Igloos, quinzes and snow shelters

[Michael Bennett]

With all the snow we've been having over the last few weeks, I took the opportunity to built a quinze and an igloo in the back yard, side by side, for comparison. I wanted to see which one was better/easier in a given situation.

General observations are that the quinze was easier/faster to build, provided that you have some rudimentary materials to scavenge. Basically, I built a frame like a tipi and shoveled snow onto it. It is small, but it's a shelter.

The igloo is built of the typical compound-angle, block construction. It took longer, has holes that need to be patched up and required fewer materials, but more tools, and the snow has to be firm. This was my third true igloo, and true to my typical form, is more beehive shaped than I'd like.

I hope to post pictures to my web site soon.

Has anyone built domed snow shelters before? What tips/techniques work best for you?

Mike

 

[Jim Craig]

I build quinzies on all my winter caping trips. I am not sure why you need any materials. With the exception of a shovel, I use nothing but snow. It is a little easier if you stack some backpacks and other bulky objects, and cover them with snow, pulling them out when you start digging.
The only other thing involved is letting the snow set for 2-3 hours before digging. The bigger the pile, the more space. We have slept 6 adults in our largest quinzie, and that is about as big as I want to build. An average size that sleeps 3-4 comfortably takes about an hour, excluding setting time, and is thermally efficient. A few candle lanterns and warm sleeping bags make for a cozy long term winter camp. The hardest thing to perfect is building a good door. We usually just use a backpack, and its not too bad.