Winter survival is no joke. You’re fighting against all the same elements of man and nature you would be during the spring, summer, and fall… except now it’s 20 degrees out at high noon and there’s snow falling a foot at a time making everything even more difficult.

Of course, one of the most basic challenges of any survival effort is making sure you have enough water. You can go a lot longer without food than you can without water. Fortunately, the winter months can provide a long-lasting, ready-made source of water in the form of snow. The problem is that melting and drinking snow isn’t as simple as… well, melting and drinking snow. 

The Challenges Of Drinking Snow

Snow is frozen, water, sure. Still, there are problems that come with drinking melted snow. None of these are insurmountable challenges, but they do come with life-or-death consequences if you misjudge things. So here’s what you need to be thinking about if you’re thinking about drinking some snow:

• Purity: All jokes about “not eating the yellow snow” aside, snow can contain a number of impurities from the atmosphere it falls through as well as the surface it lands on. All of this can make it unsafe for you and your family to drink. 
• Yield: Snow isn’t going to be as hydrating as you might think. All told, there’s not a ton of water inside of snow. So you need to be mindful of the fact that you’re probably not getting as much hydration as you might like.
• Body Temperature: Drinking snow when it’s too cold (or worse, simply eating it) can have serious consequences on your body’s core temperature that can quickly turn deadly. 
• Energy Requirements: You’re going to need a heat source to melt snow and that requires energy… something that can be in short supply in any survival scenario.

The Risk of Contaminants

Contaminants are a serious risk when it comes to snow. There are airborne pollutants to worry about, but also microorganisms that can live in the snow and make you sick. It’s important to address both of these concerns when purifying your snow water. 

Chemical pollutants are more a thing to be avoided than a thing to be taken out. So avoid collecting your snow near industrial areas or places known for their heavy traffic. These areas are far more likely to have snow containing heavy metals and other industrial chemical pollutants. 

Beyond chemical industrial pollutants, there’s the very real issue of microorganisms in the snow. Generally, snow is free of such contaminants, but it can acquire them, usually through surface contact. This is why it’s important not just to melt the snow, but to boil it, removing all the pollutants. 

Proper snow collection begins with location selection. Again, you want to avoid potentially contaminated areas. Then you want to scrape off the top layer of snow, which is the one most likely to contain these potentially deadly impurities.

Melting Your Snow For Survival

It goes without saying that melting snow requires some kind of a heat source. Even in a survival situation, where the grid has entirely collapsed (and civilization along with it), you’re going to have a few options for turning your snow into drinkable water. 

• Portable Stoves: Camping stoves are a helpful, though not strictly speaking, necessary part of any bugout bag.
• Campfire: Campfires might be your best option, as they can be built just about anywhere with light and portable tools.
• Solar Melting: It’s not the quickest method, you might have trouble getting it to a boiling point and you’re going to need some sunshine. But you can, in a pinch, melt snow using the reflective power of the sun.

Don’t Die For A Drink: Purifying Your Melted Snow

Once the snow has been melted you’re going to need to, at the very least, filter it. Purification with tablets or through boiling is a better option, but filtration is absolutely better than nothing. 

Hand-held water filters are cheap and readily available just about anywhere these days. What’s more, they’re highly effective at removing bacteria and protozoa from the water, which makes your chances of ingesting some debilitating or deadly parasite much better than simply drinking whatever you’ve managed to heat up to room temperature.

Water purification tablets and drops are likewise easy to come by and inexpensive these days.

Both of these are great, but at the risk of belaboring the point, nothing is going to do quite the job that boiling will. 

If you find yourself in a winter survival scenario, be it getting lost in the woods on a ski trip or facing down the end of the world as we know it, knowing how to properly and safely melt and then purify snow for drinking water is one of the most valuable skills you can possess. What’s more, it’s not a difficult one to acquire at all, making the investment of time and energy versus the reward an absolute no-brainer. 

Do you have any other secrets about staying hydrated in a winter survival scenario? Share your knowledge in the thoughts below. 

Winter’s unforgiving grip can turn a routine outdoor adventure into a life-threatening situation. What you thought was just a fun weekend skip trip or a hike in the woods has turned into a desperate battle against creeping death. 

When the temperature plummets and the snow falls, you need the knowledge and tools to create an emergency winter shelter. You don’t need to be a prepper or a survivalist – this is paramount for your survival if you enjoy outdoor winter activities. 

There are various types of winter shelters that can keep you warm and safe in cold weather emergencies. There’s no reason to be paranoid, but having these skills in your back pocket can make the difference between life and death if you ever find yourself in a winter emergency. 

Why You Need To Learn How To Make Emergency Winter Shelters

When the temperature drops, your body’s core temperature can drop rapidly along with it. That means you’re at risk of hypothermia, frostbite or even death. 

A winter shelter, even a crude emergency one like the kinds we’re about to describe below acts as your first line of defense against the chilling danger of the cold and damp. They provide you a warm and dry place to get your body temperature back up and rest while you wait for the cavalry to arrive. 

Emergency Shelters For Winter Survival

There are some extremely easy to build but also extremely efficient winter survival shelters. Just about anyone can build these, even with their bare hands if they have to – but we recommend carrying around a shovel in your survival pack to help with construction. 

Snow Caves

A snow cave is a winter shelter you can build anywhere there’s snow. Here’s how to build your own snow cave:

1. Step 1: Find a compacted snowdrift or mound of snow.
2. Step 2: Create an entrance by digging a tunnel into the snow..
3. Step 3: Create a larger “room” inside. You want to have smooth, even walls. This reduces dripping water and condensation to keep you dry.
4. Step 4: Dig out a small vent hole near the top. This allows air circulation while preventing carbon dioxide buildup.

Lean-Tos

A lean-to is another simple shelter you can build. It consists of a sloping roof leaning against a supporting structure such as a tree, rock, or wall. 

1. Step 1: Find a suitable supporting structure. It should be firm, sturdy and have good support from the ground.
2. Step 2: Construct your roof using nearby branches, foliage, tarp, or even the snow.
3. Step 3: Ensure proper ventilation while blocking one side to keep out the cold.

Quinzees

A quinzee is a snow hut made by piling up, the hollowing out, a mound of snow.

1. Step 1: Pile up a mound of snow and pack it down.
2. Step 2: Allow the snow to settle for a few hours.
3. Step 3: Hollow out the mound, smoothing the walls for even insulation, just like you would on a snow cave. 
4. Step 4: Dig a ventilation hole at the top, allowing fresh air while preventing carbon dioxide buildup.

Survival Tips for Building Emergency Winter Shelters

There are some tips you should know about building emergency winter shelters for survival generally speaking. 

Site Selection

Site election is arguably the most important part of building a winter shelter. Avoid areas with unstable snowpack as these are prone to avalanches and landslides. Flat, well-drained spots away from strong winds are going to be your best bet.

Snow Quality

Wet snow is unstable snow and thus not suitable for building shelters, so look for dry, compacted snow usually found in snowdrifts or mounds.

Ventilation

You must properly ventilate is vital for carbon monoxide prevention, which can be life-threatening… fast. Always dig out a vent hole near the top of your shelter.

Fire Safety

For the most part, you should not be building a fire inside your shelter. If you do, it’s important for you to be extremely cautious because of the fire, its impact on your shelter and the resulting carbon monoxide.

Warmth and Insulation

Insulating materials like pine branches, dry grass, or foam sleeping pads laid on the ground can create a barrier between you and the cold. This, in turn, will help you stay warm and retain body heat.

Surviving in the winter wilderness requires knowledge, determination preparation, and resourcefulness. Understanding the types of emergency winter shelters and how to build them is a valuable skill that can save your life in extreme conditions. While it’s essential to have the right tools and supplies, your survival ultimately depends on your ability to adapt and persevere. 

Have you ever built an emergency winter shelter? Did you end up spending the night in it? What did you learn from the experience? Share your experiences in the comments below. 

Winter’s icy grip can be relentless and it doesn’t take the end of the world as we know it to make it unbearable – and dangerous. A power outage or other winter emergency can make having alternative heat sources not just a comfort, but a source of survival. 

We’re going to explore a variety of options for alternative heating sources for when the heat in your home isn’t working for whatever reason. Some of these are tried and true methods, others are a little more experimental. All of them can make the difference between life and death in a winter emergency.

Emergency Heat Supply 1: Wood-Burning Stoves and Fireplaces

Wood-burning stoves are one of the most reliable and efficient sources of emergency heat. They can also be a cozy distraction from disaster, while also keeping your home warm whenever the cost of more traditional forms of heating get too high. 

Not only can these stoves keep your house toasty warm, they can also be used for cooking. You need an adequate supply of dry firewood, as well as a smoke detector and carbon monoxide detector for safety. Keep the stove well-maintained – poorly maintained stoves are serious fire hazards 

Traditional fireplaces can also be used as an emergency heat source. Fireplaces tend to be less efficient than wood-burning stoves, because heat escapes through the chimney. However, you can make your fireplace more efficient by investing in a hearth and sealing gaps or drafts in the fireplace and chimney.

Portable Propane Heaters

Portable propane heaters are an excellent choice for emergency heating. You need to make sure they are rated for indoor use. You also need to use them as directed and not use them while you sleep – that can be a serious fire hazard. 

Much like with the direct fire sources talked about above, you need to make sure that you have working smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors for maximum safety. Proper ventilation is absolutely essential to prevent carbon monoxide build up, which can kill in a matter of minutes. 

Kerosene Heaters

Kerosene heaters are another reliable source of emergency heat.  Only use clear, 1-K grade kerosene. This is because it burns cleaner and produces less odor – you don’t want to make a bad situation worse by stinking up the place. As always, make sure your place is ventilated well and keep the heater away from anything that can start a fire.

Generators 

Generators are not a direct source of heat, but they can power electric space heaters, or even keep your home’s electrical heating system going. This will help you to keep warm during power outages. Like everything else on our list, generators should be used with caution. Always place generators outdoors to avoid carbon monoxide buildup. If you’re not an electrician, we strongly recommend you have it professionally installed by one.

DIY Heating Solutions

For survivalists, there are a few ways for you to keep your home heated no matter how long the power goes out. Keep in mind that every heat source requires some kind of fuel. So you might need to get creative about how to stay warm if the power goes down, the supply chain is disrupted and there’s no chance of anything coming back soon. Here are a few innovative ideas:

• Terracotta Pot Heaters: Placing several terracotta pots within one another around a few lit candles will radiate heat. This will only warm a small space, but it’s better than nothing.
• Tealight Heaters: Multiple tealight candles placed under a terracotta pot creates a small heater that’s safe for indoor use.
• Heat-Reflective Panels: Heat-reflective emergency blankets attached to cardboard or foam panels will reflect and retain heat in a room.

Surviving winter emergencies and power outages requires careful planning and consideration of your emergency heat sources. Each of these options has its own set of advantages and disadvantages. But by understanding safe use of these heat sources (as having a well-prepared emergency kit)  you can ensure you and your loved ones stay warm and comfortable during even the coldest winter emergencies. 

Do you have any unique methods for generating heat without the grid? What do you and your family have for backup heat sources? Share your tips in the comments below.