Summary
Highlights
Luke and Jake are in the Chugach Mountains of Alaska, facing deep snow. They will be survival camping without a tent, inspired by the arctic vole's method of burrowing under the snow for shelter. They measure the snow depth, which is about six feet.
They begin digging and cutting out snow blocks to construct their shelter. Jacob gets a snack (potato chips and cartoons) to keep him entertained while building the shelter. The goal is to build a basic roof that will keep the wind off and handle light snowfall.
Jacob forgets his blanket, so they hike back to the car to retrieve it. Upon returning, they set up their sleeping area by laying down caribou hides for insulation and protection for their air mats. Luke explains the importance of a zigzag 's' pattern for the shelter entrance to block wind.
Luke differentiates between proper snow caves and their current trench shelter. Snow caves require deep, compressed snow, which is not available, making the trench a more suitable option for temperatures around 6-10 degrees Fahrenheit, primarily to block wind.
Luke uses a white gas MSR stove, preferred over isobutane stoves for extreme cold. They prepare lentil and veggie tikka masala. They also experiment with a self-heating pizza that uses a chemical reaction with water, noting the difference between the package image and reality.
To combat the dropping temperatures, Luke fills thermoses with boiling water to preheat their sleeping bags. He also brings a small, contained fire log in a tin can for a portable campfire, which provides warmth for hands for several hours.
The temperature drops to zero degrees Fahrenheit outside, with wind chill below negative fifteen. Inside the shelter, near the sleeping bags, the temperature is a more comfortable 16 degrees Fahrenheit, demonstrating the effectiveness of the snow trench against wind chill.
They wake up late due to the warmth of their sleeping bags. The morning temperature is around nine degrees. They prepare oatmeal and sausages, noting how quickly food cools in the cold. Luke advises against using metal cups and bowls in winter due to rapid heat loss.
As they pack up, Luke finds his spoon and emphasizes a crucial survival tip: always put as many insulators as possible between yourself and the ground in snow shelters to prevent freezing, such as reindeer pelts, foam mats, air mats, or pine bows.