How to survive a blizzard in the wilderness

A blizzard is the worst type of weather you can possibly be stuck in, as not only does it get you colder and wetter much faster than anything else but it can also block your visibility down to a few feet. They are classed as severe snow storms accompanied by high winds, but luckily for most of the world, they only occur in the Arctic Circle, temperate zones, and the tops of mountains.

When caught in a blizzard it’s important not to panic and even more important not to carry on in what you “think” is the right direction. There have been many people who’ve walked over the edge of a cliff or found themselves horribly lost after it clears, so to avoid becoming another lost in the wilderness tale gone wrong, here are a few things to remember.

1) Take the nearest cover at your current position

Unless you’re already on a path to safety and you can still see it when the blizzard hits, then stay where you are. Some of the worst blizzards can reduce visibility down to only a few feet, and the changing wind directions can easily confuse people as to what is the right direction, not to mention the danger from exposure.

The high winds can blast air and ice particles into your clothing which melt and re-freeze on your skin, combined with the wind chill factor these snow storms are the fastest way to freeze to death. Look for the general wind direction and take cover on the other side of whatever is available, and if there’s nothing to hide behind then you’ll need to know how to make a snow shelter.

2) Learn how to make a blizzard shelter

(A snow-cave shelter is nice to have but takes too much time if you’re caught unexpectedly)

A snow cave that can house two people normally takes a few hours to build, and although they offer the best protection they aren’t practical when you get caught unexpectedly. If you need something on the spot then there are two options available, the trench and the wind blocker.

The trench is exactly how it sounds, just scoop out about 3 feet deep by however long your body is and climb in. Make sure to scoop all the snow onto the side the wind is blowing from so it catches the snow and builds itself up into a bank. Look for deeper snow to make sure you have enough cover and be careful not to trap too much condensation in your clothing when in the trench, as it may freeze inside your clothing.

Digging a trench to get out of a blizzard seems extreme, but laying down on the snow in nothing but your clothing will be much warmer than getting blasted by a snow-filled gale. A good example of the trench method is from Funatsu Keizo who got stuck in the middle of Antarctica while on an expedition, and after getting lost just a few meters from his tent in a blizzard was forced to dig a trench to escape the winds.

The other method is the wind blocker but this only works if you happen to be in an area there are materials to use for it, primarily spruce bows. If you can cut or find enough of the branches then prop them up against something solid like a tree and scoop as much snow as you can on the outside facing the wind. It won’t take long before the blizzard fills in the gaps and provides a windproof barrier to hide behind.

Depending on how bad the blizzard is and how much snow it contains, this one can take either much less or considerably more work than digging a trench, so take into consideration what you have to work with and how strong the blizzard is.

3) Share heat

If you get into a situation where you have to dig a trench or build a wind block, then hopefully you won’t be alone at the time. After the shelter has been made then get inside and cuddle up to the people you’re with, no matter who they are. Sharing body heat can make the difference between being generally cold and losing a few toes.

4) Learn how to start a fire

The trouble with lighting a fire in a blizzard isn’t just the wind blowing it out, but finding enough dry wood that can actually burn. The best thing to do is either look for dead wood or make as many feather sticks as you can. Dead wood can be hit or miss depending on the climate, with the colder the region the dryer the wood normally is, with the moisture that was inside freezing and forcing its way out.

A feather stick is a stick that has the wet outer layers shaved off and the dry inside section carved into strips to help it burn better. They are the best way to make a fire from wet wood but burn quite quickly, normally only being intended as a way to start a fire instead of a constant fuel source for one.

5) Don’t waste energy

Shouting for help in a blizzard is next to useless, as the high winds not only make more sound than you can but carry whatever you manage to yell in completely the wrong direction. Another thing to keep in mind is that blizzards normally last at least 3 hours, so the shelter you make will have to keep you alive for at least that long. Just remember not to go overboard and build something more than you need.

Starting a snow cave and giving up after an hour of digging because it’s going to take too long to finish is not just time wasted, but time being exposed. You will die faster in a blizzard than in any other kind of cold weather, so get out of that wind as fast as possible and don’t waste time making something you don’t need.