Winter Survival Shelter In Minutes

This new video I posted on YouTube is a little shaky at times, sort of like the Blair Witch Project movie. I bring my camera when possible when I'm outside.

This short spontaneous clip is the result of  my serious contemplation of the snow cave, snow fort or snow shelter. I've tried making snow shelters by chopping blocks. I usually end up tired, wet and dissatisfied with the results.

By using natural surroundings like dead falls and live pines, a person can create a shelter in minutes and not waste valuable time and calories. The only tools I had was my hands, If I had a knife, a saw or plastic sheeting or a small tarp, the shelter could be improved with spruce boughs and dry seating.

Of course, being in a national park, the forest service frowns on cutting of live vegetation. In a true survival situation I would do what ever was necessary to survive. Today, that wasn't a problem.

Within an hour of playing with this concept, I was back in my room, took a hot shower, turned on my laptop to write.

Survival Hiking-Testing Bear Spray

 

We're expecting a bunch of snow, finally. I was surprised the initial 12 inches melted off, resulting in mud all around the man camp. Other than the hike up to Elephant Back Mountain, snow seemed to disappear.

Taking advantage of my day off, I headed out, even though heavy snow was predicted. I brought along my bear spray, something I've carried up here in griz country for seven years. I've never, ever tested it.

 

Once I got far up the mountain, I released the safety on the spray, pointed it up the trail. With no wind, and heavy flurries, I gave it a shot.

A great burst of yellow spray covering 8 feet in diameter, easily shooting 20 feet distance, was a rewarding sight. The spray still works. I began to feel the sting, started running full out away from the bear mace.  

Reaching the man camp via the employee trail brings one right to the back of Teal Dorm. You can see the trailers to the left of the photo. Once there, a new friend said he just saw a big wolf head right past where I just came from.
I, personally, am not afraid of wolves unless they're in a pack. Its the griz that concern me. I saw lots of tracks on the snowy elephant back trail, some large canine. Wolf, coyote, grouse, some thing big. I practiced walking back in my own tracks, an old "indian" trick. If a person isn't careful coming up the trail, they tend to drag the back heel. If I needed to hide my tracks, I'd be careful to step high. That way, walking back in my own footprints, the drag wouldn't give my direction away.

As soon as I got back to my dorm, I took a hot shower, started packing a survival kit. Around her, a whiteout could mean death if you're not prepared.

My New Love

 

Up here at Man Camp, Lake Yellowstone, Yellowstone National Park, in Wyoming, I'm testing all the stuff I bought to winter here. I'm not expecting to get out for about 6 months. Who knows, the guys think I'll want a change of pace at some point and promised to help me get the Geo up to West Yellowstone.

 

Hiking around Lake is peaceful, if not warm and sunny one minute, then freezing cold the next when the clouds roll in. The long scarf, nearly five feet total, is perfect for this changeable weather. I never owned a long scarf before. I bought it before heading here on a hunch. I love it. I've tried wrapping it around my neck, using it as a head scarf, or paired it with a ski band. Totally warm and versatile.

My bear spray is carried with a caribiner clip hooked to my camo pants. So far we've only seen prints of griz, no live bear. I've seen many wolf prints, bison coming down the hill tonight, and other small creatures.

 

With daylight savings now in effect, we are walking about two tenths from the dining area to the dorms. Could be a bear just around the corner, what an adventure!

Pre-Packing and Minimalism

I'm getting it all together, my purchases from Cabella, my free box finds and my personal gear. I've got six months of toothpaste, laundry soap and shampoo, etc. Use your imagination. What would a gal need for six months up in Yellowstone, snowed in?

I probably will be able to catch a ride up to Snow lodge by snowmobile, enjoy the Winter Olympics there with friends also wintering in Yellowstone.
This is a life time dream, winter in Yellowstone.
The bucket list must be respected, before it's too late.

At breakfast I heard a young girl telling her traveling companions she dreamt they died on the bus. They immediately started berating her for negativity. I kept reading my book, The Fear Index, by Robert Harris. It deals with market manipulation and the fear driven profits. Its a novel, I'm on page 100. Published in 2012, it tells of an ultra-rich genius being attacked by an intruder in his own fortified home, bringing on a "waking nightmare of violence and paranoia".

 

View of the Lake Complex from Elephant Back Mountain, cell service is available from the bench up there.

 

I will keep a journal while working up at Lake Yellowstone this winter. Some claim vehemently that the historic hotel is haunted. My journal begins, "I can't say I wasn't warned...."