Snowcaves – How NOT to Build Them!

Let’s look at 8 real examples of how NOT to build a snow cave! The inhabitants of these poorly constructed shelters must have been freezing at night!

In this video, first we discuss how to properly build a snow cave: 1) at about a 30 degree incline so that the floor of your cave is above the top of the opening – so hot air is trapped and pushes cold air out 2)As small and low as you can so that you have less space to heat 3) With a raised sleeping platform – so that you are sleeping closer to the warmer air 4)Punching a ventilation hole in the roof and mostly blocking the entrance off once settled to control air flow 5) smoothing out the roof to prevent drippage. As we explore a system of snow caves poorly built by the boy scouts, I point out the problems I see with some of them and, when I find things well done, point out the correct things they did.

It’s always better to learn from someone else’s mistakes – and this chain of snow caves gives us plenty to learn!