The Snow Survival Bivouac
The single most challenging extracurricular activity for cadets was the three day snow survival bivouac held in the High Sierras in the area of around the San Juan Unified School District summer camp (Camp Winthers) or on Donner Summit near the Castle Peaks. Groups of between 10 and 15 basic, first-year, cadets constructed and lived in "para-igloos" that were built with snow block walls and parachute material coverings. Advanced, second year cadets, were organized into much smaller two person survival teams that built and lived in snow block igloos, snow caves, or snow trenches. Because of the limited amount of natural food that was available in the winter, students were usually provided with surplus survival rations and or frozen turkey legs to prepare and eat. The para-igloos were heated with a central fire built on a log fire platform. Snow caves were kept surprisingly warm by burning only a single candle.
The conditions on each Snow survival bivouac varied greatly. For some, the weather was clear and nice which facilitated cross-country skiing and search and rescue type exercises. On other Snow survival bivouacs cadets experienced extremely cold weather and sometimes heavy snowfall. One of the most successful snow survival bivouacs had a total snow accumulation of over five feet and blizzard conditions for most of the weekend. Continuous shelter maintenance and individuals survival skills occupied most of these cadets time.
Activities included the following:
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Snowshoeing |
Cross Country skiing |
Shelter construction |
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Survival Signaling |
Night Signaling |
Search and rescue exercises |
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First-aid |
Fire building |
Other wilderness skills |
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Snow Caves |
Navigation |
Leadership |
Click here for a historical account of the first California Cadet Corps Snow Survival Bivouac. It includes a description of the trip from the perspective of a young Assistant Commandant who participated and discussing the problems and challenges experienced on that trip. A must read!
Comment from Robert Cowan, the story's reviewer: "An Excellent story. It sure brought back some of my Scout memories of bringing kids up in the snow. You had a lot more gumption than me, though. I know the hill you're talking about and it is indeed a killer. I just cannot imagine you guys walking out in the snow. One winter camp at Pahatsi, which is just a skip away from Arcade, we climbed straight up the hill from I-80, across the RR tracks and then up the rest of the hill to the Scout lodge."
Pictures of this activity are located in the restricted area of this website