Bushcraft Basics: Quinze - Snow Shelter building!

[the_alias]

Ah blizzards - good for shelter building at any rate!
I really have wanted to try a Quinze shelter for a long time and with the snow coming down heavily this was the perfect opportunity.

Here it is!

Now on to the building process

First a note about snow and this type of shelter. You really need powder snow for this shelter. As you pile snow up it recrystallises in the colder air and compacts. This gives the shelter strength. It is also better to build this whilst it is snowing.

First your equipment:


Now very simply:
Dig down to the ground, put your pack - or two packs depending on size and start piling snow. It is important to compact it as you go and make sure to to it evenly.
I actually for some reason made a video of this process; don't ask me why but yeah, multi media format right!


Ok so now you have a workable mound - I'm building an expedient model of this shelter which is designed to retain most heat. If I wanted to stretch out I'd make it bigger. Another person - double the size.


Next step is to get sticks about 30cm (1 ft) long and stick them in your quinze. Like so:

You add these to know when to stop digging. Once you find a stick stop!
Now it is time to excavate!

Is that a pack I see before me?

Yes it is!:

See why the pack is helpful, you can make this shelter without a pack but it would take longer.


As you can see here it is compact working environment. I don't have claustrophobia BUT even I had to tell the voice in my head telling me it is going to cave in to shut up. I sympathise with the allied airmen who dug to victory. It really is a bit hairy at the start!

Help!

Ah all finished:
My bivi sack:

See how the sticks are prodding through?
Myself with pack.

The view looking out:



I also made a video tour for ya'll:


I hope you enjoyed this and urge anyone who has the chance to try making one. It is remarkably easy to do and a really useful skill to have.

[Gullars]

Thank you for excellent post! Havnt tried building one in years! Super inspiration!

[phil_in_cs]

That's bad ass!

[whisk.e.rebellion]

Awesome. Makes me wish we had snow here.

[the_alias]

Thanks guys!
Few more tips:
When hollowing out the roof use your hands (in gloves obviously) this is less risky than using your shovel.
Always aim for a packable shovel which you can just use the blade (mine is a crappy plastic one, buy a metal one!)
Smooth out the roof when your down so you don't get drips
If sleeping in it obviously a bed of bows helps and maybe even some snow. Try to create a cold sink for the cold air.

[ninja-elbow]

The_Alias is like our own version of Ray Mears Great stuff man. Wish I had more time to get out there.

I never thought of or knew about the stick trick good one. Thanks.

[the_alias]

The_Alias is like our own version of Ray Mears Great stuff man. Wish I had more time to get out there.

I never thought of or knew about the stick trick good one. Thanks.

High praise thanks ninja! - yeah unemployment sucks but bushcraft is free vs going to the movies/pub so it balances out in that realm for the time being.

[Dawgboy]

Very nice! I am going to have to try that in the next snowfall. I am new to the whole Forest and snow stuff, having lived in the desert below for 99% of my life. Living and working in snow is all new to me. My Alaska experience doesn't really count as I was on a ship the entire time.

[Sealegs]

Good writeup!

I've never done one so low before but now that I've seen it I'm adding it to the last ditch bivouacs list!


I was taught to dig a two man Quincy [Quinze sp? We just call it "snow cave"] by making a circle



1. One man holds his stav [the things you use to propel yourself with while on ski's] and the other grabs hold of it and walks around him until a circle is formed in the snow.
2. Compact the snow of the circle and start shoveling.



3. When the pile is 1.5 to 2m meters in height, get ten or so 30cm long sticks and insert into the pile. Distribute evenly.
4. Allow the pile to freeze over, this might take as long as 4-5 hours.



5. Dig out the pile. If you don't have sticks, you've dug too far when you can see light through the wall, and you'll need to reinforce it from the outside.
6. Make a ventilation shaft with the stave.
7. Close up with the backpacks or a snow block.

I was taught that unless it's -10C or below, it'll take too long for a shelter to freeze over for it to be practical. This larger form of two man "snow hut" is considered a "semi stationary bivouac" by the army though.

Two rules:
- Always keep your shovel on the inside in case of collapse or getting snowed in.

- Never use a field kitchen without an open "door", on account of carbon monoxide hazards.

I'll dig out the manual and insert some pics of the fuzzy description of how to measure a circle.

[ZombieGranny]

Um... You WANT to use powder snow?
I've never had luck packing that stuff, it's even difficult to shovel.
Do you slightly melt it with your hand warmth, or something?

[the_alias]

Um... You WANT to use powder snow?
I've never had luck packing that stuff, it's even difficult to shovel.
Do you slightly melt it with your hand warmth, or something?

Yes you are meant to use powder snow - thats how the shelter works.
You allow the snow to recrystallise by piling it up which bonds it. It compacts naturally giving you the shelter.
Lightly compact it with some shovel taps as you go and bob's your uncle.

No need to melt it with hand warmth.

[Sealegs]

Yes you are meant to use powder snow - thats how the shelter works.
You allow the snow to recrystallise by piling it up which bonds it. It compacts naturally giving you the shelter.
Lightly compact it with some shovel taps as you go and bob's your uncle.

No need to melt it with hand warmth.

This. The colder it is, the fluffier [and better for this use] the fresh snow is.

This is a rather convenient correlation since in my experience the colder it is, the more likely you are to need a bivouac.

[ZombieGranny]

Interesting.
Thank you for the information.
We don't get much powder down here, it's usually wet snow.
Next time we do get powder I'll do a little playing.

[the_alias]

Let us know how it goes ZG!

Bah I went out today to try and snap some pics of it after a day and night hardening but some pricks had destroyed it

Sealegs - I bet it is easier with more snow on the ground and another helping hand Be interested to see those pictures.

[Sealegs]

There, edited in some pictures up above.

Inserting bonus pictures of the "fire hut", a bastardized tipi/smish kåta style shelter. Think of it as a round lean-to with a door.



Also some field chore instruction pictures.



Use a stick to bursh your teeth.



If you don't have a plastic bag you can use your ruck to wash the clothes.

Good old field manuals.

[the_alias]

I want these field manuals I love em! Are they available for cheap over there or not?

[Sealegs]

I think the old survival manual was available as a pdf on bushcraftuk or some similar site. Otherwise it's a bit off a toss of the dice. Some outdated onea can be had for cheap, some, like the new medics manual are near impossible to get at. Mainly due to their awesome usefullness. I'll try and find the link, or you can google handbok överlevnad or överlevnadshandbok and pdf or download. It should still be available with mostly the same pictures as the new one.

An interesting chapter is the 'fältmedicin' which has borrowed heavily from native american medicinal herb usage. Awesome stuff.

[the_alias]

Ah thanks mate! I found it! It is awesome, looking through it now. Wish I now had some Swedish instead of some German The women are better as well!

[TacAir]

There, edited in some pictures up above.

Inserting bonus pictures of the "fire hut", a bastardized tipi/smish kåta style shelter. Think of it as a round lean-to with a door.



Also some field chore instruction pictures.



Use a stick to bursh your teeth.



If you don't have a plastic bag you can use your ruck to wash the clothes.

Good old field manuals.

re: the bastardized tipi/smish kåta style One might see this as a

Paiute Wikiup!

Well, without the snow that is.

[Woods Walker]

Great job!