The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1883-02-17
Camps OF Snow.

The uses of snow for heating purposes,
or, more accurately, for keeping out the
cold, cannot be appreciated ut their true
value except among the arctic and seml-
arctic wilds, where it would be Impossible
to sustain life during at least half the year
were 1t not for the snow. The EeQuimaux
hut has often been illustrated and dc.
scribed, but there are otl er structures
made of snow which, though loss preten-
tlous, are Of as much value to the moose,
caribou, deer and fox hunter as the hut to
tho Esqulmaux.
TIE three orders of architecture IN snow
are the simple .burrow, the v camp, and
the snow hut. OF these the burrow needs
the smallest amount of training In order
to construct it, the V camp but little more.
while tho snOw-hut is q thing, which TO
build successfully, requires long practice
and skill.
In constructing the snow barrow, all
that is necessary IN order to be perfectly
comfortable is heavy overcoat, blanket
or shawl to cover up the face and neck
and prevent the snow from touching the
skin. Having this, find some place where
tie snow has drifted rather deeply on the
Ice side of rock, q clump cf bushes,
tree-trunk, or in fact anything which will
shelter the pile in which it is proposed to
make the burrow from the wind. Then
dig with the hands. or anything else,
hole III the snow, crawling in as fast as it
ID made. Wriggling would be better
word than crawling, because while getting
into tie burrow it Is necessary to moYe
along lying at full length, 50 that, beyond
the disturbance caused by the passage of
the body, the snow shall not be moved.
hnb fy,, IL
crlbed, as fast as the support for the upper
snow is removed by digging, the body
takes Its place. Freshfallcn snow-the
best to make burrow in--is very easily
moved. and we're a person to make a hole
large enough to admit bim on hands and
knees, the roof or covering would fail in,
and he would not be sheltered at all The
blanket or shawl-the writer has known Of
one case where vest was used instead
with perfect success must be wrapped
| around the head and neck before beginning
the Durrow, and the turnover will conse-
quently have to work in the dark or with
his eyes blindtolded. This, however, is
of little consequence If he will start in the
right direction, and keep gong towards
| the ground as much as possible. The
process Of bnrrowlng is very supple. The
hands make hole and the head follows
them as fast as possible. II ls sometimes
necessary to push the snow as it is dug
out down at the side of the body, disturb
ing the snow as little rs may be, and keep
Ing ii from contact with the skin. Once
III the burrow, the turnover should push
the snow away from around his head 80
| az to form a small space in which to
i'reaIne II ihe snow Is so ngS: that ao
is unable to do this wlthoutsits falling in,
thnr I,o c1>~
| around his head IN such way as to give
him some space inside OF it. lie need be
in no fear of sitting, as the snow allows
he wants. The one thing to be feared IN
snow-burrowing Is that the weather may
not be cold enough outside, for if the snow
be wet the hurrow, is of no use. AS long
us the snow Is dry the turnover Will be as
| comfortable inside of the drift as he could
be IN the warmest feather bed.
Considerably more prctcntious, and Ger
tainly more comfortable, because one IS
not 30 confined is the camp. 1t is sell
dom made unless for number of persons,
as it involves good bit Of labor. Choos-
ing drift not less than five, and better
yet, seven or eight feet deep, the campers
mark out on the surface a gigantic Y.
ror party OF 1lve this would be about
nine feet across the top, and about the
same III length. The drift must be what
is called 'old snow," because new-laIlen
snow ls too light and tleccy 10 Sive the re-
quislte strength to the sides. Taking
their snow-sh0es, the men proceed to dig
out the snow, throwing 1t on the drift on
the outside and leaving the walls perpen-
dicular. Having got all of the snow out
at the lower or narrow end Of the v, what
is called a "rlse" is made, which Is elmp-
ly path lramped down from the bottom
! of the camp to The top of the snow. While
two or three Of the party arc digging the
camp, the rest cut down one or two FIR
trees, the tat branches Of which are
trimmed off and brought to the camp.
Some of these are placed IN the "rlse" to
prevent those walking IN and out from
sinking in the snov. The resi- are llid on
the ground to form the bed. At the lower
! cud oi the Y Il fire is built, and the camp
ls ready 10 be occupied. There arc few
more delightful places to sleep.
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