Kaleb Holwell-Ruelle and Eric Carlson are two local college guys not afraid of adventure.
The pair constructed a snow bunker in the Jameson Addition lakeside yard of Kaleb’s grandparents, Darrell and Kat Ruelle. And they recently spent a night there.
Like frontier folks, they slept in the snow cave upon beds that were made of spruce boughs as well as moose, caribou and sheep skins (and good sleeping bags).
According to grandma Kat, the young men crashed about 11 p.m. and slept until noon the next day, the only source of heat their own bodies.
The interior space was created by displacing the snow that filled an area of about 8 feet by 8 feet. Kaleb began spraying it down with water, forming walls one at a time against a 4 by 8 sheet of plywood for a form. The bunker also includes a six-foot-long tunnel, according to Kat.
The last move was the roof and the students got information from Darrell (who is a carpenter) on a safe construction that could withstand the snow load. A pitched angle forms the ceiling. Finally, the young men used a snowblower to build the snow mound over the top.
“It’s nice to know kids are still having fun and checking out the past,” Kat said.
Kaleb and Eric plan to spend another night in the bunker when time allows.
