Worth a look:

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/16812778/

My commentary:

http://www.equipped.org/blog/?p=53

Good story. HE did pretty much everything that you needed to do except, of course, give a timeline. OTOH, the searchers should have been on skis, or snowshoes, or something so they COULD have heard him.

I have camped out in that type of snow shelter several times. They work pretty well - 100% wind proof and well insulated, although you can't get the inside surface above 32F no matter what you do (still beats a tent at any outside temp below freezing).

Given appropriate trees, I'd take an improved tree well over a snow cave any time. If you really want a snow cave, pile snow on your tree well shelter and have the benefits of both with less total work.

I concur with your comments on the time required to build a snow cave, Doug. Of course, the 4 guys with snow shovels shown in the video were probably able to make a one-man shelter in 40 minutes. Plus, I've usually let the pile it sit for an hour or so to allow it to harden up before I started digging it out.

They emphasize staying dry, but you have to be very careful not to overheat and sweat while shoveling. It is very easy to get wet while digging it out too.

I've made a bunch of these, and I'd say 90-120 minutes if you have a good shovel and good evergreens with low greenery. They would have been much better off showing how to go into a and improve a tree well, which is what I usually do winter camping these days.

I REALLY like the "stay out of thick forests" recommendation. With this being a family friendly forum, I'm not able to say which rude gestures were directed at my computer monitor at that idiotic utterance. Although on second thought, I actually do like it. Keeps fools out from under my feet.

This article was good (haven't seen the video yet).
I think I am going to re-think the equipment I carry on those "short hikes" I take in the local hills, one never knows when one is forced to spend a night outdoors.

Okay Doug made the first point I always thing of when I hear people say carry a cell phone. That is if you do not have cell service then it is useless. Many people carry a cell phone with a false sense of false security.
Secondly the type of snow shelter mentioned of making a snow mound and digging into it actually takes a few hours to make as you have to let the snow consolidate after you pile it up, before you can dig into it. Also making a snow cave is VERY wet work. A snow treach is much better in 90% of the situations. Having equipment and know how to use it is the best of any sutuation.
cheers

"... if you do not have cell service then it is useless..."

Maybe I misunderstood this. If you meant that trying to call when you are outside the range of cell phone towers, that is true.

But if you meant you had a cell phone but had no purchased service, so you couldn't make a call, that is incorrect.

As long as you have a charged battery in your phone and are within range of towers, you can call 911 without having active service, such as Verizon.

Because of this fact, people who have upgraded and no longer use their perfectly good old cell phones are encouraged to donate them to places that give them to the elderly or abused women who may need to call 911.

Here is one article on it: http://www.charityguide.org/volunteer/fifteen/cell-phone-recycling.htm

Sue

Interesting site about the phone charity thingy. Where do you come up with this stuff?

About five or so years ago, my former big boss, now the sheriff of a somewhat rural county in CA with a lot of seniors, started a similar program. He called it SOS (Save Our Seniors). I don't know if any of the donated phones were ever used in an emergency, but if it only happens once it is all worth it...