Survival in winter demands mastery of three essentials: proper food & water, suitable clothing, and adequate shelter. When faced with a disaster scenario outdoors in the snow, finding shelter becomes an immediate priority to shield yourself from nature's elements. Hone your prepper knowledge by learning various snow shelter options which will protect against extreme winter conditions.
The Importance of Shelter in Cold Weather Climates
In winter emergencies, the significance of shelter, particularly snow shelter, cannot be overstated, as it stands as the pivotal factor that could determine the outcome between survival and peril, between life and death. The harsh conditions of the cold wilderness during winter pose unparalleled challenges, making shelter a vital element in the hierarchy of survival priorities.
Barrier Against Elements
The bone-chilling temperatures, biting winds, and relentless snowfall create an environment that can swiftly lead to hypothermia and other life-threatening conditions. Shelter acts as a formidable barrier against these elements, providing a crucial respite from the relentless assault of the cold.
Warmth and Protection from Exposure
Beyond merely offering a physical barrier, a well-constructed snow shelter becomes a sanctuary, preserving body heat and shielding occupants from the severe consequences of exposure. In cold weather climates, where frostbite and hypothermia lurk as constant threats, the importance of shelter translates to a sanctuary of warmth and protection.
Psychological Refuge
IN a survival scenario, shelter serves as a psychological refuge, offering a sense of security which instills confidence at a fighting chance to endure challenging circumstances. Individuals exposed to the harsh winter conditions may find themselves succumbing to the elements rapidly where the body's ability to maintain a stable internal temperature becomes compromised. This often leads to a cascade of physiological reactions such as panic or despair that can have dire consequences.
Hub for Strategy
Furthermore, shelter in cold weather climates becomes a focal point for strategic survival. It becomes the hub for conservation of energy and a place to rest and recoup, preserving calories rather than expended in the futile battle against the unforgiving winter environment. A well-constructed snow shelter becomes a beacon of hope, instilling a sense of control or clarity and resilience in the face of adversity.
In extreme conditions, where the environment is unforgiving and survival demands resourcefulness, a snow shelter emerges as a vital ally, offering a chance at not just weathering the storm, but emerging from it stronger and more prepared for whatever the cold wilderness may throw their way.
Determining and Building your Snow Shelter
Several factors influence the choice of snow shelter type, including snow quality, available time, tools, shelter purpose, and whether you are building alone or with assistance. In winter emergencies, understanding various snow shelter options is crucial. These five popular types of snow shelters that can be instrumental in protecting yourself:
1. Igloo
Construction: Built with snow blocks forming a dome structure.
Origin: Mastered by the Inuit people of Greenland and Canada, serving as temporary winter shelters.
Build Requirements: Denser snow, cutting tool, and planning.
How to Build an Igloo:
- Ensure sufficient snow depth of 2-2.5 feet
- Dig a foundation circle (not exceeding 10 ft. in diameter)
- Create snow blocks using a mold or box
- Place blocks in a spiral pattern, propping them up as you go higher
- Add a vent and an open-and-shut door for air circulation
See a step by step instruction guide for building an Igloo.
2. Quinzee
What is a Quinzee? A quinzee is a temporary outdoor shelter that’s a mix between a snow fort and an igloo.
Construction: Mound-shaped and carved-out snow shelter, used by Alaska's native population.
History: First built by indigenous Athabaskan people in North America.
Build Requirements: Time, patience, shovels, poles/sticks, a candle, and shallow snow cover.
How to Build a Quinzee:
- Be mentally prepared and physically fit for the demanding build
- Pile up snow into a 4½-foot mound, allowing consolidation for two hours; install sticks that can later be removed for ventilation
- Tunnel into the mound, carving circularly
- Carve vertically for a spacious interior, packing any holes in the wall
- Remove your poles/sticks to set your ventilation holes
- Glaze the inside by lighting a candle inside for 15-20 min which creates a smoothed compacted interior surface that prevents melting
See a step by step guide for building your Quinzee.
3. Snow Trench
Construction: Also known as a snow pit, a trench dug into the snow for shelter.
Suitability: Ideal for both deep and shallow snow types.
Build Requirements: 3-4 feet of snow cover, solid snow for trench walls, saw, shovels.
How to Build a Snow Trench:
- If on a flat surface, create a snow pile and let it condense for two hours
- Cut a trench at least 3 ft. wide and as deep as ground level
- Cut large flat blocks (6-8” thick) which will form the cover of the top or your trench. Blocks should be as large as you can lift or carry
- Lean the blocks into each other across the trench in an a-frame style; work back of trench to front
- Once roof is set, shovel snow on top to fill gaps
- Insulate the floor with branches or a tarp and glaze the inside by lighting a candle for up to 20min.
- Add a tarp or branches over the door to retain more heat.
4. Snow Cave
Construction: Quickly carved into a snowy slope or snowdrift.
Common Usage: Backcountry survival during severe weather.
Build Requirements: Snow slope or snowdrift, no special tools required.
How to Build a T-Shaped Snow Cave:
- Scout a location with suitable snow quality in 4-5ft of snow
- Carve out an entrance approximately 18” wide x 36” deep
- Dig upwards to form a platform in a T-shape of approx 60” wide
- Carve out the inside to the appropriate size then poke air ventilation holes at 45-degree angle
See a step-by-step guide for building a Snow Cave.
5. Tree Pit
Construction: Utilizes a well-formed tree's branches to create an insulated snow shelter
Advantage: Tree provides natural insulation, requiring minimal effort
Build Requirements: Well-formed and healthy tree with dense branches
How to Build a Tree Pit:
- Scout a healthy and sturdy tree with dense branches
- Dig out around the tree trunk to the ground and as wide as you will comfortably fit to sleep
- Insulate the pit bottom with evergreen boughs
