posted on Feb, 4 2011 @ 10:12 AM
There are different levels of cold environment.
In a situation where you are on frozen earthen ground, you would need to build a shelter to protect you from the wind, first and foremost, using any
shelter building technique that allows a fire from within.
In snow, best shelter would be a low pine or spruce tree, snow cleared down to the ground. Try piling as much snow as possible around the bottom 5
feet of the tree (just keep shoveling onto the base of the tree. This way, you have shelter, and nutrients from the needles (edible) and possibly a
good form of fuel to help get your fire lit (pine sap)
In an arctic or mountainous setting, you would use the snow itself as a shelter. In a case like this you would want no more than a candle (unless you
find a good cave) to gauge the level of oxygen. Most efficient way to create a dug-in in a firmly packed drift, choose your spot carefully.
Not all cases can you afford to have a fire... but most you can.
Once your shelter is established, collect as much wood as you think you need, then multiply that by 3 (preferably 5).
You'll be good to survive... but for any extended survival, you may want to consider building more permanent shelters (makeshift log cabin, tepee,
etc...)
TRY to stay dry, however that's not always possible... remove layers and keep dry layers on reserve... humid layers can be reversed and worn inside
out to dry later on.