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Survival in the Arctic 11

into some sort of shelter very quickly. Do not try to battle with nature when building a shelter; work in harmony with it. In a polar region, you will most likely want to build a snow cave, snow trench, or igloo. To make a snow shelter, you need a saw knife, snow knife, shovel, or machete to cut snow blocks. The snow from which you cut the blocks should be firm enough to support your weight. When building shelters in snow and ice areas, the Royal Marines emphasize the following rules: • Never lay a tool down in the snow; you will lose it. • Never hurry; if you do, accidents and mistakes will happen. • When building a shelter, drink as much water as possible because dehydration is a killer. • Use as little energy as possible when building. • Try to be as close as possible to the source of fuel for your fire. • Take off clothes to keep cool during the physical activity of building. If you do not, your clothing will become soaked with sweat, and you will risk freezing. • Always take time to plan where a shelter will be. For summer sheltering, remember that insects do not like wind, smoke, and plants such as yew. • Always protect yourself from the cold and wet of the floor of your shelter with spruce boughs or some other form of insulation.

Don’t forget the common principles about survival in shelters that will be covered in the mountain survival chapter (do not have more than one entrance, build a fire, etc.).