Create Your Own Snow Shelter: A Lost Teen’s Smart Survival Journey.
In Canada, an inspiring survival story has captured the attention of a 17-year-old boy who got lost in the snow and faced harsh conditions. To protect himself from the cold weather, the teenager creatively built a snow cave as a shelter.
On January 16, Cariboo police received information about a missing teenager while skiing with friends and relatives. When they could not find any trace of the missing person, the group notified the rescue unit. After several hours of searching, the police discovered the teenager hiding in a snow cave he had dug himself, fully prepared with food and water to spend the night.
The teenager was healthy, and according to Val Severin, the search director of Southern Cariboo Search and Rescue, he made very smart choices. He left his snowmobile in a visible location and dug himself out near a tree line, prepared food and water, and waited for help.
According to Val Severin, sheltering in a snow cave helps the victim maintain a stable body temperature, protecting him from wind and the elements. This is a common technique in outdoor activities in winter, considered a valuable life experience. This method is very effective in keeping warm at night, especially when it is not possible to light a fire.
The Southern Cariboo Search and Rescue organization shared a photo of the snow cave the teenager created on its Facebook page, and praised the boy for “making the search easier” by staying in place and using his survival skills. The organization also praised the missing person’s group of friends for “acting appropriately when things went wrong” and promptly calling for help. “We appreciate the group’s intelligence in recognizing their limitations and asking for help, which allowed us to find just one person instead of a whole group,” the organization wrote.
However, the organization warned that the teen had no fire to keep warm, making it difficult to spend the night in the cave. They recommended that people bring fire starters and warm clothing to prevent accidents.
