Snow Survival Training (Happy Camper)

On Tuesday and Wednesday of this week, we were trained in how to survive out in the snow, including one night of camping on the ice shelf. "Happy Camper School" as its known here started this Tuesday morning with an hour of classroom instruction. We then loaded up into two big transport vehicles called Deltas for the trip out to the ice.


After unloading our gear, we received instruction on how to use our camping stoves and proper HF and VHF radio usage, as well as how to avoid and detect frostbite, how to plan a campsite on the ice to be storm resistant, etc. We then began setting up camp.


In the photo above, we are setting up two Scott tents - sturdy canvas tents used by some of the original explorers to Antarctica. Next, we set up several modern mountain tents using anchors buried in the snow. Another form of shelter we learned was the Quinzie Hut. This shelter was built by first dumping our gear bags in a big pile, then covering it with 18 inches of packed snow. It was allowed to set for a few hours, then the gear was removed via a tunnel. The result was an igloo-shaped shelter with great strength and wind resistance:

Next, we built a wind barrier wall made from blocks of hardened snow cut out with a saw. It was a true team effort:



This sawing is hard work!


Another form of shelter we were taught was a trench dug in the snow and then covered with blocks of snow. I slept in one of the mountain tents. I had elected to sleep in all of my clothes since I get cold easily. That involved a base layer of long underwear, two layers of fleece tops & bottoms, snow pants, the big red parka, a wool hat and mittens. Thusly dressed, I slept in a sleeping bag which was inside a fleece sleeve, all of which was inside a mountain tent. Despite all this protection, I was still cold and woke up with frost all over my sleeping bag!

Once we all woke up and had something to eat and drink, we took down camp and waited for the instructors to pick us up. After more instruction on safety as well as radio use, we broke into two groups and had to handle two scenarios. In the first scenario, a fellow camper has been lost in a blinding snowstorm and we must use a rope to find him, using buckets on our heads to simulate zero visibility. In the second scenario, our plane has crashed and we must deal with injuries, establishing shelter, and radioing for help.


Overall a very fun and interesting experience! But it was a welcome sight when the Deltas came to pick us up…