snow cave on Mt. San Jacinto??

[an]

hi, I'm planning to do a camping trip up to mt. San Jacinto some time next month or early march and was wondering if anyone had success in making snow caves or igloo. If so, did you pile up snow or were there enough snow to dig one? Thanks in advance for the input.

[phydeux]

If you went THIS weekend you could probably make a nice snow 'hut'; shovel up a big pile of snow, tamp it down a little so its packed and firm, then dig out a hole inside of it. Better would be to dig out a hole, tamp down the base, put your tent in it (self supporting dome-style tent), then pile snow around the bottom 1/2 - 3/4 to use a 'insulation'.

You really can't predict what the snow conditions will be like in late Feb/early March. If you wait too long after a storm the snow up in the Round Valley/Tamarack areas will get crappy (icy and slushy) and will be tough to work with. Might be more viable with the 'tent in a hole' option I mentioned above.

[neverwashasbeen]

The only successful snow shelters I have seen on San Jac have been made of piled up snow that was then hollowed out and slit trenches with a tarp over the top.

[DSSAR guy]

Dont waste your time with an igloo.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1aSL9La5ivo

[mnfry]

My first successful igloo was in Round Valley in the late 70s. I have been building several each winter ever since. Most of them are part of the Sierra Club WBC Snow Camp (San Diego Chapter) in Mammoth. It takes about 3 hours to build the first one, and an hour to build the second. 7 people can sleep in a double igloo.

There are many websites with instructions. I use a steel pruning saw with an 18" blade. It cuts through ice layers much better than aluminum saws.

The igloo is built in a spiral, with each new block contacting the spiral in 3 corners. It is not obvious, but not difficult either.

Igloos make an excellent base camp shelter. My first one lasted over a month. I used it twice, and I don't know how many others did too.

Snow caves take much longer to construct. You are both wet and exhausted before you are finished.