Covert WILDERNESS Storage
In the arctic if you bury your camps, then you can't get them 7 or 8 months per year. Sometimes when we crash aircraft or run a wee bit short on fuel, it is nice to know you can swing over to the Kugrugluk Camp and spend the night. But if it is buried in the winter you are S.O.L.
We use 55 Gal. Drums with the snap ring tops. Now here is the trick. Bury the 55 Gal. Drum "BUT LEAVE THE TOP 12" ABOVE GROUND". This keeps the water out and you still have access 24/7/365. Then "BREAK" off brush to hide the top. If you cut brush it is obvious something is hidden.
We keep fuel, pots & pans, even the wall tent in the drums. You can spray paint the top 12" local camo if you want.
These drums are thicker steel than regular fuel drums, and are bear proof. I still sprinkle mothball about.
Bears love plastic drums and fuel cans and 15 Gal. plastic barrels.
Plastic rocks work great...
I know a guy who has his survival cache hid in the woods behind his house in one of those big blue screw top barrels... buried similar to what you said, only 6 or so inches sticking out of the ground. He uses one of those land scape rocks you can buy to hide stuff in your yard (well heads, septic vents etc..) just drops it over the head and throws some brush around it.
I was hunting with him one day and walked past it a half dozen times and never picked up on it until he walked over and lifted it to check on it while we were there.
Nice thing is, once you know it's there... it's real easy to find.
I was somewhat suprised he showed it to me... pretty trusting type.