How to Build a Snow Shelter

A "quinzee," or snow hut, can provide vital warmth and shelter in the snow. It can also be a lot of fun to make.

Difficulty: Moderately challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Backcountry Snow Shovel
• Backpacks
• Downhill Ski Poles
• Four-season Sleeping Bag
• Snow Shovels
• Snowshoes

1. Clear a circular area in the snow about 7 or 8 feet across.

2. Use a shovel or other digging tool to mix up the snow in the clearing, making sure to bring snow from bottom layers up higher and vice versa. Mixing snow of different temperatures will facilitate the hardening process, which is called sintering.

3. Make a large pile (about 6 feet high) of snow on top of the clearing and shape it into a dome. The snow should be heaped, not packed.

4. Allow the mound to sinter for 1 to 3 hours depending on weather and snow composition.

5. Begin to hollow out the mound once it has hardened sufficiently. Dig straight in at first to create your initial opening, then dig at an upward angle in order to make an elevated sleeping area. This will allow cold air from inside to flow down and out of the shelter.

6. Use the snow you dig out to make a windbreak in front of the entrance, or heap it onto the exterior of the shelter to thicken its walls and increase the available interior space.

7. Smooth out the interior walls and ceiling when the hollowed area is large enough.

8. Poke a ventilation hole through the top of the dome using a ski pole or long stick. Make sure this hole stays clear of ice and snow.

9. Use ski poles, sticks or other clearly visible items to mark the outside of the entrance in case it gets covered up while you're away.

Tips & Warnings

• The walls of your shelter should be at least 1 to 2 feet thick.
• While waiting for the snow to sinter, prepare a meal, go for a hike or perform some other task to remain active and warm. Don't just sit around.
• Keep your shovel inside while you sleep in case you need to dig your way out.
• Use your pack to block the entrance of the shelter, but leave space for air to flow in and out.
• Don't cook inside your shelter. This can lead to a lethal buildup of carbon monoxide, even with the ventilation hole.
• Building a shelter is hard work, so you can expect to sweat a great deal. This can cause hypothermia. Make sure you have an extra set of dry clothes to change into after you've finished building the shelter.

[fn12]

on 4/19/2009 looks that somebody was following this recipe word-by-word, including sticks in the outside walls and marking the entrance with nothing less then a birch tree. These pictures were taken in April 2009 in Maine. http://www.picturepush.com/public/1613966 http://www.picturepush.com/public/1614001

[fn12]

on 4/19/2009 looks that somebody was following this recipe word-by-word, including sticks in the outside walls and marking the entrance with nothing less then a birch tree. These pictures were taken in April 2009 in Maine. http://www.picturepush.com/public/1613966 http://www.picturepush.com/public/1614001

[fn12]

on 4/19/2009 looks that somebody was following this recipe word-by-word, including sticks in the outside walls and marking the entrance with nothing less then a birch tree. These pictures were taken in April 2009 in Maine. http://www.picturepush.com/public/1613966 http://www.picturepush.com/public/1614001

[fn12]

on 4/19/2009 looks that somebody was following this recipe word-by-word, including sticks in the outside walls and marking the entrance with nothing less then a birch tree. These pictures were taken in April 2009 in Maine. http://www.picturepush.com/public/1613966 http://www.picturepush.com/public/1614001

[yourlittleness7]

on 11/27/2008 this is called a quinzy