Snow Cave School January 12, 2017

Agenda Essentials for Having Fun Snow Cave Building Mechanics Sleeping System Clothing Layers Leave No Trace Poop!! Unique Gear Needs Food and Water Cold Weather First Aid Locations and Avalanche Preparation Example Schedule

Essentials for Having Fun Stay Found - tell everyone the plan Drink Adjust layers Sun Screen applied multiple times Sun Glasses Nibble on food all the time Hot water bottle in sleeping bag Activities for those not digging Ask for help! Don’t be miserable!

Mechanics of Snow Cave Building Cave Sizing Fits about 10 people: 4 feet high 6 feet deep 15 feet long http://www.traditionalmountaineering.org/FAQ_Snowcaves.htm

Inside Snow Cave

Outside Cooking Two Entrances

Starting the Cave

Inside Cave Looking Down and Out

Outside Looking Up During Construction

Inside Fox Scavenging

Sleeping System https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=upSKJPFPyzY#t=0 http://www.ntier.org/Videos/WinterInstructVids.aspx

Clothing Layers https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=M7hx2hky-lw#t=0 http://www.ntier.org/Videos/WinterInstructVids.aspx

Leave No Trace Stay on trails Carry out everything Clean up after every meal No food of any kind left in the snow Secure food from critters How do we minimize the impact of our group?

Poop!! Snow and Ice – must pack it all out! To use the "Blue Bag," defecate on the snow away from the climbing route and rest areas. Collect the waste using the light blue bag like a glove. Turn the blue bag inside-out and secure with a twist tie. Place the blue bag in the clear bag and secure with a twist tie. Snow discussed at 1:48 minutes https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ySVGUdgJ-GI

Unique Gear Needs Two changes of clothing No cotton!! Layers Digging / Sleeping No cotton!! Layers Remove when sweeting Thick boots (Sorrels) and socks Hat Gloves Head lamp Extra batteries (cold temp) Snow shovels Broom handle Caution Tape Stoves with wood support White Gas (not propane) Tarps Sleeping mats (2) Sleeping Bag Water bottle Sun Screen and Sun Glasses

Food / Cooking Gear / Clean Up Minimize Cleaning Needs Menus Breakfast Egg skillets (premade in bag) Apple sauce bags Lunch Peanut Butter / Jelly Cheese / Crackers / Sausage Snacks Granola bar Gummy Bears Dinner Chili / Stew / Jambalaya (Individual servings in bags) Gear Clean Up Line bowls with plastic wrap Eat out of bags Lick spoons clean Knife Garbage bags Stove – 2+ per group Pot and Lid Candles for light Cleaning supplies (?)

Cold Weather First Aid Matthew McLellan

Overview Dehydration Sunburns Hypothermia Wash hands

Dehydration “Dehydration occurs when the body loses more fluid than it takes in” –Mayo Clinic Always Drink; even when you're not thirsty Never too much

Dehydration: Symptoms Dry Mouth Can’t Tear Lack of Sweat Cramps Nausea *Heart Palpitations *Rare

Sunburns “Reddening, inflammation, and in severe cases blistering and peeling of the skin due to over exposure to the sun’s Ultraviolet Rays” – Oxford Dictionary SUNSCREEN Don’t Procrastinate Re-apply about ever two hours Can happen without the sun

Sunburn: Symptoms Reddening of skin Feels hot to the touch Pain Headache/Fatigued Nausea

Degrees: http://hospitals.unm.edu/burn/classification.shtml

Hypothermia The Core Temperature falls beneath 98.6 Degrees Fahrenheit Body pulls blood from extremities to keep core warm Stay dry; Water pulls heat No cotton Layers

Hypothermia: Symptoms Skin is cold to the touch Shivering Lethargy/Drowsy Weak Irritability Confusion Slow Reflexes Seizure Slowed Heartbeat Slowed Breathing Hunger Nausea

Finally Watch Each Other You are the one who knows if you need help… …ASK FOR HELP!

Locations and Avalanche Preparation Mt. Baker – Outside ski area Mt. Rainier - Paradise Research Group size limits Permits Winter camping regulations Avalanche preparation Northwest Avalanche Center https://www.nwac.us/

Example Schedule Sunrise 6:41 am / Sunset 6:01 pm Saturday 7:30 depart 10:30 arrive 11:30 start digging (4 hours) 3:30 or 4:00 Digging Stops Stake uphill area Plan B - Tents Change clothing 5:00 cooking Sunday 7:30 breakfast start Boil water ASAP!! 8:30 pack 9:30 break caves Head out or hike?

Questions Stay Found - tell everyone the plan Malcolm McLellan (206) 849-9448 (c) mcm@vnf.com