Here you can read online Ernest Wilkinson - Snow caves for fun & survival full text of the book (entire story) in english for free. Download pdf and epub, get meaning, cover and reviews about this ebook. year: 1992, publisher: Johnson Books, genre: Home and family. Description of the work, (preface) as well as reviews are available. Best literature library LitArk.com created for fans of good reading and offers a wide selection of genres:
Choose a favorite category and find really read worthwhile books. Enjoy immersion in the world of imagination, feel the emotions of the characters or learn something new for yourself, make an fascinating discovery.
Snow caves for fun & survival: summary, description and annotation
We offer to read an annotation, description, summary or preface (depends on what the author of the book "Snow caves for fun & survival" wrote himself). If you haven't found the necessary information about the book — write in the comments, we will try to find it.
Ernest Wilkinson has spent many winter weeks outside in the Colorado mountains. His observations, based on his experience alone and with the groups he takes on cross-country tours, demonstrated to him that the methods of snow cave construction described in winter survival manuals were unsatisfactory. He accordingly developed his own techniques that save precious time and energy and increase comfort and safety. They are so effective that he no longer even carries a tent in the mountains during the winter. He gives detailed instructions for other types of snow shetlers including igloos and lean-tos. Chapters on winter safety, winter camp foods, clothing, and camp tools round out this key to outdoor winter survival and fun.
Ernest Wilkinson: author's other books
Who wrote Snow caves for fun & survival? Find out the surname, the name of the author of the book and a list of all author's works by series.
Snow caves for fun & survival — read online for free the complete book (whole text) full work
Below is the text of the book, divided by pages. System saving the place of the last page read, allows you to conveniently read the book "Snow caves for fun & survival" online for free, without having to search again every time where you left off. Put a bookmark, and you can go to the page where you finished reading at any time.
Printed in the United States of America by Johnson Printing A Division of Johnson Publishing Company 1880 South 57th Court Boulder, Colorado 80301
Page v
CONTENTS
Acknowledgments
vii
Why?
1
Snow Cave Construction
11
Other Types of Snow Shelters
32
Winter Clothing
46
Winter Camp Foods
63
Camp Tools and Gear
69
On Being Prepared
78
Suggestions for Added Comfort
85
Page vii
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
Writing the book has been a new experience for me, and its completion is due to the efforts of several special people. I especially want to thank my wife, Margaret, and my son, Larry, for the many hours they spent typing and correcting the spelling and punctuation of my rough manuscript, plus their patience with me during my many nights of experimenting with snow caves.
I also wish to thank Hal Webster for his patience and time in working with me to polish my "country boy" writing after he learned of my experience with the subject. Credit should also go to the many participants of my winter tours who furnished me the opportunity to observe, study, and test the actions of assorted winter campers.
Page 1
WHY?
How many rabbits have you seen sitting by a fire to keep warm?
This may sound like a silly question, but give it some thought. The human critter has become dependent upon fire for bodily comfort in a cold environment. Hunters, hikers, and other outdoor people have perished because they could not get a fire started to help keep them warm in cold weather. They should have taken a lesson from rabbits and other wildlife that use the available materials of nature. During storms or cold weather, wild animals and birds like the ptarmigan often use a small hole in the ground or snow to help retain body heat. They curl up in a small burrow, and their own body heat soon warms the area, especially if they can find dry grass or leaves for additional insulation.
Not so with us humans. Most of us have become accustomed to large, spacious living quarters where, if we are not protected by other means, our body heat radiates out to the atmosphere and is lost. During an unforeseen situation in a cold environment, this can be fatal if a fire or other heat-producing source is not available.
During the winter in high-country areas, snow is usually available and is one of nature's better insulating materials. So why not utilize it for camping comfort or when there is a need to conserve body heat instead of letting that warmth dissipate into the atmosphere?
When you wear a garment made of down or synthetic fibers, it is the many small pockets of air that form an insula-
Page 2
tion barrier around you. Snow is generally composed of 60-90% or more of air between the flakes. The air content of snow is usually much higher during the first part of the winter before the sun, wind, and weight of more snow gradually compact the lower layers. But no matter what time of the winter or condition of the snow, it can be utilized for snow caves, igloos, and other improvised body shelters because of the tiny air pockets in the snow.
Before going on to these snow shelters, it is best that we first understand the basic principles of how the human body functions and maintains itself in a cold environment. The physical and mental condition of the individual are both important. Every winter skiers, snowshoers, snowmobilers, and others venture into remote areas without being properly prepared.
Because of "push button" lifestyles where one can flip a switch for lights, turn a faucet for water, or turn up a thermostat for heat, many people are unable to improvise during an emergency when those conveniences are not available. We have not been prepared for extreme situations for many reasons. We live and work in a controlled environment. We live in insulated shelters with readily available heat, water, and lights. We walk a few feet to cars or buses that have heaters. These vehicles travel on paved roads to places of business or employment which are also likely to be regulated environments. Our clothes are designed for appearance rather than for practical use in the outdoors.
Urban life does not prepare the average person for good health. Many of us are creatures of habit. We rise at a certain time in the morning, eat a hurried breakfast (if any at all), and rush through congested traffic to arrive at an office or other place of employment with a maintained temperature. We ride elevators instead of climbing stairs, take buses or drive cars instead of walking or riding bikes. These things certainly don't enhance our physical condition.
Look at similar books to Snow caves for fun & survival. We have selected literature similar in name and meaning in the hope of providing readers with more options to find new, interesting, not yet read works.
Discussion, reviews of the book Snow caves for fun & survival and just readers' own opinions. Leave your comments, write what you think about the work, its meaning or the main characters. Specify what exactly you liked and what you didn't like, and why you think so.
