Summary
Highlights
After an exhausting digging session, the host completes the snow shelter. He provides a detailed tour, explaining that the snow is about 11.5 to 12 feet deep (4 meters), and he dug out roughly 400 cubic feet of snow. The sleeping tunnel extends six and a half feet into the hill, with the main area being about seven and a half feet long. He shares that he had to change the design after hitting a solid object deeper in.
For dinner, the host prepares an MRE (Asian style beef strips) and dehydrated chicken and rice. He also makes warm tea to combat the cold. He uses a water bottle filled with boiling water as a makeshift heater in his sleeping bag. He also warms up an old apple turnover and a frozen chocolate-covered macadamia nut dessert.
The host discusses the advantages of the snow shelter, highlighting how it provides excellent protection from the 15-20 mph winds outside. He explains the importance of not having the shelter entrance directly facing the wind and keeping the sleeping area at least 12 inches above the trench floor to avoid cold air pockets. He dons down booties and stretchy pants before getting into his sleeping bag.
The morning reveals a significantly worse blizzard, with the shelter having accumulated 6-8 inches of snow inside. The host's gloves are frozen solid, and the outside wall of the shelter is completely buried. Gusts of 50 mph make it incredibly difficult to stand outside.
Due to the intense snowfall inside the trench, the host decides to cook breakfast (scrambled cheese, eggs, and potatoes) inside the shelter. He also lights a small fire using a fireplace log chunk to warm his frozen gloves. Realizing the worsening conditions and accumulating snow, he decides to pack up and leave to avoid losing equipment and getting trapped.