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Video: How to Build a Quinzhee Shelter (a.k.a. Snow Cave)
March 22, 2011
Video: How to Build a Quinzhee Shelter (a.k.a. Snow Cave)
Here’s a scenario for you: The wind is howling. It’s 20 degrees below zero. And a blizzard destroyed your tent.
What do you do for shelter?
Build a quinzhee, of course.
The word “quinzhee” comes from the Dene language, and for the first stretch of my journey across Great Bear Lake to the tree line I’ll be in traditional Dene territory. So I think it’s a good bet that a quinzhee should do the trick.
In this video, you’ll see me practicing my quinzhee-building skills. I’ve made this kind of survival shelter couple of times before, and each situation was a little different. But basically you just pile up a big mound of snow and then dig into it to make a cave. If you have packing snow you can roll a snowball for a door. Otherwise, just use a big pile of snow or some snow blocks—even your pack will work. For this trial I started (and then quit to protect our camera gear) during a day of driving rain. But overnight the temperature plummeted, and when I went back out the next morning I had a lot of light fluffy snow to work with. This meant I got to practice in different conditions.
What I Learned:
1. The heavier the snow, the smaller your pile of snow has to be…but the tougher it will be to dig out.
2. If I have to build one north of the tree line, I will do so very slowly. It’s easy to work up a sweat when you build a quinzhee and without wood to build a fire that can be a killer.
3. Don’t keep piling the snow you dig out on top unless you compensate with thicker walls. I've had one collapse on me in the past.
4. Use a small shovel for digging out the inside. A large shovel will cause all kinds of problems, although it's good for getting it started.
5. Although I didn’t dig out the shelter while it was raining, I realized that for a while, it would even work as a rain shelter to keep you dry.
6. Piling up the snow I dig out of the shelter on either side of the door does a good job at keeping the wind out.
A quinzhee is definitely a good thing to know how to make if you plan on venturing off the beaten path in winter. It doesn’t take a lot of skill to build and it does a great job at blocking the wind and insulating you. It’s pretty fun to make, too, just like building a snow fort when you were a kid—only, you know, practical.
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Comments (14)
Exactly what I used to make as a kid in the piles the snowplow used to make in my drive.
I have ventured off the beaten path around the world many times in the last 70 years. Been in some tight situations. Understand the instructions, but where do I get the shovel?
Built 3 of these this past winter and let me tell you they are a pain in the butt to dig out. man was i tired once i finished. Thye do keep you pretty warm
PERFECT timing; I live in WI[E.shore of L. Michigan]..this is the IDEAL activity to vent ones frustration over "WI Spring"-Steelheading postponed another 4 days! I'm dieing HERE! lol! Great instructional video; went through similar training in US ARMY survival courses-awesome refresher!
That's cool. I would like to try one of those just for fun!
An important skill but an easy way to overheat or over-exert yourself. Here is a tip. Pile backpacks or whatever and cover with a tarp. After you let the snow consolidate and you start digging all of the stuff under the tarp can be found and pulled out and the shelter is already hollowed-out. A BIG time saver.
Great! I just purchased the perfect shovel and the snow is still deep.I prefer to start mine on the upside(or would it be the downside?) of a hill so I can dig down into a deep drifted pile of snow.A lot less work and then you have the energy to decorate it with a flag that says "S.O.L" I need all the tips I can get on surviving the elements.Alaska can really throw a lot at you in one day!Thanks~
Has anyone ever had a 'snow cave' collaspe? I would think it could be dangerous.How do you prevent this?
Excellent quinzhee shelter Jim!
Excellent quinzhee shelter Jim!
Great idea with the sticks!
I also use to build these as a kid, wish I knew the trick with the sticks because I think 8 out of every 10 I built collapsed. If you were to have a fire inside and build a chimney somehow to exhaust the smoke how great of a risk would there be of melting your shelter?
How many people carry a snow shovel to start building a quinzhee? I was expecting to see how to pile up the snow with something on hand. But then on the other hand if you know you are going camping in the winter why not take a snow shovel along. Great Idea for a winter camp activity for Boy Scouts. I think the getting overheat needed to emphasized far more then it was mentioned. Hind sight is always 20/20. the hint with the sticks was great. Thank you for the lesson.
I have used a snowshoe as a shovel to build a quinzee before and it works very well. Will, I wouldn’t light a fire in a quinzee but a candle or two would help make it a bit warmer.
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I have ventured off the beaten path around the world many times in the last 70 years. Been in some tight situations. Understand the instructions, but where do I get the shovel?
An important skill but an easy way to overheat or over-exert yourself. Here is a tip. Pile backpacks or whatever and cover with a tarp. After you let the snow consolidate and you start digging all of the stuff under the tarp can be found and pulled out and the shelter is already hollowed-out. A BIG time saver.
Exactly what I used to make as a kid in the piles the snowplow used to make in my drive.
Great! I just purchased the perfect shovel and the snow is still deep.I prefer to start mine on the upside(or would it be the downside?) of a hill so I can dig down into a deep drifted pile of snow.A lot less work and then you have the energy to decorate it with a flag that says "S.O.L" I need all the tips I can get on surviving the elements.Alaska can really throw a lot at you in one day!Thanks~
That's cool. I would like to try one of those just for fun!
Has anyone ever had a 'snow cave' collaspe? I would think it could be dangerous.How do you prevent this?
Built 3 of these this past winter and let me tell you they are a pain in the butt to dig out. man was i tired once i finished. Thye do keep you pretty warm
PERFECT timing; I live in WI[E.shore of L. Michigan]..this is the IDEAL activity to vent ones frustration over "WI Spring"-Steelheading postponed another 4 days! I'm dieing HERE! lol! Great instructional video; went through similar training in US ARMY survival courses-awesome refresher!
Excellent quinzhee shelter Jim!
Great idea with the sticks!
I also use to build these as a kid, wish I knew the trick with the sticks because I think 8 out of every 10 I built collapsed. If you were to have a fire inside and build a chimney somehow to exhaust the smoke how great of a risk would there be of melting your shelter?
How many people carry a snow shovel to start building a quinzhee? I was expecting to see how to pile up the snow with something on hand. But then on the other hand if you know you are going camping in the winter why not take a snow shovel along. Great Idea for a winter camp activity for Boy Scouts. I think the getting overheat needed to emphasized far more then it was mentioned. Hind sight is always 20/20. the hint with the sticks was great. Thank you for the lesson.
Excellent quinzhee shelter Jim!
I have used a snowshoe as a shovel to build a quinzee before and it works very well. Will, I wouldn’t light a fire in a quinzee but a candle or two would help make it a bit warmer.
Post a Comment