Winter Shelters (original) (raw)

There you have it, a quinzhee, igloo, snowhouse whatever you want to call it. If you sleep in it you will realize how warm it can be. Snow is excellent insulation. You may find it gets so ho that your walls drip a little. This will require some special bedding.

The Bedroll
Sleeping in your new Quinzhee may take some preparation. If you have just built a quinzhee in your backyard or anywhere else and you want to sleep in it you should find a person to sleep over in your quinzhee. Your bedroll should have the following components:

1. A thick foam pad for insulation from the ground, as wide as your sleeping bag and long enough to support your head.
2. A winter sleeping bag or two summer sleeping bags - with the zippers on opposite sides. If desired, add a blanket between the inner and outer bags, preferably fastened with safety pins.
3. Within inner bag - sleepaing wear: pyjamas, heavy socks, long underwear or jogging pants, hooded jacket or sweater with a toque. These clothes must remain dry and must not be worn during the day. Change into them right before you go to bed.
4. Large sheet of poly-ethelene film - 4 mil is best. Wrapped around the bedroll and taped shut with duct tape to form a sheath that will protect the bedroll from the dripping of the ceiling in the quinzhee. A drip could cause a concentrated wet spot on the bedroll wich would be extremely uncomfortable. Any plastic will do, use garbage bags as a last resort.
5. Large plastic bag to keep the rolled up bedroll dry during transport.
6. Toboggan to transport your bedroll and other gear. It should have a 6M rope for a harness to slip arond your shoulders and lots of bungee cords or more rope to keep your other gear on board. Your gear musn't sit loosely on the sled.

As in the daytime, "layering" is important to prevent perspiration. If you wake up feeling to warm, open your sleeping bag a bit or take off some clothing. When you cool off bundle up again.

By Craig McFetridge Feb 19 1995