You can save a lot of time digging out the mound by building your mound on a pile of packs. Once the mound has sintered, dig to the packs, pull them out, then you've already dug a good portion of the snow out.
Another very informative video. I respect that you always go into great details. Me and my son build one every winter, they are lots fun and indeed lots of work. As for the Candle Ray Mears and Lars Falt suggest burning a candle to help monitor ogygen levels...if it goes out, there is a lack of oxygen since Fire needs oxygen.
Good tip! I've always been pretty leery of these just because they can easily be build totally air tight and the temptation in cold weather is high to try to do that very thing.
Awe how cute is that making one together. I made igloos as a child with brothers and neighborhood children. Fun times for sure! We never slept in them though. We were warned by parents never to make one alone, unless we made them in groups of 3 or more. One to go get help and at least two or more to start digging you out by hand, as not to cut into the person with a shovel until an adult got there. The igloos had to be built in our own back yard in case of a collapse.
That's sound advice right there! We cheated death more than a few times I'm sure. Some of our tunnels were 10-20 feet long and only big enough for us to wiggle through - in the snow bank by the road too! A well, got a good education in first hand experience :)
Nice Video! Excuse me for butting in, I am interested in your initial thoughts. Have you researched - Panilliaan Immaterial Prevalence (just google it)? It is a great one of a kind guide for protecting your family from danger without the headache. Ive heard some incredible things about it and my work colleague after a lifetime of fighting got cool success with it.
Yeah, got lucky and did this early. Now there's really no snow out there and up North it's all crust, so no good at all. Easy walking in the woods so there's the upside. I'm ready for spring now though.
This has been a good realistic review of the snow quinzee. I have heard too many people say they would make a quinzee if lost. That never made sense to me. Thank you for the guidelines for making and using a quinzee safely and effectively
After building numerous such things, I've found that you don't really need to wait for sintering. The fact is that this naturally occurs already as you pile it on, and keeps happening as you dig it out. I've personally found that adding branches for thickness is useful - I did accidentally go through my structure once. I've found the policy insurance against this is well worth the ~30 extra minutes & little effort needed to collect & place them. But that's just me. Nonetheless, it provides extra time for sintering as well. The only exception might be really, really cold temps, though I've done that in 20C below and still never had an issue. Humidity can be a factor while building. Mitigation that I found worked well for me was removing most layers, especially while digging (so I can keep them dry). Typically just keep one base layer & a shell (which doesn't get wet if it's just an outer, semi-waterproof windbreaker thing). Ultimately just the base layer ends up being sacrificed plus this limits sweating as well. Then if you can make a fire, you can even dry that out. I haven't found that to be a huge drawback, albeit one that needs special management. With digging out, the best strategy I have found with 2 person is one inside that cuts out blocks, pushes them out, with the outer person removing them. Working with blocks, instead of loose snow, is much easier. Inside, this work best either with a saw or a shovel whose head and be detached - you then just use the shovel head to carve out 4 side, leverage the block from under so it detaches at the back, and just move it out towards the entrance. The other person, even without a 2nd shovel, can easily manage this. I sort of agree about it not really being a survival shelter. Unless you're lost and the plan is to wait for rescue - in that case, it is a much warmer shelter (and durable) than most other options, in which case I think the investment is worth it. But the time it takes to build makes it not viable for one-nighter, imo as well.
If you build a structure of poles first then cover it with evergreen boughs than make your snow pile over that you will have your Quinzy built with very little snow to remove and the building has more structural integrity. Always put a small roof vent in it and that will keep air flowing.
Awesome vid. I pack a mountaineering snow shovel for this stuff, but it's nowhere near as efficient as what you're using. Same as you I prefer a snow trench with overhead cover, less work and still pretty effective. Anything that keeps you out of the wind is my main goal. Thanks for another extremely informative video.
I agree. The wind is the main concern and that can be done much easier than a quinzee. My shovel...well, you couldn't or wouldn't carry that around and good luck shoveling snow without a shovel...so in survival...well, it's just not going to happen.
Ahh yes, I'm watching this just a reminder how to do this with the mound I made in my backyard. What I like about this video is same as the dad, I'm about to blow several hours of energy to make my boy happy.
Lol I was just telling my 7 year old we were building these long before we knew they were a survival shelter too. We also used to dig out huge snowplow piles and make tunnels into different areas, furniture carved in to the snow. Extremely frowned upon by parents for obvious reasons but we just listened for the plow lol And whoever had to use sticks didn't know how these were built lol
I gotta tell ya man, it's fun to build em for the kids, and your son- but even more fun for us! haha! I'm still a kid at heart i can tell you are too, after all we are still building cabins and forts under the guise of "survival shelter" ; ). Cheers man another nice video, you have come into your own style on youtube. Very informative, relaxed paced, calm well thought out narrations. i can appreciate the level of effort you are putting in the quality comes through. Sap started flowing again here yesterday afternoon after a long hard cold spell that made a lot of lake ice. Got way more spiles out and am ready to rock!
Awesome man! I just got back from the North...and man was it cold up there. -29C in the morning...coming from South here, it was hell! But it turned out to be a nice day and week, but man I'm aiming for spring now. A change in season means new opportunities! Bring on the sap! Should be ready for another boil by mid-week! Maybe 2 more this season since we seem to have misplaced the last week.
Their recovery LOL. After 30 mins he's tired, and then 30 after that he's ready to go again, and again, and again. I'm like, dude, I'm done until next week :) lol
There are a number of balsam and spruce thickets around my home with trees about 3" at eye level, tall, too. In heavy wet snow I have seen them in groups bent over, snow piled on top and a natural cave under, many of the trees don't survive as they break, some stay bent and you can return the following winter to find them still habitable with a snow cover. In this case little to no energy expended. A browse bed can be used on the floor as well. I really don't like getting hot and sweaty in the cold winter. I would suspect a nice fire would be in order to dry out you clothing items before retiring for the evening.
Totally agree, big expense, little upside. A simple wall can often cut the wind and make a good heat reflector without having to go through the whole deal of making a "shelter."
The entrance needs to slightly slope up into the quinzee. Warm air rises and will stay inside better than having a level entrance or one that slopes down.
Excellent video my brotha! I used to build them as a child when we lived in Truckee, Ca. I didn't know what they were called either. They were fun. We moved to Az when I was in 6th grade. Ha ha... No more of that for me. Have you heard anything from Alone? I haven't. I hope all is well for you! Have a beautiful day. Thank you for the video!!
Nothing at all since Season 3 casting. I haven't even seen previews or location for Season 4, so I have no idea what direction they are taking! I suspect it's been cast though, since all the application stuff seems to be down. Ah well. You know, if you want to get on a show, you should sign up for those reality casting...I have a few each month contact me for various "roles." But so far, none of the ideas got me going at all.
Interesting! I figured they would try something different. Or maybe they'll adjust the season and then they can get some small game at least or some hogs. As is, it's not super entertaining, I'm afraid.
A single person quinzes is hard work but doable without tools. They are for sure a bunch of work and and an uncomfortable new gets sleep for anyone without ground insulation, adequate clothing or a candle. 8' by 3' and waist height will do. Without fire etc it would get you through a night in a bad situation but it wouldn't bbq e a comfortable night....lol
I think he's cold and wet LOL. Usually he's a goof. You should check out my trout fishing video "passing on knowledge"...that's usually him, though he is becoming a little more serious and less goofy with age. ruclips.net/video/nftFJKK9xaI/видео.html
I tend to agree. You just get way too wet doing these shelters and then you still need to sleep in the snow so when you move around you get wet. It makes sense when it's really windy or when you don't have building materials, but otherwise, it's got too many draw backs.
The Wooded Beardsman we don't get the snow y'all get up there so building a quinzzy is unknown to me but I believe what you say. It seems that a lot less work goes into a simpler shelter where you can put heat into, like a tarp shelter or another natural shelter.
"is not a survival shelter"?? I,m 90% sure it saved my life one time and the 10% is i could have maybe not died sleeping under the stars but i doubt that i think it was 3 or 4 years ago it was below -10 i went out in the mid sized forest at the time in my back yard and i was a little over two hours out and it started getting dark so i started following my tracks back but 20 min later it started snowing lightly 20 min after that it got dark and then i lost my tracks i walked for 20 more min (i don't know why i kept walking maybe because i was scared and hoping to just run in to home i guess?? probably should have just started making a place to sleep as soon as i lost my tracks but....) before i realized i was not in a good spot so i found a big mound(so more of a snow cave) and just dug with my hands i had ok water proof gloves/suit tho but i dug till i had to sleep a bit past that actually i don't know how long the sun was gone so my clock was too lol i think around 2 or 3 hours i woke up with a super sore foot tho(should have made the entrance lower and kinda dug up to the "bed"/hole) my heal was a bit burned i had put my gloves on my feet as socks in my boots but they did not go up to my heals so... and i put my hands in my pits i think the gloves saved my toes tho the quinzee was a foot longer then me but almost to small for me to roll over in(that's a real quinzee size yours is cool and fun but its a fun time play around quinzee good for family time:) ) i walked east toward my houses road kinda on my tippy toe whistling 3 times every few min till this guy on a four wheeler came by(thank god i was so close to sitting down and giving up i never thought i would think of giving up in a spot like that but... you get so beat) he gave me a lift to the hospital too after he got me a bit warmed up gave me some tea and blankets he told me he heard the whistling well cutting wood so a few weeks latter i went back and cut a bunch of wood for him lol. thx for the video it was cool to see other takes on a quinzee
You can save a lot of time digging out the mound by building your mound on a pile of packs. Once the mound has sintered, dig to the packs, pull them out, then you've already dug a good portion of the snow out.
Another very informative video. I respect that you always go into great details. Me and my son build one every winter, they are lots fun and indeed lots of work. As for the Candle Ray Mears and Lars Falt suggest burning a candle to help monitor ogygen levels...if it goes out, there is a lack of oxygen since Fire needs oxygen.
Good tip! I've always been pretty leery of these just because they can easily be build totally air tight and the temptation in cold weather is high to try to do that very thing.
You’re a great dad! Continue doing activities with your son! I wish I would do stuff with my dad
Awe how cute is that making one together. I made igloos as a child with brothers and neighborhood children. Fun times for sure! We never slept in them though. We were warned by parents never to make one alone, unless we made them in groups of 3 or more. One to go get help and at least two or more to start digging you out by hand, as not to cut into the person with a shovel until an adult got there. The igloos had to be built in our own back yard in case of a collapse.
That's sound advice right there! We cheated death more than a few times I'm sure. Some of our tunnels were 10-20 feet long and only big enough for us to wiggle through - in the snow bank by the road too! A well, got a good education in first hand experience :)
The can be used as a survival shelter if you have 4 or more.
Four adults can build in 2 hours
This is my sixth period class up here in canada. XD
Nice Video! Excuse me for butting in, I am interested in your initial thoughts. Have you researched - Panilliaan Immaterial Prevalence (just google it)? It is a great one of a kind guide for protecting your family from danger without the headache. Ive heard some incredible things about it and my work colleague after a lifetime of fighting got cool success with it.
I almost did one of these and then all the snow melted! Well done and informative video Chris.
Yeah, got lucky and did this early. Now there's really no snow out there and up North it's all crust, so no good at all. Easy walking in the woods so there's the upside. I'm ready for spring now though.
This has been a good realistic review of the snow quinzee. I have heard too many people say they would make a quinzee if lost. That never made sense to me. Thank you for the guidelines for making and using a quinzee safely and effectively
Most of this survival "knowledge" doesn't pass rational thought!
After building numerous such things, I've found that you don't really need to wait for sintering. The fact is that this naturally occurs already as you pile it on, and keeps happening as you dig it out. I've personally found that adding branches for thickness is useful - I did accidentally go through my structure once. I've found the policy insurance against this is well worth the ~30 extra minutes & little effort needed to collect & place them. But that's just me. Nonetheless, it provides extra time for sintering as well. The only exception might be really, really cold temps, though I've done that in 20C below and still never had an issue.
Humidity can be a factor while building. Mitigation that I found worked well for me was removing most layers, especially while digging (so I can keep them dry). Typically just keep one base layer & a shell (which doesn't get wet if it's just an outer, semi-waterproof windbreaker thing). Ultimately just the base layer ends up being sacrificed plus this limits sweating as well. Then if you can make a fire, you can even dry that out. I haven't found that to be a huge drawback, albeit one that needs special management.
With digging out, the best strategy I have found with 2 person is one inside that cuts out blocks, pushes them out, with the outer person removing them. Working with blocks, instead of loose snow, is much easier. Inside, this work best either with a saw or a shovel whose head and be detached - you then just use the shovel head to carve out 4 side, leverage the block from under so it detaches at the back, and just move it out towards the entrance. The other person, even without a 2nd shovel, can easily manage this.
I sort of agree about it not really being a survival shelter. Unless you're lost and the plan is to wait for rescue - in that case, it is a much warmer shelter (and durable) than most other options, in which case I think the investment is worth it. But the time it takes to build makes it not viable for one-nighter, imo as well.
Great video! Really good job on the Quinzee! I just built one for the first time a couple weeks ago.
If you build a structure of poles first then cover it with evergreen boughs than make your snow pile over that you will have your Quinzy built with very little snow to remove and the building has more structural integrity. Always put a small roof vent in it and that will keep air flowing.
Thank you so much for the tips! I am trying this out today in colorado 😊
I'm watching this even tho I'm living in a tropical country
hahahaa nice
If you don’t have a shovel you can use a strong, thick branch for the hollowing process.
Awesome vid. I pack a mountaineering snow shovel for this stuff, but it's nowhere near as efficient as what you're using. Same as you I prefer a snow trench with overhead cover, less work and still pretty effective. Anything that keeps you out of the wind is my main goal. Thanks for another extremely informative video.
I agree. The wind is the main concern and that can be done much easier than a quinzee. My shovel...well, you couldn't or wouldn't carry that around and good luck shoveling snow without a shovel...so in survival...well, it's just not going to happen.
Ahh yes, I'm watching this just a reminder how to do this with the mound I made in my backyard. What I like about this video is same as the dad, I'm about to blow several hours of energy to make my boy happy.
Your videos are great. Appreciate the time and effort you put into them. Jam-packed w/info.
Thanks Gayle!
Great Quality time with your son as wel!
Always a good time to pass along a few tricks too!
Sweet matching snow suit
Lol I was just telling my 7 year old we were building these long before we knew they were a survival shelter too. We also used to dig out huge snowplow piles and make tunnels into different areas, furniture carved in to the snow. Extremely frowned upon by parents for obvious reasons but we just listened for the plow lol And whoever had to use sticks didn't know how these were built lol
I gotta tell ya man, it's fun to build em for the kids, and your son- but even more fun for us! haha! I'm still a kid at heart i can tell you are too, after all we are still building cabins and forts under the guise of "survival shelter" ; ). Cheers man another nice video, you have come into your own style on youtube. Very informative, relaxed paced, calm well thought out narrations. i can appreciate the level of effort you are putting in the quality comes through. Sap started flowing again here yesterday afternoon after a long hard cold spell that made a lot of lake ice. Got way more spiles out and am ready to rock!
Awesome man! I just got back from the North...and man was it cold up there. -29C in the morning...coming from South here, it was hell! But it turned out to be a nice day and week, but man I'm aiming for spring now. A change in season means new opportunities! Bring on the sap! Should be ready for another boil by mid-week! Maybe 2 more this season since we seem to have misplaced the last week.
Awesome video , your son is quite the little worker lol if we only had their energy
Their recovery LOL. After 30 mins he's tired, and then 30 after that he's ready to go again, and again, and again. I'm like, dude, I'm done until next week :) lol
There are a number of balsam and spruce thickets around my home with trees about 3" at eye level, tall, too. In heavy wet snow I have seen them in groups bent over, snow piled on top and a natural cave under, many of the trees don't survive as they break, some stay bent and you can return the following winter to find them still habitable with a snow cover. In this case little to no energy expended. A browse bed can be used on the floor as well. I really don't like getting hot and sweaty in the cold winter. I would suspect a nice fire would be in order to dry out you clothing items before retiring for the evening.
Totally agree, big expense, little upside. A simple wall can often cut the wind and make a good heat reflector without having to go through the whole deal of making a "shelter."
Good video! Would be a good survival shelter in the barrens with no fire starter or nothing to burn . Hopeful I never get in that situation. lol.
I agree. If you've got only snow....!
Great Work guys - Enjoy the fun :)
Thanks for the myth busting. Funny complaint; it was too mild for too long in the Pickering area this winter. Brian 76
I agree. Too long now, but certainly a mixed bag of mild. I welcome spring with open arms :)
The entrance needs to slightly slope up into the quinzee. Warm air rises and will stay inside better than having a level entrance or one that slopes down.
Yup, for sure!
Excellent video my brotha! I used to build them as a child when we lived in Truckee, Ca. I didn't know what they were called either. They were fun. We moved to Az when I was in 6th grade. Ha ha... No more of that for me. Have you heard anything from Alone? I haven't. I hope all is well for you! Have a beautiful day. Thank you for the video!!
Nothing at all since Season 3 casting. I haven't even seen previews or location for Season 4, so I have no idea what direction they are taking! I suspect it's been cast though, since all the application stuff seems to be down. Ah well. You know, if you want to get on a show, you should sign up for those reality casting...I have a few each month contact me for various "roles." But so far, none of the ideas got me going at all.
The Wooded Beardsman From what I understand season 4 will be in Patagonia again. I'm patiently waiting. ha ha
Interesting! I figured they would try something different. Or maybe they'll adjust the season and then they can get some small game at least or some hogs. As is, it's not super entertaining, I'm afraid.
that looks awesome to sleep in man!
Love from india Himachal Pradesh
A single person quinzes is hard work but doable without tools. They are for sure a bunch of work and and an uncomfortable new gets sleep for anyone without ground insulation, adequate clothing or a candle. 8' by 3' and waist height will do. Without fire etc it would get you through a night in a bad situation but it wouldn't bbq e a comfortable night....lol
Snow is basically raining building material
great video, very informative
Thanks Joe!
Good video good information
Thanks bud!
I built these too when I was a kid and didn't know what they were called. Lol
Good looking kid and WISE. Is he always so serious looking?
I think he's cold and wet LOL. Usually he's a goof. You should check out my trout fishing video "passing on knowledge"...that's usually him, though he is becoming a little more serious and less goofy with age. ruclips.net/video/nftFJKK9xaI/видео.html
And yes, smart. He's reading 2 grades ahead now and always reading.
looks like you kids had fun in your snow fort. lol
:)
You have a very good partner ! 👍
looks cool! just gotta be real careful of it collapsing on you
Always...safety first :)
why didn't you bring a heavy plastic air bag as the base
10*
Thanks John!
Thanks for your honesty. This doesn't seem like a "survival" shelter. More like a poor mans igloo.
That seems like way too much work when a lean to or a frame shelter can be made in less time
I tend to agree. You just get way too wet doing these shelters and then you still need to sleep in the snow so when you move around you get wet. It makes sense when it's really windy or when you don't have building materials, but otherwise, it's got too many draw backs.
The Wooded Beardsman we don't get the snow y'all get up there so building a quinzzy is unknown to me but I believe what you say. It seems that a lot less work goes into a simpler shelter where you can put heat into, like a tarp shelter or another natural shelter.
"is not a survival shelter"?? I,m 90% sure it saved my life one time and the 10% is i could have maybe not died sleeping under the stars but i doubt that i think it was 3 or 4 years ago it was below -10 i went out in the mid sized forest at the time in my back yard and i was a little over two hours out and it started getting dark so i started following my tracks back but 20 min later it started snowing lightly 20 min after that it got dark and then i lost my tracks i walked for 20 more min (i don't know why i kept walking maybe because i was scared and hoping to just run in to home i guess?? probably should have just started making a place to sleep as soon as i lost my tracks but....) before i realized i was not in a good spot so i found a big mound(so more of a snow cave) and just dug with my hands i had ok water proof gloves/suit tho but i dug till i had to sleep a bit past that actually i don't know how long the sun was gone so my clock was too lol i think around 2 or 3 hours i woke up with a super sore foot tho(should have made the entrance lower and kinda dug up to the "bed"/hole) my heal was a bit burned i had put my gloves on my feet as socks in my boots but they did not go up to my heals so... and i put my hands in my pits i think the gloves saved my toes tho the quinzee was a foot longer then me but almost to small for me to roll over in(that's a real quinzee size yours is cool and fun but its a fun time play around quinzee good for family time:) ) i walked east toward my houses road kinda on my tippy toe whistling 3 times every few min till this guy on a four wheeler came by(thank god i was so close to sitting down and giving up i never thought i would think of giving up in a spot like that but... you get so beat) he gave me a lift to the hospital too after he got me a bit warmed up gave me some tea and blankets he told me he heard the whistling well cutting wood so a few weeks latter i went back and cut a bunch of wood for him lol. thx for the video it was cool to see other takes on a quinzee
this guy was just shitting on the quinzee for the whole video💀