The folks at Survivalist Boards are discussing this right now:

I’m trying to find better ways of building fires in deep snow. I’ve tried packing HD Aluminum foil and building the fires on that, and it works but after a while it burns through and starts a slow descent through the snow. I’ve thought about carrying a vergo wood stove.

Anyone have any ideas?

Keep in my I mean deep snow… 10′ so digging to the ground is often not an option, neither is hiking long ways quickly. 

What do you think?