You might like to read Glacier Pilot, by Beth Day. It’s the biography of Bob Reeve, one of the most daring and innovative pilots of all time, who coincidentally was a friend of my father. Together with Noel Wien, Don Sheldon, Bill Egan and many others, they opened this country to exploration.
I would love to do that and I think I will.
Without having seen the movie, I have to wonder why he didn’t just melt snow?
Maybe all he had around him was yellow snow.
If my experience is any guide, because it’s a serious nuisance. You pack a pot full of snow, burn a fair amount of fuel, and get a small amount of water for your trouble. Repeat for a small additional amount.
Liquid water is much better - you can carry lots of it in a container, and you don’t have to invest all the fuel required to cause the phase change.