rest
and don’t worry about sleeping, it’s your body’s way of conserving precious
energy. Only if you are truly exhausted,
is there any danger of freezing to death in your sleep, usually you will wake
up when you get cold.
And don’t worry about running out of air, new fallen snow is 62% to
95% air and even older packed-down snow is 40% air. In fact, that is why snow is such a good
insulator, three times as insulating as wood!
Put an insulating barrier between you and the snow and the ground, such
as evergreen boughs, a piece of plastic, a blanket, etc.
And don’t forget, if you can dig down to the ground, it will be
warmer. But you will need some
insulation between you and theground, either six to eight inches (15 to 20 cm)
of snow, some evergreen boughs, or at least a piece plastic, otherwise you’ll
up sleeping on mud.
As you exhale, you breathe out 4.4% carbon dioxide and less than 1% carbon
monoxide. Carbon dioxide is heavier than
air and it will sink to the lowest point of the shelter, but carbon monoxide (CO)
is slightly lighter than air and mixes evenly with the air in the shelter. Your shelter needs to have a flow of warm air
that is rising and then cooling and sinking to keep the CO from building up. This is especially true if you use a candle,
a can of Sterno, a gas or a butane stove to warm up your snow-shelter. ALWAYS make sure that you ventilate your
shelter by pushing a stick or ski pole through the roof (leave the stick,
sticking through the roof, so you can clear the vent during your stay in the
shelter) to let the CO escape and leaving a hole in the loose snow plugging the
entrance will to help the air flow, the smaller the opening the warmer the shelter. Experts suggest that a hole the size of a
standard ski pole basket (about 2 inches or 5 centimeters across) is best.
A
Tree-Hole
Dig or kick out a trench or a hole in the deep snow under an evergreen
tree, climb in and plug the entrance with loose snow leaving a small opening for
ventilation. And don’t forget a roof
vent.
An Emergency
Snow-Cave
If you’re near a steep bank or hillside, then dig and kick your way into
the drift until you have a cozy cave and plug the entrance up with loose snow, leaving
a small opening for ventilation. And again,
don’t forget a roof vent.
A Snow-hole
If you’re snow field and the snow is up to your waist, then lay down
and kick and dig your way down until you are down three feet (1 meter) before
digging to the side, filling in the entrance with loose snow, leaving a small opening for ventilation, as
you dig sideways.
Hopefully, you will never be trapped outside in a blizzard, but
remember if you are, the drifting snow is your friend and the best way to
escape the killer wind!
I
hope that you continue to enjoy The Woodsman’s Journal Online and look for me
on YouTube at BandanaMan Productions for other related videos, HERE. Don’t forget to follow me on both The
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That
is all for now, and as always, until next time, Happy Trails!
Notes
1 In
the 1870's, an Iowa newspaper used the word “blizzard” to describe a
snowstorm. Previously, the term blizzard
referred to a cannon shot or a volley of musket fire. By the 1880's, the word “blizzard” was
used by many across the United States and in England to describe a strong
winter storm.
From
2
Strong winds which pick up snow that has already fallen, create what is a
called a “ground blizzard”.
3 The
side of something that provides the most shelter from the prevailing wind.
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