In my roughest night out, I found myself foundering in deep (over six feet) snow as night was coming on. I wanted to dig a snow cave, but the dry powdery snow wouldn't support a roof - I used a thin poncho I was carrying and the branches of a handy pine tree to get a roof over my head. No way was I able to get my butt off the snow. I was carrying a stove which enabled me to melt snow and heat water for tea, which is undoubtedly why I survived.

Interesting....This happened in Arizona on the San Francisco Peaks, exactly fifty years ago. I had indeed chosen the longest night of the year to spend the night out....