By: Logan Morey “I believe I have seen hell and it is white, snow-white” -Elizabeth Gaskell

All of those who venture out into northern climates – no matter how experienced - face danger from extremely cold temperatures, harsh terrain, and snow covered landscapes. The best protection a person can have against this climate is to know how to protect yourself from the elements in the case of an emergency – in many cases, a snow shelter is the best way to safely protect yourself until help arrives.

A shelter acts as a cover from the elements (rain, snow, sleet, etc.), protection against wildlife, and as a safe place to sleep and to build a fire for warmth. A properly constructed shelter will help you to save and conserve body heat. There are four main types of snow shelters – Snow Trench, Lean-to, Snow Cave/Quinzhee, and the Igloo. As you will see from the following presentation, each type has its pros and cons, and it is important to choose the right snow shelter for each situation.

The snow trench is the easiest snow shelter design, and perhaps the fastest to make. This type of shelter should be used in an emergency situation, when there is not a lot of time to prepare.

Steps to creating a snow trench: 1. To begin, you dig out a rectangle a bit longer and wider than yourself. 2. Next, you make a small doorway in one end of the ends of the trench. 3. You then cover the top of with large sticks going across the top. 4. Cover the top of the sticks with thick foliage. 5. Cover the foliage with a mound of snow and create a “barrier” in front of the door by using something you have with you, i.e. a book bag

The lean to is also an easy to prepare snow shelter, and is the most commonly used design.

Steps to creating a lean-to: 1. The key to building a lean-to is finding the best location. Look for a spot in a cluster of trees, out of the wind. If possible, place your lean-to under the cover of tree branches – this will act as protection from rain and snow. 2. Once you have chosen your spot, try to find two tall tree that are close together than could form the two end-poles of the lean-to. This will save time cutting and delimbing trees. 3. Once you have chosen these poles, you must locate a long, thin trees that you can place perpendicular to the trees already in place; secure this pole to the two trees with a piece of rope to complete the frame – a clove hitch is a good method to attach the rope.

4. Once your frame is complete, you must now search for trees to make the “roof” of the lean-to. The first part of your roof provides the structure; for this part you need enough long, thin, delimbed trees to fill the gap between the two trees forming the structure of your shelter. Lay these trees, in a perpendicular manner, across the “transversal” part of the shelter, a.k.a. the limb that you secured earlier with the clove hitch. 5. Now that you have the frame of your roof complete, you must find branches with leaves, needles, foliage etc. to lay over the frame of the roof. By using braches that are thick with foliage, you will block the wind, protect yourself from rain and snow, and trap heat in your shelter.

As you can see from the above diagrams, the snow cave is much more complicated than the earlier two shelters. The benefit of this type of shelter is that it is sturdier, lasts a long time, and will provide more protection against the elements.

1. The first step to building a snow cave is to find an appropriate location, preferably a large mound of snow, at least 4 – 5 feet high. 2. Once you have chosen your location, you begin to dig into the “cave”. Begin by digging a “door”. Be sure to keep the door as small as possible. 3. Once your “door”, or entrance is dug out, you can begin to dig out the interior. Slope your door tunnel upwards as you begin to hollow our the interior. This will create a cold air “slump”, and help to keep warm air in your cave. 4. As you dig, be sure to keep a shovel handy inside the cave in case your cave collapses. You should also clearly mark your cave using ski poles, sticks, etc. 5. Ensure that you have left holes in the top of the cave for ventilation. 6. If time and circumstances permit, you may wish to strengthen the walls of your snow shelter by pouring water over them. The water will then freeze into ice, strengthening the walls of your shelter.

An igloo is a dome-shaped snow shelter, created by stacking and shaping blocks of ice or snow. The igloo is famous for its use as temporary shelters for indigenous hunters in northern climates. The igloo is difficult and time consuming to construct, but will last a long time and will provide excellent protection against the elements.

1. The first step to building an igloo is choosing your blocks. You can use either blocks of ice, or hard pressed, compact snow. 2. Unless you are using premade blocks of ice, you need to choose a spot with hard pressed snow and cut out the blocks using a snow saw. To begin, the blocks should be larger. You will need to make them smaller as you near the top of the igloo to create the dome-like shape. 3. Once you have your blocks cut, you must then need to mark out the circle of your igloo. Begin laying your blocks around the circle. As you add additional rows, stagger the blocks - just as if you were laying bricks. 4. As mentioned, the blocks should get smaller as you build up. It is important to shape them and place them so that they lean in to create the dome; you may need structural support on the inside of the igloo during this step.

4. When placing the last block of the igloo ( the center of the top) cut a large snow block and shape the block to fit the space; i.e. cut the piece larger than the hole and shave it to make it fit. 5. Dig down into the group to make a trench that will act as an entrance to the igloo. If you wish, using the same method as above to place blocks to cover the top of the tunnel. 6. Using loose snow as “mortar”, fill in the cracks in between the staggered blocks on the inside of the igloo. Smooth out your inside walls. 7. Safety precaution: Don’t forget to poke holes in the igloo for ventilation.

Snow shelters are very important, just as, if not more important than food. Without one survival is almost impossible especially in in the deathly cold of winter. One of these snow shelters could save your life if ever you are lost or stranded.