Snow Shelters

You thought that snow shelters were only for the adventurous, lost or extreme Northerner. Maybe that is so but anyone can build one and, who knows, you might even decide to take it up as an annual winter activity just for fun. There are many types of snow shelters; three will be discussed: the snow cave, quinzee, and igloo. A snow cave is usually built into a snow bank by digging under the snow already there; a quinzee is a shelter dug out of a man-made pile of snow; and an igloo is a domed shaped shelter built of packed snow blocks.  If you live in or visit areas with extreme winter conditions, you should know how to build a snow shelter whether for fun or survival.

Some reasons why snow shelters are better than other types of shelters:

• Snow shelters are insulated by the snow.
• Snow shelters are quiet and peaceful environments.
• Snow shelters are free.

Building a snow shelter can be hard work, in other words, the more people helping the better! When building a snow cave, look for a steep bank with lots of snow (preferably as deep as you are tall). Choose a place where there is no danger of an avalanche. One person should start digging a trench straight into the bank about three feet. Once you have completed this trench, you will dig a short (approximately two feet) tunnel straight into the snow bank at the bottom of the trench; the tunnel should be big enough for a large man to crawl through. Then start digging straight up at the end of this tunnel. This perpendicular tunnel being dug should extend at least twice as high as the short two-foot horizontal tunnel. After this tunnel is completed don’t get too excited yet, you still have to dig the main chamber! Start digging a platform waist-high that extends horizontally into the snow bank on which you can sit or sleep. This will be the floor of the cave. Start digging up to create a bowl-shaped ceiling but be careful not to poke through the roof. A bowl/domed shaped roof is the strongest. The roof should be about one foot thick. The floor of the cave should be higher than the entrance hole to prevent cold air from blowing in and to trap the heat produced from your body or heat source (i.e. candle) within the cave. Surprisingly, snow is a good insulator. The temperature inside a well made snow shelter is usually 32 degrees and with just one burning candle the temperature in a snow cave will rise considerably.

Once the cave has been dug out, the ceiling should be rounded and smoothed so that the snow that melts will run down the sides of the cave instead of dripping off the ceiling. Make sure there aren’t any pointed areas on the ceiling or the melted snow will drip off those points. You will also want to dig a small trench at the base of the walls for the water to collect in and run down to the entrance instead of pooling up and wetting any clothing, sleeping bags, etc. Most importantly, a hole for ventilation should be punched through the ceiling with the handle of a shovel or a stick. The desired thickness of a snow cave ceiling is 12 to 18 inches. Before going to bed, make sure you have your digging shovel inside with you incase you have to shovel your way out in the morning. Don’t cook inside your cave because CO builds up from the fumes. If you decide to do so make sure there is proper ventilation.

Some tips if snow camping, from Karen Sykes’s article:

• You do need knowledge of mountainous terrain and winter hazards.
• Never camp at the bottom of an avalanche slope. An avalanche slope can be identified by its lack of ‘anchors’ such as trees or rocks.
• Camp in the trees or on top of a ridge if it is not too windy.
• Don’t camp beneath a cornice. A cornice is a ‘frozen wave,’ a collection of snow created by wind action that hangs on the leeward side of a ridge. Sudden changes in temperature can cause the cornice to break off and trigger an avalanche.
• You will need navigation skills as there are no trails to follow. Carry a map and compass.
• If you are going into terrain where avalanche is a possibility, everyone in the party should have an avalanche beacon tuned to the same frequency, and know how to use them.
• If it’s your first time, camp close enough to the car so that you can retreat if necessary. Leave emergency clothing and food in the car in case of unexpected highway delays.
• Cooking is a challenge. Keep foods simple—this is not the time to try a gourmet recipe. Fruit will freeze. Don’t diet, since you need plenty of food to keep going as cold temperatures will quickly eat up your energy.
• Working with stoves can be a challenge. White-gas stoves work best in cold weather. Water bottles will freeze unless you keep them inside.
• Keep your boots inside your shelter, or the laces will freeze.
• When you are working, stop frequently to eat and drink water—you need fluids even when it is cold. Once you are inside your shelter—tent, snow cave or igloo—change clothing completely even if you think you are dry. Your clothing will be damp from perspiration.

Igloos take longer and require more skill to build than other snow shelters. They were mostly used by eastern Eskimos living in Greenland or mid to northeastern Canada. They used them as temporary dwellings when traveling. It is best to build an igloo on a dry, sunny day because you will be exposed to the weather longer than you would if building a snow cave. This isn’t the only prerequisite, the snow has to be the right consistency—sticky; otherwise, the blocks will not hold together. To make blocks, the snow has to be compressed and then cut in a rectangle shape. Ideal dimensions are 12 by 18 by 6 inches. To cut these blocks will require a good snow saw (20" long by 2" wide).

Before you start building, you need to find a flat spot where the snow is at least two feet deep. Stomp out a circle on the flat spot for the floor of the igloo. Six to eight feet in diameter will work well. The igloo is constructed with tiers (actually it is one tier spiraling upward on itself). Cut out blocks and build the first layer/tier forming a complete circle. Don’t make room for the door yet.

These blocks should lean inward so that as you build up they will slowly create a dome shape. Next you will take your saw and cut the snow blocks so that the first row spirals upward. Now you will be building in a spiraling circle that does not end until it encloses the whole igloo at the top. Pack any holes with snow and remember to keep sloping the blocks as you ascend. Like the snow cave, the igloo must have a ventilation hole at the top and a door at the base. To make the door tunnel in under the wall. On the inside smooth down the ceiling to prevent drip points.

A quinzee is a snow shelter made inside a big pile of snow. So, for those who do not have enough snow to build a snow cave, this shelter is for you. Start by making a pile. Shovels and lots of people help make this process go faster! Your pile should be approximately six feet high with a rounded top. Once your pile is made take a long pole and stick it in the middle of the pile perpendicular to the ground, then take other smaller sticks and stick them into the pile to mark the circumference of the chamber. Take a break for a few hours or a day to let the pile settle. After the snow has compacted, like the snow cave, tunnel in, tunnel up and then tunnel in until you hit the center pole. Start digging out the quinzee until you hit the circumference sticks. (Remove sticks after chamber is dug out.)  Punch a hole in the top for ventilation, smooth out the ceiling to avoid drips, and dig out a small trench around the base of the walls to allow the water to drain down to the doorway.

"It is also a good idea to bring along a small tarp or tent fly. In the dead of winter it can still rain, even in northern Canada. A few unfortunate campers have found this out the hard way. Day One it was –25C, during the night it warmed up and rained hard. They woke up at 5:00 AM with their quinzee caving in on them followed by pouring rain. Everything got soaked. Later that morning it dropped back down to –20C and all of their gear and clothing was frozen solid. Throwing tarps over the roof of your quinzee during a rain storm will greatly increase it’s chances of making it through the night. Just make sure your ventilation hole is not obstructed. If so you’ll have to poke another one off to the side" (Nowacki).

It is a good idea to cover the area where you will be sleeping with a tarp, also, so that your sleeping bag can be laid out on top and not get wet.

For safety, always cave in your snow shelter so that skiers, snowmobilers or other outdoor explorers are not in danger of falling into them. And always bring along a tent incase you are not able to finish the snow shelter before dark.

Some personal safety tips from Brian Blain:

• Make sure you’ve got dry clothes to change into after building your igloo or snow cave. Don’t sleep in clothes you’ve worn all day and be sure to bring along an extra pair of long underwear and socks for the night.
• Drink fluids often during the day and keep a water bottle by your side at night. Dehydration (that dry and thirsty feeling) seriously reduces your body’s ability to produce heat and keep you warm.
• If your feet are cold and your boots are already tight, don’t put on more socks. Toes with room to wiggle stay warmer than those that don’t have any room to move around. The best way to keep your feet warm is to keep the rest of your body warm. This might sound funny…but if your feet start getting cold, put on a hat. Wool hats are best because they’ll keep your head warm even if they get wet.
• And don’t loose that hat during the day, because you’ll sure want it at night. Always wear a hat to bed. Even with the coziest sleeping bag in the world, you’ll probably get cold during the night if your head is uncovered.
• Don’t overdress. Wear layers of clothes instead of big, bulky jackets. Layers are better because you can take something off if you’re sweating or put another layer on if you get chilly.
• If you’re thirsty and you’re low on water, don’t start munching on snowbanks. Eating snow actually dries out your mouth and chills your stomach, which makes you feel cold pretty quickly. Instead, fill your half-empty water bottle with snow and shake it around. Then wear it while you’re hiking or building your igloo. Your movement will turn the snow into water.
• And last but not least, if you don’t want to have to crawl into popsicle pants in the morning, remember to put your dry pair of jeans in your sleeping bag with you at night. They’ll stay warm with you in your sleeping bag and you can put them back on in the morning without screaming while you do the defrost dance.

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Blain, Brian. [editor@freezone.com]. "Curiocity’s Freezone, Palm Beaches"/"Sports"/"Flashy Igloos and Snow Caves." [http://palmbeaches.curiocity.com/action/igloo/intro.html]. 1999.

Carter, Brad. [carterb@advision.com]. "Frugal Squirrel’s Homepage for Patriots, Survivalists, and Gun Owners"/"Snow Cave Versus Tents." [http://www.netside.com/%7Elcoble/dir9/snowcav.txt]. 1995-1999.

Kugel, Kunal. "Skiing Homepage"/"Snow Hut." [ http://www.sd83.bc.ca/stu/9901/kugk5a.html]. [ http://www.sd83.bc.ca/stu/9901/kugk1.html].

Nowacki, Mike. [http://www.call-wild.com/info.html]. "Call of the Wild"/"How To Build a Quinzee." [http://www.call-wild.com/quinzee.html]. Nov. 16, 1999.

Sykes, Karen [newmedia@seattle-pi.com]. "Seattle P-I.com"/"Getaways"/"Snowcamping." [http://www.seattle-pi.com/pi/getaways/121897/snow18.html]. 1999.

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Stories:

"Snow Caves at Stevens Pass, March 27-28, 1999." [http://home1.gte.net/mandm/snow_cave.html].

"Snow Days." [http://321contact.org/parents/advice/article/0,4125,790,00.html].

"Snow cave can, and did, save lives." [http://www.abqtrib.com/snocave.html].

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Resources:

"Site offers tips on building igloos, snowcaves." [http://www.agenttools.com/news/980730i.htm].

"Norquest Innovation Corp." [http://www.mts.net/polardome/index.html].

Fred J. Becker, Architect

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