All About Snow Shelters: 5 Types of Snow Shelters

A snow shelter is a structure made of snow built to protect people from below-freezing winter temperatures. Snow shelters can be for short or long-term protection. The conditions for snow shelters need to be correct: It must be cold enough for snow not to melt, and the snow must be packed sufficiently to remain structurally sound.

Deciding on the proper snow shelter for your needs depends on the weather conditions, time and energy you can expend, and the tools at your disposal. Consider the following types of snow shelters:

1. 1. Snow trench: A snow trench can be an excellent, quick means of survival in harsh weather conditions. Use a shovel or simple digging implement to carve out a rectangular space a few feet deep that you can lie down in. A snow trench will keep you out of the wind. You can stretch a tarp over the top to help trap body heat in the trench.
2. 2. Tree pit: One of the simplest kinds of snow shelters is a tree pit. In areas of sufficiently deep snow, it can be possible to slowly dig out a space around the trunk of an evergreen tree, reaching from the ground to the lowest level of branches. Insulate the bottom with evergreen boughs, pack the walls to strengthen them, and use other evergreen boughs to cover the top and keep the heat in.
3. 3. Snow cave: To make a snow cave, you’ll need a large snowdrift—large, wind-driven masses of snow are best. Slowly tunnel into the drift, starting low and working your way up. The main shelter space should be bell-shaped for strength and higher than the entrance tunnel to keep the heat in and let cold air out. Pack the inside of the tunnel and space gently but firmly as you go. It is helpful to have a snow saw and shovel for building a snow cave.
4. 4. Quinzhee: Quinzhee is a sturdy, medium-long-term snow shelter for winter camping. (“Quinzhee”, also spelled “quinzee,” is an Athabaskan word, a native language group in North America.) It is simple to construct a quinzhee with basic digging implements, if somewhat labor-intensive. Shovel snow into a big pile or mound. (The exterior dimensions for a few inhabitants are about ten feet in diameter and five feet in height.) The snow mound should sit for at least a couple hours; this process, called sintering, allows the snow to compress and solidify. Then, carefully scoop out a short entranceway and the dome-shaped interior, with a small hole for ventilation near the top. Use some of the scooped-out snow to make a shallow sleep platform.
5. 5. Igloo: The Igloo is the best choice for a longer-term winter shelter. An igloo is built from cut blocks of wind-driven snow and can last for months in the cold seasons of high-latitude climates. Lay the snow blocks spirally to provide sturdy, insulating walls. Scrape the insides smoothly to strengthen the structure and prevent the accumulation of condensation.

It is possible to be quite comfortable in a shelter made of snow when the outside temperature is thirty-nine degrees Fahrenheit (four degrees Celsius) or below. A snow shelter must be well built with walls at least twelve inches thick to allow the interior space to warm up; this works even if body heat is the only energy source. While never toasty, a snow shelter can be entirely habitable if occupants wear warm clothing or use sleeping bags.

Certain outdoor activities carry an elevated risk of serious injury. Wilderness scenarios require extensive survival gear, including but not limited to food, water, maps, protective clothing, and first aid, along with mental and physical fortitude. This article is for educational and informational purposes and is not a substitute for hard skills and expertise.

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