Soft crack under bunk
Sit up, listen for a moment, then check vent and stove. If sound fades, you log it and go back to sleep.
Night comfort
Build a small, steady camp that keeps you ready for hard ice.
This page focuses on shelter layouts, safe heat and small routines that keep you sharp when the wind turns rough.
Use these ideas to keep the camp side simple, warm and ready for the next drill.
Shelter map
A simple layout that keeps heat, sleep and gear in balance.
Sleep
Heat
Gear
One corner for sleep, one for heat, one for wet boots and tackle. No clutter in the walking path.
- Keep sleep side dry and clear from snow piles.
- Place heat where you can see it from every spot.
- Hang wet gear high, not across the floor.
Heat & air
Three quick checks before you settle in for the night.
Warmth only works if air still moves and stoves stay where they belong.
Vent clear, no frost blocking the top opening.
Stove on a flat pad, no gear touching the sides.
One light on a hook, ready if wind wakes you up.
Sleep layers
A simple stack that keeps you warm without bulk.
Three quiet layers: mat, bag and liner. Add just enough, not a whole closet of gear.
- Firm mat that blocks ice chill.
- Bag matched to your coldest plan.
- Light liner to handle wet socks.
Dry gear
One short drying line saves half your night.
Hang what you use most: gloves, socks, shell. Keep smoke and sparks away from the line.
Line high enough to walk under without snagging.
Heaviest items nearest to wall, not over the stove.
Quiet zone
A small calm corner to reset between loud ice runs.
One seat, one light, one shelf. Enough to slow your head down before the next harsh drill.
- No boots or wet gear in this spot.
- Keep a notebook, light and warm drink.
Camp rhythm
A simple evening timeline to keep camp under control.
One loop for gear, one loop for heat, one loop for sleep. Repeat the same pattern every harsh night so nothing gets missed.
+00:20
Shed the wet layers
Boots on the tray, gloves on the line, shell jacket near the door. Get the wet weight out of the bunk area first.
+00:40
Heat and air check
Vent open, stove stable, no gear leaning on hot metal. Short look-around before you relax.
+01:00
Quiet seat and short notes
Ten calm minutes on the quiet chair with a mug and a small notebook. One page per night is enough.
Fuel & water
A small shelf for food and hot drinks that actually gets used.
Keep one low shelf for simple, warm fuel: water, basic snacks and one comfort drink. If it is hard to reach, you will skip it when you need it most.
Water first
One bottle ready at hand level, not buried under spare gear.
Simple snacks
Small portions you can eat with gloves or cold fingers.
One comfort drink
Tea, broth or coffee — something warm that marks the end of the loud day.
Night noise
How to deal with loud ice and sudden wakeups in camp.
Cracks and snaps sound sharper inside a small shelter. A simple plan for wakeups keeps panic away and lets you rest again.
Wind hit on walls
Lantern on, look for loose lines and snow build-up on one side. Fix what you can without stepping outside too long.
Sharp snap close by
Boots ready, jacket on, quick check of ice near the door with a light. You stay calm because the steps are always the same.
Door line
Turn the shelter door into a clear, safe control line.
The door is where every harsh run starts and ends. A simple door strip keeps boots, light and small gear from turning into chaos when you wake up half asleep.
Boot strip
Two short mats: one outside, one inside. Snow drops outside, melt stays on the tray, not across the bunk.
Grab hook
A single hook for headlamp and shell jacket, always in the same place above the handle.
Exit stash
Small crate with spikes, spud bar and gloves. If you have to step out fast, you do not have to search.
Morning ramp
Three small moves that turn cold mornings into a steady start.
You do not need a long ritual. A short, repeatable ramp for light, heat and body makes it easier to leave a warm bag when dawn is still grey and loud ice waits outside.
Light first
Turn on one soft light and a lantern before you unzip the bag. Your eyes and head wake up before your feet hit the mat.
Heat check
Look at vent, stove and fuel. If the setup is calm, the rest of the morning stays calm too.
One warm sip
Take a small drink while you pull on dry socks. Not a feast, just enough to nudge you into the day.
Camp checklist
A small wall board that keeps your comfort routine in one place.
Instead of trying to remember every detail when you are tired, you pin three short lists to one board: camp ready, night safe and morning clear.
Camp ready
Mats down, bag aired, food shelf stocked, exit crate packed.
Night safe
Vent open, stove stable, light and boots staged near the door.
Morning clear
Quiet corner cleared, mug and notebook ready for quick notes before you head back onto the ice.
Body reset
A short body loop that helps you recover between harsh runs.
When camp finally goes quiet, you still carry the day in your shoulders and legs. This three-part loop keeps the next morning from feeling twice as heavy.
Outside stretch
Two slow minutes outside the door, rolling shoulders and hips while you look over the ice one last time.
Aisle shake-out
Small steps and ankle circles in the narrow shelter aisle to wake feet and toes back up.
Bunk cooldown
Two deep breaths per stretch while you sit on the bunk edge before sliding into the bag.
Buddy line
Simple partner signals that travel through storm and dark.
You do not need a complex code. A few clear light and sound signals, agreed before the session, keep both camps on the same page when wind and ice get loud.
Two lights at door
Short double flash points to “all good, turning in for the night” when you see the other shelter.
Lantern held high
One slow circle above the head says “step out and check in” without shouting across the ice.
Short knock code
Simple knock pattern on the wall or door when you walk past your partner’s shelter in the dark.
Next run ready
Pack the sled in lanes so the next morning starts clean.
Instead of a single pile of gear, break the sled into lanes: drill lane, camp lane and soft gear lane. The layout takes a few extra minutes at night and saves twenty in the morning wind.
Drill lane
Auger, spud bar and spare blades strapped flat along one side, never on top of soft bags.
Camp lane
Stove pad, mats and bag on the opposite side, ready to slide back into camp first.
Soft lane
Jackets and spare gloves across the top as a quiet buffer for bumps.
Camp & ice together
Turn your shelter into a quiet base for hard drilling days.
Snowdrill Anglers is built for anglers who stay when the weather says “go home”. Use this page as a sketchbook for your own camp, not a strict rule book.
Keep one layout you trust for nights when the ice talks more than usual.
Pair every drill day with a simple recovery loop back at camp.
