How to Build a Quinzee Snow Shelter
A quinzee is a simple shelter made by hollowing out a big pile of snow. They can take several hours to build, but are an effective way to stay warm when camping in the winter. Here’s how to build one.
BUILDING A QUINZEE
Step 1: Shovel a pile of snow into a mound 7 to 8 feet high and big enough around to hold two people once it is hollowed out. Mix snow of different temperatures to cause it to harden, or “sinter.” Flip the snow over so it mixes when you pile it into a mound.
Step 2: Shape the mound into a dome and allow it to sinter for about 90 minutes. Then begin to hollow out the mound.
Dig a small entrance on the downhill side. Smooth out the walls and ceiling. The walls should be 1 to 2 feet thick. Poke measuring sticks through from the outside of the mound, so you will know to stop hollowing out the inside when you see the ends of the sticks. Hollow the shelter out from the top down.
Step 3: Use the last foot of snow to make elevated snowbeds. Dig a narrow trench between the beds all the way to the ground. This allows cold air to flow down and out of the quinzee. Poke a small ventilation hole near the top of the dome.
Building a quinzee will make you sweat. Prevent hypothermia by changing into warm dry clothes after you finish building your shelter.
Step 4: Make sure you mark your entrance in case it gets covered with snow while you are away having fun. Keep a small shovel inside in case you need to dig your way out.
WINTER CAMPING TIPS
– If you have to visit the latrine in the middle of the night, eat a snack afterward to help warm up your body and get back to sleep. Don’t worry about keeping the snacks in your quinzee — when you camp in winter, you don’t have to worry about bears.
– Jell-O gelatin mix makes a great hot drink. Store Jello-O powder in refillable backpacking tubes and add it to hot water. Try cherry Jell-O in instant hot chocolate!
– Eat your meals from their packages. Vacuum-sealed meals and packages of oatmeal can be opened and used as “bowls.” If you don’t rip the top off completely, you’ll have only one piece of trash to dispose of.
– Bury your water jugs in a snowdrift. The snow insulates the water and keeps it from freezing.
This is an old thread, but for the benefit of people still reading this, I have to comment on the several questions regarding use of a fire or backpacking stoves inside a Quinzee. DON’T DO THIS! It is not necessary and is very DANGEROUS! Carbon monoxide poisoning is no joke! The warmth of a Quinzee comes from body heat from the sleepers inside. A good Quinzee can have a “temperature differential” of up to 60 degrees as compared to outside air temperature. In other words, 30 below zero outside, 30 above zero inside. No problem with a good sleeping bag and closed-cell ensolite pad underneath. The door should be plugged to get this kind of warmth. At Okpik, we used a large square of parachute cloth, filled with snow and pulled together to make a large ball. Tie it off and pull it into the door behind you with a roope. I was an Okpik instructor at the Northern Tier base in Ely, MN.
Wish I wasn’t a desert dweller… I miss snow. Enjoyed your thorough description and images.
I built a small one in my backyard and read books inside. I had to make sure I didn’t leave them in or they would be ruined!
My sister told me about this. She built them in Alberta with the Junior Forest Wardens. Your site is great & shows what she told me in pictures. We’re going to do it tomorrow. Still snowing today.
I am camping soon and am planning to build one of these