End of Winter Quinzee
Though our backyard is now almost all grass, the snow quinzee my kids and I built last weekend is still standing.
A quinzee, or snow mound hut with a hollowed-out interior, is basically a combination between an igloo and a snow cave. It's a survival or recreational snow shelter made by heaping snow into a big, domed-shaped pile, then waiting a couple hours for the snow to harden before you start hollowing out the shelter.
When building a quinzee, it's important not to pack the snow, as packing reduces the loft, or insulating effect, of the snow.
A quinzee is possible because of the sintering (or hardening) process that takes place as layers of snow of differing temperatures are piled together.
Allowing the snow-mound to sinter ensures that the roof will not collapse as you hollow out the interior.
Sticks can be poked into the domed sides and top of the snow mound to guide wall and ceiling thickness.
Because of the insulating effects of snow, and the occupants' radiant body heat, the temperture inside a quinzee will always be much warmer than inside a tent.
My kids and I learned about quinzees last March when our neighbor, Joe Sixta, home on spring break from college, built a massive quinzee in his parent's backyard. That quinzee was big enough to comfortably house a dozen hot chocolate-sipping kids, plus Joe, plus a couple adult chaperones.
Ours has provided a week's worth of snug recreational cover for two kids and, on occasion, me, and our cat and dog.
(Click images to enlarge)
