How to Make a Quinzee Hut
It is often difficult to find shelter and warmth in cold temperatures and snow. The good news is that snow is an insulator that can provide shelter and is often warmer than a tent. A quinzee hut is a man-made pile of snow that you hollow out and harden to create a shelter. Knowing how to make a quinzee hut can be a very effective tool in survival. A quinzee hut should be just big enough to fit yourself and anyone you are with. Does this Spark an idea?
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Instructions
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Find a circular area outside where you would like the quinzee hut to be. Measure 10 feet in diameter using your measuring tape. Mark the circle in the snow using your feet or hands.
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Shovel snow from outside the circle and pile it into the circle to create a mound of snow. Continue adding snow to the mound until it is 7 feet high. Turn the snow as you pile it onto the mound and if possible add snow of different temperatures. Temperatures are different within the different layers of snow.
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Flatten out the snow, creating a dome shape with your hands.
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Poke 12 sticks into the dome on the top and sides. Spread out the sticks so they are evenly distributed across the whole dome. The length of the sticks determines how thick the walls will be for your quinzee hut.
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Let the dome sit for two to three hours. This gives time for the snow to harden or sinter. You will be able to tell the snow is fully hardened by pounding on the top of the dome with your hand. If the snow doesn't break, it is fully sintered.
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Dig a small circular opening into the dome with a shovel. The opening should be at ground level and on the opposite side of blowing wind. This will be your entrance to the quinzee hut.
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Continue digging into the dome. As you dig, slant upwards. At this point you are hollowing out your dome. As you go up, continue until you reach the ends of the sticks. Then proceed to dig downward. Stop once your dome is fully hollowed out.
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Poke a hole into the top and center of the dome with a stick all the way through to the inside. This allows for ventilation.
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Tips & Warnings
When piling the snow, don't pack it.
The snow will harden faster when the temperature is colder.
Change your clothes immediately after completing your hut to prevent hypothermia.
Always have a shovel inside your quinzee hut in case you need to dig out.
References
- Photo Credit Jupiterimages/Photos.com/Getty Images
