G
gjp
Well-known member
Spent the night on the mountain a few years ago. What was learned:
1. proper gear should be priority one - Klim/Motorfist and proper layering and boots
2. folding saws will fail you!
3. firewood is key to survival
4. folding saws do not produce firewood fast enough
My sled broke down in the trees on a major powder day. Snow was so deep, doubling out was impossible on big climbs. I had to walk up the huge climbs in waist deep powder. Exhausting. By the time we reach the back bowl it was nearly dark and a full on blizzard. We could not see 5 feet in front of us. It was so bad and I was so exhausted we had to make shelter.
When we abandoned my sled we did not know it was blizzarding above us so I left as much stuff at my sled to save weight/space for doubling. This included most of my water/food, emergency blanket, first aid kit, and hatchet.
We had 2 folding saws and a handle saw. Between cutting evergreen limbs for the shelter and cutting Firewood, eventually the blades will snag and snap. When your exhausted/cold/hungry/stressed you will not cut smooth and SNAP. By morning we had 2 saw blades left about 4" long and torn gloves and bloody fingers.
Also, saws can cut through decent size wood but you can split that wood without an axe/hatchet. So you are limited to branches and limbs which burn up fast and don't produce enough lasting heat. And remember you are limited to the type of wood available when there is 15 feet of snow covering everything.
In regards to proper gear, I should have replaced by leaking Klim boots earlier that season. Climbing those steep hills to get out then walking through waist deep snow all night to search for firewood had my feet squishing in my boots. I had to wring out my socks every hour. Spare socks did not help. If your feet are not dry and warm it doesn't matter what you are wearing. It was a very cold night for me.
The other issue was the fire; It melted down 7+ feet. We started with a base of green trees as thick as we could saw, stacked criss-cross. They lasted a few hours and then there was no stopping the melt. We tried everything we could think of to stop it. It was a nightmare keeping the fire going and sucking in all that smoke. (I still do not know the best way to do this). The pictures are a week after while rescuing my sled.
There were a lot of other stupid things we did wrong, but came out with only bruised egos and a better attitude towards safety.
I now have the best gear available and properly care for it, plus I carry a hand chain-saw, shovel handle saw, folding saw, and hatchet.
My question to you: best way to build a fire on top of snow and firewood selection - what burns best, etc.
1. proper gear should be priority one - Klim/Motorfist and proper layering and boots
2. folding saws will fail you!
3. firewood is key to survival
4. folding saws do not produce firewood fast enough
My sled broke down in the trees on a major powder day. Snow was so deep, doubling out was impossible on big climbs. I had to walk up the huge climbs in waist deep powder. Exhausting. By the time we reach the back bowl it was nearly dark and a full on blizzard. We could not see 5 feet in front of us. It was so bad and I was so exhausted we had to make shelter.
When we abandoned my sled we did not know it was blizzarding above us so I left as much stuff at my sled to save weight/space for doubling. This included most of my water/food, emergency blanket, first aid kit, and hatchet.
We had 2 folding saws and a handle saw. Between cutting evergreen limbs for the shelter and cutting Firewood, eventually the blades will snag and snap. When your exhausted/cold/hungry/stressed you will not cut smooth and SNAP. By morning we had 2 saw blades left about 4" long and torn gloves and bloody fingers.
Also, saws can cut through decent size wood but you can split that wood without an axe/hatchet. So you are limited to branches and limbs which burn up fast and don't produce enough lasting heat. And remember you are limited to the type of wood available when there is 15 feet of snow covering everything.
In regards to proper gear, I should have replaced by leaking Klim boots earlier that season. Climbing those steep hills to get out then walking through waist deep snow all night to search for firewood had my feet squishing in my boots. I had to wring out my socks every hour. Spare socks did not help. If your feet are not dry and warm it doesn't matter what you are wearing. It was a very cold night for me.
The other issue was the fire; It melted down 7+ feet. We started with a base of green trees as thick as we could saw, stacked criss-cross. They lasted a few hours and then there was no stopping the melt. We tried everything we could think of to stop it. It was a nightmare keeping the fire going and sucking in all that smoke. (I still do not know the best way to do this). The pictures are a week after while rescuing my sled.
There were a lot of other stupid things we did wrong, but came out with only bruised egos and a better attitude towards safety.
I now have the best gear available and properly care for it, plus I carry a hand chain-saw, shovel handle saw, folding saw, and hatchet.
My question to you: best way to build a fire on top of snow and firewood selection - what burns best, etc.
