Snow Caves for Fun and Survival [Paperback]

Ernest Wilkinson (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 1992

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.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Ernest Wilkinson has worked as a rescuer, has trained mountain lions, coyotes, and badgers for "Wild Kingdom" and other educational TV programs, and leads summer and winter tours in the Colorado mountains.

Product Details

• Paperback: 108 pages
• Publisher: Johnson Books; Revised edition (February 1992)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1555660959
• ISBN-13: 978-1555660956
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #438,020 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Good survival tips for winter camping/emergency situations., March 19, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Snow Caves for Fun and Survival (Paperback)

"How many rabbits have you seen sitting by a fire to keep warm?"

So begins Snow Caves for Fun and Survival, in which Wilkinson demonstrates how people can learn from nature and survive in the wilderness without a fire by using materials at hand- snow, fallen logs and tree branches, whether it be on a winter camping trip or during an emergency situation. Rabbits and birds burrow in the snow and so can humans! Diagrams and photographs aid in the explanations of how to build snow caves, igloos, and other temporary shelters that could save your life.

This book would appeal to two groups: those interested in winter camping and those interested in learning basic survival techniques. For the serious camper there are chapters on Food, Clothing, Tools and Gear. The author draws on this experience as an outdoorsman and describes his own close calls: how to dry out your clothing after accidentally falling into freezing water, etc.

This reviewer spent the first 25 years of life in Minnesota and thought I knew all there was about snow, but I learned a lot from this book. I wish the topic of cave-ins had been dealt with in more depth, since as a small child I was instructed by my parents about the danger of snow collapsing on me.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great book for young people t0 learn, March 8, 2011

By 

microjoe - See all my reviews
(TOP 50 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Snow Caves for Fun and Survival (Paperback)

This book offers very specific advice on how to build shelters in snow of from snow. I found it very useful and accurate, but do not depend on this book alone for snow survival. Another good book for young people is the Opkik:Cold Weather Camping book. I think the 2 together make a great pair. The shelters do work and the designs are proven, but make sure you practice these in a controlled environment before you try to build on in an emergency.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Everything you need to know, May 9, 2006

By 

reluctant techie (olympia, wa) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Snow Caves for Fun and Survival (Paperback)

This book and a couple shovels are all you need to dig a snow cave. After reading this book I purchased several other "winter survival" books and they hardly cover the subject at all.

Cave collapse will be on your mind no matter what, but if you build according to his guidelines there will be minimal sagging.

The gear discussion is a little dated but snow is pretty much timeless.

If you travel/ski/snowboard in snow you should know the methods described in this book in case of an unplanned overnight stay.