I did so many of them with my dad when I was young! And I did sleep in one, but to be fine, you need to be well dressed and try to isolate yourself from the ground. If you live in a coniferous forest, use pine branches to make a mattress and cover yourself. Also, still in a coniferous forest (I'm in Canada), I've slept under a pine in the past. The snow often covers the lower branches but leave the soil dry around the base of the trunk. Push branches apart to get in trying to only make a small hole, and it makes a decent shelter. Slept in one before too. And in the Borealis forest, you have a lot of choice as to which tree to pick!
great info. a few years ago i had enough snow to make one and me and my kids spent hours making it. it was a ton of work. me and my 2 kids spent the night in it and had a breath hole in the top with a candle. it was surprisingly warmer inside. i used a pad with a wool blanket. such a great memory with my kids
Great video, quinzy are a good shelter, but maybe not for survival. Too long to build. Too much énergie expended to do. The Snow cave is a little better if equip for it. As a survival shelter The snow trench might be better and faster to do. Overall your shelter should be easy to do and relatively easy to do. For survival you should not expand to much energie. Great review.
Thanks Sarge great points. Snow cave to me would be a last resort. Some one i knew got caught in a blizzard in Montana during a elk hunt. He dug a cave in a snow drift and that saved his life.
Good stuff man, great minds think alike. Shot a video on snow the other day, where I'm laying in a trench shelter I made through out the entire video. Great points, people forget that as you work, not only do you sweat but your body heat melts the snow on your cloths saturating them. I've had that happen to me to many times and have changed how I dress do to it.
Lots of Fun!! ...but in a survival situation, if your on a mtn or barren landscape without woodlands...this is the way to go ,to get out of heavy weather conditions. Its not a permanent shelter, needs a proper air vent..and make sure that sucker is stable, so you don't make the Search and Rescue listing. If it does collapse, find your bearings with the Help of Gravity...if the snow DROPs, you know where is the TOP. We don't have a great need of this shelter type, but it is a good thing to be aware of , cause you never know when your plane trip to the artic is gonna crash..lol Cheers ;-) Great share buddy ;-)
Great info Sarg! I always have a very hard time building these and not sweating it usually takes me twice as long to dig out. I think it would probably be my last resort option. Thanks for sharing your advice bro!
brings back memories of many years ago, great emergency snow shelter if you need it, fun to build when your a kid, not quite as much fun as an adult.....ty for sharing
The "ceiling" has to be smooth without any bumps, that way water from melting snow wont drip on you. And you must make trench/ditch around you so that water wont soak your bedroll... Hope you get the idea.
Thanks for raising important considerations. While we usually have more than enough snow here in the North Woods, a snow shelter isn't a likely need considering all the other materials available in the forest. But I certainly remember making them as a kid in southern Michigan, usually in the snow banks by the driveway. The biggest danger seems to be collapse, which claims or nearly claims a kid every so often here in snow country.
Really cool video for a few reasons; this is a great emergency shelter as well as long term. The only thing about being long term is you need a bivy sack or something to keep the moisture off you. The candle trick does help a little to relieve that. The most important thing is the carbon dioxide factor and another way to think about it is this; if your under water and breathing through a straw that is 12 inches long you can live a long time. If the straw is 10 feet long you will die in minutes, reason being is that you are breathing the same air your lungs have already used up. Snow caves have saved a-lot of lives in the mountains but there is often an asterisk involving frostbite. Its a great shelter and one that should be practiced and have in your bag of tricks. Cool video man!
Great tips on the pros and cons of a quinsy. If you are out in deep snow, you'll likely have a pair of snowshoes with you. A single snowshoe makes a passable substitute for a shovel. Other considerations on the quinsy, is they are a short term shelter. They tend to sink under their own weight as they are not perfectly shaped as a catenary arch to be self supporting like an igloo. I came across other videos of an igloo making tool. Search youtube for the ICEBOX igloo making tool from Grand Shelters. It makes the proper shape and eliminates the digging out the middle process of the traditional quinsy, so it tends to go a little quicker.
Well lil man was having a good time, ah to be a kid again. I've never made one and I can only imagine how difficult it might be but when you eliminate any other options do what you gotta do. Appreciate the heads up on this one. Makes you think. atb
We're at the end of the street and the plow heaps it up by us and me and my little man have been making " snow Forts for years, lol. He had a good idea once he took an old broom handle ( and once a hockey stick) took an old pillow case and drew his own flag, we tied it and stuck it on top, awesome! His own castle! Good times.
Little man =future woodsman ☺ nothing better than seeing the young uns enjoying the outdoors.God bless brother...sorry for commenting with my other halfs google account btw.The Rapid Rat Assassin.
Slept in one in the bwca , they do take time to build but we tried it and 2 vent holes , was -37 f that night and my buddy and I were toasty while the others were not.
Great vid and disclaimers :) This shelter as you stated is not seen enough. For the nay sayers below, this is probably the best shelter you can build for yourself, with the caveats Derek mentioned. The Inuits lived for months in them. Snow is a great insulator. I have slept in one in January. It was built differently but my buddy and I woke up to 1/4 to 3/8 ice on the walls in the morning. Although we were cold at 1st (sweat) we were warm for the night. My bed roll (underpad) of choice although somewhat bulky is a 2 x 6' piece of reflectix. Some folks prefer to use them against their sleeping bag. I don't. I like a bed of boughs 4-6" think on top of the reflectix. It allows insulation from the ground or snow and permits air circulation which will prevent you from sweating due to conduction. I always lay my underpad on the ground and build my matress above that. But that is just me because I naturally over sweat as discussed in wet cold, dry cold.
U R welcome. :) I forgot something. This is not a type of shelter you build just before the sun goes down. You have to hope you decided to start this around noon, to work at a pace so you don't sweat, but more importantly, you require the relative heat of the day to assist in compacing the snow, if you are not digging in. Lots of good stuff wrt these on TH-cam and elsewhere on the Net.
Yup, as I said, very viable option. I just don't want people to think just because there is snow....that means make one of these as a first choice. Then of course the safety measures you should think about if this is your only option
I lived in the woods for a few winters the first time I knew where there was a old car witch I dug into and used as a quinzee/igloo. the second time knowing how well the first time worked I been a few shelters I designed for the snow to cover . with also worked out well . but you are vary right I would think vary hard about getting wet to just make one from snow . in a real survival situation . theres just so many other options that are less work and safer .
I love your vids. Slow down, take a little breath, the sounds of nature are nice too. Thanks for sharing, and I hope you understand what I was saying? It was not meant as a slight on you in any way. Just that the beautiful outdoors is a relaxing place.
Eat Carbs thanks man. ya....the snowshoes would help a lot (I forgot to mention them as I always thing a quinzee needs to be piled up when there is little snow.....so shoes might not be worn)
Last weekend two climbers saved theirs life up in the montains digging this kind of shelter.....I think for them It was quite viable. I did some of this caves during some military training and my main problem was the sweat.... Warm Regards from Spain.
Wouldn't it be easier to throw a tarp against the leeward side of a snow bank, anchor it on 3 sides with snow, and climb in? I think that would save you a lot of time and effort when trying to get out of a negative windchill. Still, the best answer is to avoid places with that much cold and snow all together . lol Semper Fi
I have built 6 or 7 quinzees over the years. Each time I built one I found it to be a lot of work and I ended up soaking wet from perspiration and melting snow. I do not consider quinzees to be a realistic survival option. I am not even sure they were traditionally used. I have found only two historical references to them. William Duncan Strong, Labrador Winter (1927 and 1928) refers to one at page 127. He says "This house idea is, I believe, a stunt of the present generation." He also says that he "woke up sick ... and I realized we had no air.... There was absolutely no oxygen in the air! I tried lighting matches and they flickered and went out immediately. Everyone felt sick."
Non Curatlex Not discounting your reference, there is a trick to them and air circulation as Sarge stated is of utmost importance, and a good sleep system :) This shelter cannot and should not be dismissed in a baren landscape devoid of resources to either build a shelter or a fire. The rule of 3 applies in a situation like this, I would think.
Switcher I agree that the ventilation problem could be easily corrected. After the passage I quoted, William Duncan Strong goes on to say, "If a ventilation hole had been provided, the house would have been quite comfortable for all seven of us." My real points are: (1) You get soaking wet making them, and (2) Does anybody know of any historical references to them?
Non Curatlex Good Q. When I took my winter survival course I was taught the snow shelter, this was some 42/3 yrs ago so I cannot honestly say what was said wrt historical data. It was the middle of January and we didn't have an option, it was an objective. In our particular case we dug out a snow bank with our snowshoes from the top. Laid sapplings across the top with one poncho on top (creating the roof) and snow on top the poncho (insulation). They key to this system, the entrance tunnel had to be 18-22 inches below floor level = a/the cold air trap. A poncho on the ground (insulation and 4-6" spruce boughs as a matress. I was taught to have the air circulation between my sleep system vice air circulation (somewhat) under my insulator (poncho, ground pad) etc... Because of what Sarge discussed in his video this is a suitable shleter under "certain" circumstances, certain being the operative word here. To me "certain" means baren land, as we have come a long way from your (no disrespect intended) dated reference. Heck they didn't know of the "super shelter" back in those days. Snow has been used by mountain climbers for years as insulation against their tents. Although not a Quinzee trench/hut/snow shelter perse, a shelter using snow as insulation material from the elements nonetheless. If I was forced into a winter situation in a non-baren landscape. I would get out of the elements the 1st night, and use the snow as an insulator on the 2nd day to improve my situation. There is a lot of ways to0 skin a cat :) But snow is a great insulator.
Switcher I agree that snow is a great insulator and I also agree that snow shelters (of many sorts) have been used in survival situations on many occasions. I have found scores of historical references to snow trenches, snow pits, snow caves in pre-existing crusted drifts, snow trenches, and of course igloos. However, the only clear historical reference I have found where someone actually piled up loose snow, waited several hours, and then hollowed it out is the reference from Strong, above. As far as I am aware, indigenous people around here (Alberta, Canada) did not use quinzees. If someone has a historical reference to them, I would really appreciate receiving it.
I have build snow shelters since a child. Tho you get soaked from melted snow and sweat. They are good but usually they stay around 32f , or they will start to melt and drip on you as well. I find there are snow shelters that are good. the trench method is my prefered , then i'm not laying in the snow to scoop it out. Anyhow very good points and thanks for the video.
Exactly anyone that has made these as a kid can remember even with a snow suit on, we was soaked inside and out, and you and I both now you get wet YOU DIE . Good video man.
Another great video bud. A lot of good points for people to consider. I've slept in them in the past in -30 temps and was super comfy. We had the benefit of having everything we needed though. We weren't in a hurry so we took care not to sweat, there was body heat from the two of us, we were both wearing Gore-Tex, we had a Grabber space blanket as a ground barrier, we left the door wide open, and we both had warm sleeping bags. We were definitely comfortable. It got warm later in the trip though and all the snow on the lake melted so there was standing water on top of the ice. We had to abandon it and set up our tents. All that work down the drain... They melt if it gets warm, another thing to consider :)
Thanks for the tip sir grow up making those things when I was little a lot of fun looked like Lil man was having fun to hope you and yours are well God bless Glen
This type of shelter can be made with loose snow also. If you pile up enough snow for a shelter in a circle then the snow on the top will be the snow that was closest to the ground. This snow is warmer and given enough time will freeze into a hard shell. Then all you do is dig out the powdery snow from the middle. In theory that is. I made one in my backyard and it worked!
Another good one mate how long does your snow stick around for lol i cant remember the last time we had snow like that by the way i tried the way you cooked your squirrel wth rabbit the other day was great Chris
Well done brother, have made a good number of them over the year for and with the kids and found exactly those observations. Couldn't believe how wet with snow and sweat we could get even in the subzero temps of above the 50th parallel. Would much rather have a tarp for a wind break or a dead stand tree wall and a long fire. You'll get less sweat collecting wood than crawlling around in a quinzhee. Problem in these parts is collecting enough wood for the fire! -34C/-29F temps and the next day had -42C windchills. I'd be hard pressed night AND day to keep warm in that. In this country, if you are not prepared for winter you die. "Shelter" takes on a whole new meaning up here. The trappers of old used to have a sleeping robe of animal fur, wrapped in a cotton canvas tarp in front of the long fire with the sled dog team sleeping nearby. And he didn't really sleep, but cat napped. They always had a trapper cabin to go to, only staying on the trail for a relative few short nights to service the trap line. If the trapper fell fast asleep and the fire went out it could be curtains. Guess that's why hot tents and wood stoves took over in the long run. Don't make 'em like they used to bro! Great discussion.
wool is the best, it will keep you warm even if it is wet, even from sweat. hudson bay company has always known this back in the 1800's. holds true today.
I was in a bar last night and got slapped by a Cougar. "Get your hands off my Quinzee she screamed..."! An option for winter time for sure. Snow shoes make for a snow shovel relatively well. I wonder if you carried something like a pillow case to put over it would make it more efficient? I should try to make some sort of snow shovel out of natural materials - just to see if I could. I just seen this item earlier today and thought it was a fine idea: www.varusteleka.com/en/product/swedish-entrenching-tool-snow-extension-surplus/31456?search_ref=snow%20blade Thanks for another great video Derek, always nice to see the little-man! Chris
Great video. Thanks for listing the concerns. I sincerely hope I never have to build one to save my life but just in case I ever have to, it pays to know what to do and what to watch out for. Many thanks and ATB
I told my wife the other day my favorite shelter is one I'll never be able to build where we live. For unassisted warmth I'd say a small snow cave is unbeatable.
Hey man, awesome video. I hope to be able to make one one day, but I live in North Carolina, an inch of snow at most /: And then it's gone the next day. By the way, I love your accent.
I did so many of them with my dad when I was young! And I did sleep in one, but to be fine, you need to be well dressed and try to isolate yourself from the ground. If you live in a coniferous forest, use pine branches to make a mattress and cover yourself. Also, still in a coniferous forest (I'm in Canada), I've slept under a pine in the past. The snow often covers the lower branches but leave the soil dry around the base of the trunk. Push branches apart to get in trying to only make a small hole, and it makes a decent shelter. Slept in one before too. And in the Borealis forest, you have a lot of choice as to which tree to pick!
great info. a few years ago i had enough snow to make one and me and my kids spent hours making it. it was a ton of work. me and my 2 kids spent the night in it and had a breath hole in the top with a candle. it was surprisingly warmer inside. i used a pad with a wool blanket. such a great memory with my kids
Great video, quinzy are a good shelter, but maybe not for survival. Too long to build. Too much énergie expended to do. The Snow cave is a little better if equip for it. As a survival shelter The snow trench might be better and faster to do. Overall your shelter should be easy to do and relatively easy to do. For survival you should not expand to much energie. Great review.
Survive Without right on Travis, thanks bud
Thanks Sarge great points. Snow cave to me would be a last resort. Some one i knew got caught in a blizzard in Montana during a elk hunt. He dug a cave in a snow drift and that saved his life.
Good stuff man, great minds think alike. Shot a video on snow the other day, where I'm laying in a trench shelter I made through out the entire video. Great points, people forget that as you work, not only do you sweat but your body heat melts the snow on your cloths saturating them. I've had that happen to me to many times and have changed how I dress do to it.
The Otter Outdoorsman right on
Learn something every day, I never heard of a Quinzee. Thanks.
Bob Cotter that's what its all about my friend ; )
Lots of Fun!! ...but in a survival situation, if your on a mtn or barren landscape without woodlands...this is the way to go ,to get out of heavy weather conditions. Its not a permanent shelter, needs a proper air vent..and make sure that sucker is stable, so you don't make the Search and Rescue listing.
If it does collapse, find your bearings with the Help of Gravity...if the snow DROPs, you know where is the TOP.
We don't have a great need of this shelter type, but it is a good thing to be aware of , cause you never know when your plane trip to the artic is gonna crash..lol Cheers ;-)
Great share buddy ;-)
Kanzee HAHA....right on buddy. It is a viable option for sure, maybe not the best always just because there is snow ; )
hey sarge. great video. hope to see more snow shelters from ya. i would do a video on it but we have no snow in Nebraska atm.
Great info Sarg! I always have a very hard time building these and not sweating it usually takes me twice as long to dig out. I think it would probably be my last resort option. Thanks for sharing your advice bro!
brings back memories of many years ago, great emergency snow shelter if you need it, fun to build when your a kid, not quite as much fun as an adult.....ty for sharing
ben terwellen right on bud
Some good info in this video...great channel, keep up the good work Sargefaria.
The "ceiling" has to be smooth without any bumps, that way water from melting snow wont drip on you. And you must make trench/ditch around you so that water wont soak your bedroll... Hope you get the idea.
Good video, typically where I live we don't get enough snow to build anything like that. I've always wanted to build one though
Thanks for raising important considerations. While we usually have more than enough snow here in the North Woods, a snow shelter isn't a likely need considering all the other materials available in the forest. But I certainly remember making them as a kid in southern Michigan, usually in the snow banks by the driveway. The biggest danger seems to be collapse, which claims or nearly claims a kid every so often here in snow country.
Really cool video for a few reasons; this is a great emergency shelter as well as long term. The only thing about being long term is you need a bivy sack or something to keep the moisture off you. The candle trick does help a little to relieve that. The most important thing is the carbon dioxide factor and another way to think about it is this; if your under water and breathing through a straw that is 12 inches long you can live a long time. If the straw is 10 feet long you will die in minutes, reason being is that you are breathing the same air your lungs have already used up. Snow caves have saved a-lot of lives in the mountains but there is often an asterisk involving frostbite. Its a great shelter and one that should be practiced and have in your bag of tricks. Cool video man!
Great tips on the pros and cons of a quinsy. If you are out in deep snow, you'll likely have a pair of snowshoes with you. A single snowshoe makes a passable substitute for a shovel. Other considerations on the quinsy, is they are a short term shelter. They tend to sink under their own weight as they are not perfectly shaped as a catenary arch to be self supporting like an igloo.
I came across other videos of an igloo making tool. Search youtube for the ICEBOX igloo making tool from Grand Shelters. It makes the proper shape and eliminates the digging out the middle process of the traditional quinsy, so it tends to go a little quicker.
sargefaria alot of good info and somethings I haven't thought of or considered. Thanks for sharing your wisdom as always
Well lil man was having a good time, ah to be a kid again. I've never made one and I can only imagine how difficult it might be but when you eliminate any other options do what you gotta do. Appreciate the heads up on this one. Makes you think. atb
We're at the end of the street and the plow heaps it up by us and me and my little man have been making " snow Forts for years, lol. He had a good idea once he took an old broom handle ( and once a hockey stick) took an old pillow case and drew his own flag, we tied it and stuck it on top, awesome! His own castle! Good times.
2bonosc HA!.....right on man. Good times for sure
Nice video Sarge. I'm going to build one in my hometown in PR... 😄
Little man =future woodsman ☺ nothing better than seeing the young uns enjoying the outdoors.God bless brother...sorry for commenting with my other halfs google account btw.The Rapid Rat Assassin.
steph chapman preciate it man
Lots of good info, thanks for sharing.
Mike Thanks Mike
Slept in one in the bwca , they do take time to build but we tried it and 2 vent holes , was -37 f that night and my buddy and I were toasty while the others were not.
Thanks, things to think about.
Yup Yup, great discussion right here!
NativeSurvival right on
Great vid and disclaimers :) This shelter as you stated is not seen enough. For the nay sayers below, this is probably the best shelter you can build for yourself, with the caveats Derek mentioned.
The Inuits lived for months in them. Snow is a great insulator. I have slept in one in January. It was built differently but my buddy and I woke up to 1/4 to 3/8 ice on the walls in the morning. Although we were cold at 1st (sweat) we were warm for the night.
My bed roll (underpad) of choice although somewhat bulky is a 2 x 6' piece of reflectix. Some folks prefer to use them against their sleeping bag. I don't. I like a bed of boughs 4-6" think on top of the reflectix. It allows insulation from the ground or snow and permits air circulation which will prevent you from sweating due to conduction. I always lay my underpad on the ground and build my matress above that. But that is just me because I naturally over sweat as discussed in wet cold, dry cold.
Switcher Thanks bud
U R welcome. :)
I forgot something. This is not a type of shelter you build just before the sun goes down. You have to hope you decided to start this around noon, to work at a pace so you don't sweat, but more importantly, you require the relative heat of the day to assist in compacing the snow, if you are not digging in.
Lots of good stuff wrt these on TH-cam and elsewhere on the Net.
Yup, as I said, very viable option. I just don't want people to think just because there is snow....that means make one of these as a first choice. Then of course the safety measures you should think about if this is your only option
Yup! support you all the way bro. :)
Great video Brother!
I lived in the woods for a few winters the first time I knew where there was a old car witch I dug into and used as a quinzee/igloo. the second time knowing how well the first time worked I been a few shelters I designed for the snow to cover . with also worked out well . but you are vary right I would think vary hard about getting wet to just make one from snow . in a real survival situation . theres just so many other options that are less work and safer .
ramsessilent right on bro
I love your vids.
Slow down, take a little breath, the sounds of nature are nice too.
Thanks for sharing, and I hope you understand what I was saying?
It was not meant as a slight on you in any way. Just that the beautiful outdoors is a relaxing place.
jetpowered1 Thanks man, no slight taken....I will keep that in mind ; )
Great video bro!
I'm sure you could dig that out with your cooking pot or lid instead of your hands.
Thanks
Eat Carbs thanks man. ya....the snowshoes would help a lot (I forgot to mention them as I always thing a quinzee needs to be piled up when there is little snow.....so shoes might not be worn)
Last weekend two climbers saved theirs life up in the montains digging this kind of shelter.....I think for them It was quite viable.
I did some of this caves during some military training and my main problem was the sweat....
Warm Regards from Spain.
Diego Romero right on
Great place to tuck into a MMSS. Great video and awesome little co-star. Thanks.
Jamie Hitt Thanks bro
sargefaria They must be good shelters, Mother Nature has hidden my truck in one at least twice this winter!
LMAO
And the ceiling should be dome shaped like the igloo... That way the water wont drip on you...
Wouldn't it be easier to throw a tarp against the leeward side of a snow bank, anchor it on 3 sides with snow, and climb in? I think that would save you a lot of time and effort when trying to get out of a negative windchill. Still, the best answer is to avoid places with that much cold and snow all together . lol
Semper Fi
ANOTHER COOL VIDEO SARGE, NO PUN INTENDED..... NEVER HEARD OF THE COLD SINK, I'LL HAVE TO KEEP THAT ONE IN MIND
Mr1SUPERdoodle LMAO....thanks man
Good info. Thanks for sharing!
Gullrica thank you
Thanks for the lesson. I think I still wouldn't want to fall asleep in one. I would be afraid that would collapse on me.
jason hyland wouldn't be my choice for a shelter either lol
good looking snow cave sarge that boy will have plenty of fun in it
Linkless Tennessee right on bud
good video sarge...
Mike Brown Thanks again bro
I have built 6 or 7 quinzees over the years. Each time I built one I found it to be a lot of work and I ended up soaking wet from perspiration and melting snow. I do not consider quinzees to be a realistic survival option. I am not even sure they were traditionally used. I have found only two historical references to them. William Duncan Strong, Labrador Winter (1927 and 1928) refers to one at page 127. He says "This house idea is, I believe, a stunt of the present generation." He also says that he "woke up sick ... and I realized we had no air.... There was absolutely no oxygen in the air! I tried lighting matches and they flickered and went out immediately. Everyone felt sick."
Non Curatlex Exactly why I wanted to shoot this video. Thanks for the extra adage man.
Non Curatlex Not discounting your reference, there is a trick to them and air circulation as Sarge stated is of utmost importance, and a good sleep system :) This shelter cannot and should not be dismissed in a baren landscape devoid of resources to either build a shelter or a fire. The rule of 3 applies in a situation like this, I would think.
Switcher I agree that the ventilation problem could be easily corrected. After the passage I quoted, William Duncan Strong goes on to say, "If a ventilation hole had been provided, the house would have been quite comfortable for all seven of us." My real points are: (1) You get soaking wet making them, and (2) Does anybody know of any historical references to them?
Non Curatlex
Good Q. When I took my winter survival course I was taught the snow shelter, this was some 42/3 yrs ago so I cannot honestly say what was said wrt historical data. It was the middle of January and we didn't have an option, it was an objective.
In our particular case we dug out a snow bank with our snowshoes from the top. Laid sapplings across the top with one poncho on top (creating the roof) and snow on top the poncho (insulation). They key to this system, the entrance tunnel had to be 18-22 inches below floor level = a/the cold air trap. A poncho on the ground (insulation and 4-6" spruce boughs as a matress. I was taught to have the air circulation between my sleep system vice air circulation (somewhat) under my insulator (poncho, ground pad) etc...
Because of what Sarge discussed in his video this is a suitable shleter under "certain" circumstances, certain being the operative word here. To me "certain" means baren land, as we have come a long way from your (no disrespect intended) dated reference. Heck they didn't know of the "super shelter" back in those days. Snow has been used by mountain climbers for years as insulation against their tents. Although not a Quinzee trench/hut/snow shelter perse, a shelter using snow as insulation material from the elements nonetheless.
If I was forced into a winter situation in a non-baren landscape. I would get out of the elements the 1st night, and use the snow as an insulator on the 2nd day to improve my situation. There is a lot of ways to0 skin a cat :) But snow is a great insulator.
Switcher I agree that snow is a great insulator and I also agree that snow shelters (of many sorts) have been used in survival situations on many occasions. I have found scores of historical references to snow trenches, snow pits, snow caves in pre-existing crusted drifts, snow trenches, and of course igloos. However, the only clear historical reference I have found where someone actually piled up loose snow, waited several hours, and then hollowed it out is the reference from Strong, above. As far as I am aware, indigenous people around here (Alberta, Canada) did not use quinzees. If someone has a historical reference to them, I would really appreciate receiving it.
true that it may not be the best option
I have build snow shelters since a child. Tho you get soaked from melted snow and sweat. They are good but usually they stay around 32f , or they will start to melt and drip on you as well. I find there are snow shelters that are good. the trench method is my prefered , then i'm not laying in the snow to scoop it out. Anyhow very good points and thanks for the video.
Kullcraven Bushcraft as have I, and probably most of us. Thanks man
Exactly anyone that has made these as a kid can remember even with a snow suit on, we was soaked inside and out, and you and I both now you get wet YOU DIE . Good video man.
right on bro, appreciate it
Another great video bud. A lot of good points for people to consider. I've slept in them in the past in -30 temps and was super comfy. We had the benefit of having everything we needed though. We weren't in a hurry so we took care not to sweat, there was body heat from the two of us, we were both wearing Gore-Tex, we had a Grabber space blanket as a ground barrier, we left the door wide open, and we both had warm sleeping bags. We were definitely comfortable. It got warm later in the trip though and all the snow on the lake melted so there was standing water on top of the ice. We had to abandon it and set up our tents. All that work down the drain... They melt if it gets warm, another thing to consider :)
Some good points to think about thanks for sharing atb John
Thanks for the tip sir grow up making those things when I was little a lot of fun looked like Lil man was having fun to hope you and yours are well God bless Glen
Trayer Wilderness right on, thank you guys, God bless
great vid I was going make one and do a vid on but yours a great one btw my snow too powder to make one!
This type of shelter can be made with loose snow also. If you pile up enough snow for a shelter in a circle then the snow on the top will be the snow that was closest to the ground. This snow is warmer and given enough time will freeze into a hard shell. Then all you do is dig out the powdery snow from the middle.
In theory that is. I made one in my backyard and it worked!
Another good one mate how long does your snow stick around for lol i cant remember the last time we had snow like that by the way i tried the way you cooked your squirrel wth rabbit the other day was great
Chris
chris davies Was April sometime last year before it was gone haha. Nice on the squirrel
Well done brother, have made a good number of them over the year for and with the kids and found exactly those observations. Couldn't believe how wet with snow and sweat we could get even in the subzero temps of above the 50th parallel. Would much rather have a tarp for a wind break or a dead stand tree wall and a long fire. You'll get less sweat collecting wood than crawlling around in a quinzhee. Problem in these parts is collecting enough wood for the fire! -34C/-29F temps and the next day had -42C windchills. I'd be hard pressed night AND day to keep warm in that. In this country, if you are not prepared for winter you die. "Shelter" takes on a whole new meaning up here. The trappers of old used to have a sleeping robe of animal fur, wrapped in a cotton canvas tarp in front of the long fire with the sled dog team sleeping nearby. And he didn't really sleep, but cat napped. They always had a trapper cabin to go to, only staying on the trail for a relative few short nights to service the trap line. If the trapper fell fast asleep and the fire went out it could be curtains. Guess that's why hot tents and wood stoves took over in the long run. Don't make 'em like they used to bro! Great discussion.
Canesser Sure don't make em like they used to hahaha. Thanks my friend. Hope you are doing well up their
Doing OK bro, keep up the great work. Looking forward to hearing from Mitch soon. Native Survival is currently on a mission!
great advice thanks
***** Thanks man
Tell the little man I love his hat.
Bruce Wayne HA....right on.
wool is the best, it will keep you warm even if it is wet, even from sweat. hudson bay company has always known this back in the 1800's. holds true today.
I was in a bar last night and got slapped by a Cougar. "Get your hands off my Quinzee she screamed..."!
An option for winter time for sure. Snow shoes make for a snow shovel relatively well. I wonder if you carried something like a pillow case to put over it would make it more efficient? I should try to make some sort of snow shovel out of natural materials - just to see if I could.
I just seen this item earlier today and thought it was a fine idea:
www.varusteleka.com/en/product/swedish-entrenching-tool-snow-extension-surplus/31456?search_ref=snow%20blade
Thanks for another great video Derek, always nice to see the little-man!
Chris
Chris Collier right on buddy, thanks. LOL @ your first line hahaa
Great video. Thanks for listing the concerns. I sincerely hope I never have to build one to save my life but just in case I ever have to, it pays to know what to do and what to watch out for.
Many thanks and ATB
Wolf NZ Outdoors thanks man
I told my wife the other day my favorite shelter is one I'll never be able to build where we live. For unassisted warmth I'd say a small snow cave is unbeatable.
*Barely larger than your sleep system
Swamp Fox yup....as long as you keep the safety factors in mind, its great
Hey man, awesome video. I hope to be able to make one one day, but I live in North Carolina, an inch of snow at most /: And then it's gone the next day. By the way, I love your accent.