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 seven to eight 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 one to two 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.
Step 4: Building a quinzee will make you sweat. Prevent hypothermia by changing into warm dry clothes after you finish building your shelter.
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.
Tags: Winter
I wish that it would snow often here, that looks fun
Sounds pretty cool. I always try to build snow forts but it never works. Once I even succeeded in making one but my dog wrecked it before I even went in it
I am going to build one when I get the chance
i am going to try this when it snows. I cant wait!
If you want to save time just build a quinzee in a snow bank created by snow plows.
Dont light a fire in your quinze unlees you wanyt all of your stuff to get wet if you want to cook somthing bring along a back packing stove and use that to boil water for hot chocolate just make sure you keep all flamables away from it and make sure you put it under the vent in the top(prevents melt-down)
ME TOO
cool I’ll try it next time it snows
can you build a fire inseide one of these?
So we are building these this weekend not sure how well it will work.
i went winter camping this weekend with my troop, and we built snow quinzees. for the most part we were very warm. these quinzees take quite a lot ofwork to build. one thing that you want to remember is to dig out shelves in your quinzee and light about three candles. this will help warm up your quinzee tremendousley. it gets kind of cold after they go out though.
my troop is going winter camping this weekend and we are building quinzees. ive never made one before but i am looking forward to it. ive been tld they are very warm but i dont know i guess i will find out soon.
my troop is planning on camping out this weekend and we are planing to build quinzees. ive been told they are very wrm but i dont know iguess i will find out
Do you ever build a fire in a quinzee to make hot chocolate or cider?
Very cool!! 8) My troop is going snow camping, and I’m going to use this(harness the power of snow!!)!
Quincy’s are awsome
what do you need to make a quinzee???
Our troop is doing a winter camp out this weekend and we are building quinzees and sleeping in them over night. It is going to be a blast!
sweet bro
I build one every time it snows!! It so much fun!!