1. Snow Cave School
January 12, 2017

2. 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

3. 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!

4. Mechanics of Snow Cave Building
Cave Sizing
Fits about 10 people:
4 feet high
6 feet deep
15 feet long

5. Inside Snow Cave

6. Outside Cooking Two Entrances

7. Starting the Cave

8. Inside Cave Looking Down and Out

9. Outside Looking Up During Construction

10. Inside Fox Scavenging

11. Sleeping System

12. Clothing Layers

13. 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?

14. 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

15. 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

16. 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 (?)

17. Cold Weather First Aid
Matthew McLellan

18. Overview
Dehydration
Sunburns
Hypothermia
Wash hands

19. 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

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

21. 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

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

23. Degrees:

24. 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

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

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

27. 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

28. 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?

29. Questions
Stay Found - tell everyone the plan Malcolm McLellan (206) (c)