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Show Lakeside Review North, Wednesday, April 4, 1984 mw land. The priciple behind snow caves is to keep body heat inIf some one would have told side. The heat will actually glaze me a month ago that man could the walls and roof of the cave and then you have a solid sheldig a hole in the snow at the top of a mountain and survive a ter from natures harshest elewhole night in it, I would have ments. Regardless of the outside been tempted to offer them a temperature a snow cave can be as warm as 40 degrees. piece of property on the moon A simple method is to first dig that Ive been hanging on to. a large pit in the snow pack, a Although somewhat of an Im but not a skier, circle about 10 feet wide and so I always felt that the lofty five to six feet deep. You can reaches of the Wasatch Front were no place for me November through May. But now I can speak differently. I have actually done it. Lived one night at Snow Basin in nothing more than a 3 X 3 X 7 foot cave dug right out of the endless snow. And even more surprising (to me, anyway) was that it wasnt bad. Id even like to do it again. While most sportsmen have hung up the gear, waiting for warmer weather to return, there is something about camping in the out of doors with the temperature hovering around zero that will give the stout hearted sportsman the urge to get up and head for the open sky. However, it is not the same as summer camping. Different preparations and precuations are necessary to insure a safe and enjoyable outing. Special attention should be given to the right equipment, proper clothing and food. The most important thing to realize is that mountain temperatures in the winter are harsh, usually below zero. Hypothermia is a constant danger. Make sure you are dressed properly and be prepared for many types of weather conditions. It is a good idea to take along at least one change of clothes even for a one night trip. Unless you have waterproof outerwear you will probably be wet afer digging the cave. In addition, you will need a good sleeping bag (it should be warm to about 30 degrees) and a waterproof ground cloth that should be big enough to cover the top of the bag as well as underneath. A foam pad or good airmattress is a must for insulating the bag and you from the the SCOn MONSEN Review Correspondent WM? Pm22iim Sports Commentary build snow stairs to get out. Then individual snow caves can be dug into the walls of the pit. Allow plenty of space so you wont be digging into some one elses cave. There are two ways to dig the cave. The easiest is a simple square hole dug into the side wall. You should allow enough room for free movement but not too much dead air space. It should be about a foot longer than you are tall. A small but important item to remember is to make a slight slope down into the cave, or you will have a tendency to slide out during the night. The other way, and probably the best, is to dig a small entry tunnel about two feet square and two feet into the wall. Then you can hollow out a cavern beyond the entry so that you have a small inverted igloo. You can make it big enough to sit fully upright and for sleeping gear. Then add the finishing tou snow. One pot meals that can be cooked quickly are the order of the day. If you try getting to fancy the fried eggs will freeze while you are cooking the bacan. Hot cereals, hot chocolate and fruits are better and will give the re- quired nourishment warmth. Sandwitches, soups and stews are good for. lunches and dinners. Remember that living in those conditions requires more energy than watching the football game at home so take plenty of food that can be consumed as needed. You can keep a pot of water heated by the fire or stove for quick hot drinks. Chemical stoves generally work better, because most of the available fire wood is buried under 10 feet of snow. But if you dont have too far to go from your vehicle, you could bring some from home. There are several ways to build your snow cave. Each method has its followers as to which is best. The best for you will prob-- , ably be determined by the size of your group and the lay of the Club Schedules Car Show and Road Races On Sunday, the Golden Spike Empire Vintage Car Club is having a vintage car show and an autocross race for vintage cars. There will also be a sports car solo II auto cross race for sports cars. In parking lot at Hill Air Force Base at noon the sports car race will begin. The antique car show will start at 3 p.m., and at 4 p.m. the antique car autocross race will 1 begin. The trophies will be presented at 4:45 p.m. If you have any questions concerning this event, please call 544-829- 9. TMsAC CONTAIN TED AS A ft NIC sfcAVIvl i 3C ches. A candle will aid in heating the cave but isnt neseccary. You can build a shelf of snow to place small pocket items. Winter camping is an experience that can introduce the adventurous sportsman to a world that most will never see. The beauty is that it exists very close to home for those willing to put aside old notions about highland winters. Its not too bad. Really! |