A Hole in the Snow

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A_HOLE IN THE SNOW. . It was last Tabour week end.. 1955. The place was Mt.Ruapehu and my companions were Nigel and Murray of the Hutt Valley Tramping Club. We had breakfasted at the "Hut" and left about 11,00 a.m, for the top. The early morning had been fine; now the high stratus cloud was forming into queer shapes and the wind was rising, Massing storm clouds were forming and enveloping Mt.Egmonts Strapping on our crampons we hurried up the "Glacier" to the "Crater" saddle, all the while with a feeling that we should- duck our heads or we would bang them on the dense cloud ceiling above us. On the saddle we met heavy gusts of wind that whipped the free snow up into our faces. Sidling high around the faces of Parapetotong we passed four snow caves being constructed with the builders working furiously. Directly be low "Pary" and 300 feet from the top we chose our cave site. Digging holes for our packs, then a ledge to work on, we made our entrance into the slope. The storm by now had broken, although on the slopes eddies of wind forced us to crouch low with bowed heads to avoid the stinging snow, Above us the ridge offered a spectacular sight a the wind spewed snow over the whole length of-the ridge likeran extended waterfall. This snow would collect into drifts on the steep slope and ther wind eddies would carry it down towards the crater lake. Sometimes one of the drifts moving about would pour over us, burying us to our thighso By now we had an area of seven by five feet inside the slope, it was 5.30p.m, and heavy snow was falling, Occasionally, although only at arm's length we would be blotted out from one another by the swirling snow, Two of us were nowi required outside all the time to take care of the debris resulting from the excavation and the snow pouring down the slope from above us. Murray and Nigel were wearing woollen "swan drys". They were sheathed in ice and this hampered their movements. Finally the build up of snow at the entrance became too much for us. We dug our packs out and crawled into the cave. The cold had been severe but gave us dry snow that ironical as it may seem was pleasant to handle, On looking down the entrance tunnel I was amazed at how rapidly the entrance was filling up, the snow being dry was running like sugar again and threatened to fill up the cave.

I hastily dug out some snow blocks and banked the entrance up. Suddenly everything was still and quiet and we realised the severity of the blizzard. Separating us by a four foot wall of snow was a raging storm where life was impossible yet we remained safe-in-our hole in the snow. Darkness_fell and I lit a candle, We blew up our air mattresses and then lit the primus. It barely flickered - we realised then that a lack of oxygen was apparent. However we had with us orange cordial in a water bottle, we took the chill off it and turned the primus out. The candle slowly went out. It was obvious that the snow was building up outside and the porosity of the snow was deteriorating, stopping our air supply, I awoke about 5.00 am with the cold and found myself panting after turning over cuickly and then the others woke and we agreed that the air must be "pretty foul" but in the absence of headaches we vere safe. Slowly the cave lightened with delicate shades of blue - it was daytime. Arising I decided to dig my way out, and by digging upwards from where the snow blocks had been hewed to block the entrance I was able to pack the debris under me all the time having to stop and pant. Pushing the shovel throuch the surface I waited - no snow ran in. Enlarging the hole I crawled upwards till my head and shoulders were above the hole. The sensation was eerie. The steep slope appeared as a rippled sheet of ice - of our entrance and excavation debris there was no sign, Iestimated that eighteen inches of snow had fallen. The storm was over, the wind had dropped but there was heavy cloud. I crawled back and lit the. primus, now that we had fresh air we were able to eat and drink. Suddenly we heard a metallic clinking and we called out loudly. A shadow darkened the hole above and a voice proclaim " Ah! I smell apricots cooking". It proved to be Graham McCallum and our neighbouring caves were inhabited by the Tararuas. The day proved too cloudy to participate in a climoso we re-dug our entrance and finished our cave. From this episode and past experience in snow caves the following comments may prove of interest a Irrespective of how bad conditions may be, if the depth of snow is there a cave can be dug,

-13= The site should be a steep slope. Do NOT use a kerosene primus. There is no danger or carbon monoxide with a petrol primus.. If the air is foul it won't go anyway. Ventilation is an advantage - (a) It will allow the cooker to functior.properly, (b) You will feel the cola if there is a lack of oxygen. (c) If you feel a headache coming on get air immediately. The raised sleeping be..ch is not necessary if a tunnel cover of some sort is used. In conclusion, no mountaineer can consider himself experienced if he has not had some experience of living in a snow cave. Get that experience nd you will. . be practicing Safe Climbing. G.Thompson -