2004-02-21-Red_Heather-snow_cave

Michael and Mark had gone up to Red Heather Meadows (about halfway to Elfin Lakes) a couple of weeks before to build snow caves. It was, apparently, a guys only thing, and invitations were not extended very far from the organising person. They had such a good time, however, that they organised a second outing. Armed with rental shovels, showshoes, and a winter sleeping bag, we made our way to Squamish.

To find the trailhead, turn east off the highway at the Canadian Tire, gain a bunch of altitude in the 10km or so of logging road, then turn left onto a pothole infested road for a few more kilometres. The last stretch of road was still covered with snow at the time, and we could not be bothered putting chains on the car so we just parked at the last switchback and hiked up.

2004-02-21

Final preparations	Ready to go	View from the road	Park registration at the trailhead
Cynthia on the trail	Someone towing a small child	Cyn investigating Michael's pants	Squamish
Howe Sound	Flower in the snow

It took us 3.5 hours to reach the Meadows, where others were already busy building abodes in which to spend the night.

Construction workers

Mark, Michelle, and Sharon using Stuart's igloo building device

How to build a snow cave (the way we did it):

1. Mark perimetre

2. Pile snow

3. Pile more snow until it slides off

4. Walk on it a bit to pack it down

I think people usually just let the pile sit for a bit for the snow to pack itself in. But we started late and didn't want to be waiting around while precious daylight slowly wandered off.

5. Dig a hole

6. Burrow further

7. Clear burrowed snow away

3.5 hours later, we had our snow palace. It was larger than we actually needed because there was a mishap with one of the igloos, and Steve and Sharon were house hunting for the night. As it turned out, the extra space was not necessary because there were no fewer than five abandoned snow caves in the hills on the way to the outhouse, and they elected to take residence in the most luxurious of the prebuilt units. After the hard work was done, we had dinner, and wandered around a bit in the dark discovering the vacancies nearby.

Sunset

Moon

Steve, Mark, Michelle

2004-02-22

Deb, Michael, Cyn	Shovel by the exit	Cyn	Assortment of lights
Layers of snow	Wakey wakey	The palace

Terraformed front yard

Cooking area and neighbours	Front of our abode	Peering in the door	Front steps
Karie, Michelle, Mark	Mark and Michelle on their igloo	Different view of them on the igloo	Michelle, Karie, Mark, Joe on the igloo
Sharon and Steve	Joe getting a photo on pristine snow	Breakfast time	Packing up

We ate breakfast, packed up our stuff, and stashed them in the igloo hallway. We headed up to the ridge, on the heels of Steve and Sharon, with our crazy carpets, while the other guys embarked back down the trail. It was a beautiful day and the view from higher ground was spectacular.

Ski tracks	Snowboarder in the air	Another snowboarder in the air	Looking back down the trail
Hurry up Mike	and crew...	Deb snowshoeing	Avalanche areas exist
Deb and the point of no return	Deb, Cyn, Michael, Sharon, Steve	Sharon creating wind for Michael's cape	The logged area looks not unlike a ski hill.
Deb following Michael	Cyn	Sharon	Sharon sitting on the hill

Panorama (enlarge to the smaller version or the larger version)

Top of the ridge

Steve and Sharon near the ridge

Steve and German guy taking pictures with their phones

The geekery

We slid our way back down to the parking lot, picking up our packs as we passed the meadows. Somehow, Josha managed to spot me in the vast expanse of snow between the ridge and the meadow and get my attention. Not surprisingly, it took much less time and effort to decend the 500m or so.

Michael ascending the slope	Michael attempting to crazy carpet	Michael getting stuck	Deb falleth over
Two passengers on crazy carpet	Party trekking toward Elfin Lakes	Heading back down	Sun setting on Howe Sound

The tobogganing was so much fun that we returned the following weekend for a day trip of snow sliding fun without the effort of hours of shelter building. (The weather was not nearly as nice the second time around, with visibility of maybe 10m at times due to fog/cloud. But it was still quite enjoyable.)