By Aislin Buchanan
It was -8 C — cold, but not freezing. As darkness fell, my three 11-year-old friends and I crawled into our survival snow shelter and prepared to spend the night out on Mount Mackenzie.
I banged my head against the roof of the cave. We all giggled. "Was that cold?" asked Charley. "Most Definitely!" I laughed.
We were doing our end-of-the-season snow cave camp-out for the Revelstoke Ski Club's All Mountain Program. There were 14 kids, aged 10-13, sleeping in snow caves.
The All Mountain Program offers awesome coaching and skill development for skiing chutes, trees, and deep powder at Revelstoke Mountain Resort. It also provides an introduction to snow science, winter safety and survival skills. The highlight of the season is always our winter camp out.
Every year the snow caves we dig are amazing. They can be six feet tall and sleep seven people. Some have a labyrinth of tunnels. Most caves have little shelves built into the walls, pegs and hooks to hang things, and little nooks and crannies for your personal belongings. A cave filled with friends is always warm and happy.
As the night goes on we all gather around a fire pit dug to the ground and tell funny or scary stories, jokes and riddles. Together we eat a whole bag of marshmallows. It's always great fun for kids to get out in the snow and enjoy it together.
But of course none of this would be possible without our great coaches and parents. Thank you to our head coach Dean Prunkle, as well as Skookum, Flowt, Free Spirit Sports, Tantrum Ride Co., and Home Hardware for helping us make this happen. I'm sure this is an experience none of us will ever forget!