Another leader and I decided to forgo all of the formal training provided the week before and chose to dig a cave patterned after a snow fort. We dug into the hillside thinking the snow would have drifted and been deeper, but ended up hitting roots, branches, rocks, and a log or two. With some creative engineering and modifying we were able to make room for two to sleep in exist in and do nothing else. We couldn't even sit up. After finishing our snow cave, we attempted to help out some of the other boys who were having a rough go or who were just too cold and wet to do it right.
In the evening we attempted to start a fire and dug down about 4 1/2 feet to solid ground. The fire would never take due to the soggy frozen wood and we all ended up standing around our respective caves cooking Mountain House meals over our backpacking stoves. With no place to sit and no place to get out of the weather, we did a lot of standing around. At about midnight we did a final check on the boys and turned in for the night. I was warm all night in my bag with just wool socks, long johns, and a few hand warmers. Despite being warm I did not sleep well and dozed off and on for an hour or two at a time. At eight in the morning it was time to break out of the claustrophobic cocoons and start packing up. Everyone made it through the night with all of their fingers and toes and no cave-ins. It was a quick overnight trip, but a lot of fun.
Here is a group shot back at the trail head before we loaded up and left for home. That's me rockin' the classic wool sweater.
