The importance of Candle Watch!

[Burnt Ash]

A snow filled corridor, and a snow filled cold hat. I've had nicer mornings.

Fascinating thread. Really useful insights Greg and Big Swede.

I have only limited experience of snow holes: one night and that was many years ago. At the risk of sticking my neck out, I'd have thought it shouldn't be beyond the wit of man to devise a snow hole that balanced the needs of adequate ventilation versus keeping out the cold. Surely, keeping a candle burning just exacerbates oxygen depletion and could (potentially) generate CO? Wearing my ex-mining/metallurgical industries hat, I'd be far more concerned about CO poisoning from incomplete combustion in cooking stoves than lack of oxygen (though both, of course, can kill you).

Burnt Ash

 

[Greg]

I have tunneled when i am mountaneering, and the the only time i have seen the roof drop to that degree is when the snow layers are unstable. ie. there is a weaker layer alowing the top layers to slip down. Avalanche prone.... this can close your vent hole at the top and dump a load of snow on the door way.... could this of happened??

Possibly John, but I couldn't be sure.