View source for Quinzhee

{{short description|Canadian indigenous snow shelter}}
[[Image:Quinzy.jpg|thumb|right|Exterior of a quinzhee, facing the entrance]]

A '''quinzhee''' or '''quinzee''' ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|k|w|ɪ|n|z|iː|audio=en-us-quinzhee.ogg}}) is a Canadian snow shelter made from a large pile of loose snow that is shaped, then hollowed. This is in contrast to an [[igloo]], which is built up from blocks of hard snow, and a [[snow cave]], constructed by digging into the snow. The word is of [[Athabaskan languages|Athabaskan]] origin<ref>''Allen & Mike's Really Cool Backcountry Ski Book: Traveling and Camping Skills for a Winter Environment'', Allen O'Bannon, illustrations by Mike McClelland, Chockstone Press, 1996, {{ISBN|1-57540-076-6}}, pg. 80-86.</ref><ref>{{cite book |last= Streever |first= Bill |title= Cold: Adventures in the World's Frozen Places |location= New York |publisher= Little, Brown and Company |year= 2009 |isbn= 978-0-316-04291-8 |page= [https://archive.org/details/coldadventuresin00stre/page/187 187] |url-access= registration |url= https://archive.org/details/coldadventuresin00stre/page/187 }}</ref> and entered the English language by 1984.<ref>{{cite web| title= Does English still borrow words from other languages?| url= https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-26014925 | date= 3 February 2014| publisher= [[BBC News Online]]| access-date= 2014-02-05| quote= Some examples that the Oxford English Dictionary suggests entered English during the past 30 years include tarka [[dal]], a creamy Indian lentil dish (1984, from Hindi), quinzhee, a type of snow shelter (1984, from Slave or another language of the Pacific Coast of North America), [[popiah]], a type of Singaporean or Malaysian [[spring roll]] (1986, from Malay), [[izakaya]], a type of Japanese bar serving food (1987), [[affogato]], an Italian dessert made of ice cream and coffee (1992).}}</ref> A quinzhee can be made for winter [[camping]] and [[Survivalism|survival]] purposes, or for fun.

A similar, but more elaborate snow house is called a lumitalo.<ref>
{{cite web
 |url=https://www.shsu.edu/~eng_ira/finnishstudies/Finnish%20Tables%20of%20Content/JoFs_Vol%2019.1.pdf
 |title= Say Yah to da Finns, Eh! Linguistically Performing Finnishness at Festivals. 
 |last= Remlinger
 |first= Kathryn
 |date= 2016
 |publisher= Journal of Finnish Studies
 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220322034543/https://www.shsu.edu/~eng_ira/finnishstudies/Finnish%20Tables%20of%20Content/JoFs_Vol%2019.1.pdf
 |archive-date=March 22, 2022
}}</ref>

==Differences between a quinzhee and an igloo==

Quinzhees typically have an inside height after excavation which allows for sitting or crouching but not standing.

The snow for a quinzhee does not need to be of the same quality as required for an [[igloo]]. Quinzhees are not usually meant to be long-term shelters, while igloos can be used for seasonal habitation. Constructing  quinzhees is much easier than igloos, although the overall result is somewhat less sturdy and more prone to collapsing in harsh weather conditions. Quinzhees are normally constructed in times of necessity for survival, so aesthetic and long-term dwelling considerations are normally exchanged for economy of time and materials.
<!--An igloo is made by cutting blocks from packed snow and stacking them. A quinzhee is made by making a pile of snow, then hollowing out the inside.-->

==Construction==
Quinzhees are typically built in flat areas where snow is abundant, on days colder than {{convert|−4|C|F}}. Builders break up layers of naturally fallen snow into powder and thoroughly mix bottom and top layers of snow to increase [[sintering]], thus strengthening the eventual structure. Snow is typically piled {{convert|1.5|to|2|m|ft|0}} high in a dome {{Convert|3|to|4|m|ft|0}} in diameter. It is then left for at least 2 hours to sinter, allowing both temperature and moisture in the snow to homogenize and the snow crystals to bond with each other. Packing can speed the bonding process and strengthen the structure. Small sticks, approximately {{Convert|30|to|35|cm|in}} are pushed into the structure to act as thickness guides when the interior is hollowed out. According to Halfpenny and Ozane (1989), the wall at the base should be at least {{convert|30|cm|in}} wide and at the top about {{Convert|20|cm|in|0}} thick, though wall-base thicknesses of more than {{Convert|60|cm|ft}} are possible.<ref name=HalfpennyOzanne>''Winter: An Ecological Handbook', James C. Halfpenny & Roy Ozanne, Johnson, 1989, p. 230-234</ref>

Excavation may be accomplished more quickly if large blocks of interior snow are carved and slid out through a large, temporary "excavation door." Structural strength increases when all interior wall and ceiling surfaces follow an arched curve, with no flat sections. Once excavation is complete the excavation door can be permanently blocked using previously excavated blocks, and a smaller permanent door can be cut in the most desirable spot.{{citation needed|date=January 2020}} Time and effort are required to hollow out the center of a quinzhee, though these can be reduced by piling snow around a hollow structure, such as a tarp-covered pile of packs or a makeshift tent or dome.<ref>{{cite web |title=Survival Shelters: 15 Best Designs and How to Build Them |url=https://www.outdoorlife.com/survival-shelters-15-best-designs-wilderness-shelters/ |website=Outdoor Life |date=17 October 2019 |language=en}}</ref>

Melting and refreezing the inner surface of the quinzhee can strengthen it, as it does an [[igloo]]; this can be done rapidly with a lamp [http://www.scottwinger.com/quinzhee-camping.html] or candle,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.alpharubicon.com/primitive/quinzeetrigger.html |title=Quinzee (aka - Snow Cave) |author=Trigger |website= www.alpharubicon.com |access-date=13 January 2025 }}</ref> but body heat is also adequate.<ref name="BBC">{{cite news |last1=Cruickshank |first1=Dan |title=What house-builders can learn from igloos |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/magazine/7326031.stm |date=2 April 2008}}</ref>

Allowing the interior temperature to rise above freezing point risks weakening the shelter significantly, especially if the outside air temperature is near freezing. A small hole for air circulation should be poked through the ceiling. To avoid dripping melt-water, irregular or bumpy surfaces can be smoothed to direct the flow of water down the walls to gather around the edges. A non-airtight fabric door cover will minimize the amount of cold air coming into the quinzhee. An empty, well built snow structure, 16 or more hours old, in weather below {{convert|−12|C|F}} may be strong enough to support a group of adults standing on top of it.{{Citation needed|date=April 2018}}

==Dangers==

All snow shelters eventually collapse or melt. Quinzhees can [[Cave-in|collapse]] from poor snow conditions, warm weather, blowing rain, construction problems (hitting a supporting wall), failure to let the snow sinter long enough, or from people climbing on them. Collapse poses a danger of suffocation for occupants.

Quinzhees should not be used when temperatures are warmer than {{convert|−4|C|F}} due to risk of collapse. The greatest risk of collapse occurs during the excavation process. Longer sintering time generally reduces risk of excavation collapse. To reduce undue loading on the roof of the quinzhee, the interior ceiling should be excavated first, then the interior walls and floor. One person should be outside the quinzhee while another is digging inside.  Place a shovel, branch, hiking pole, or such near the head of a sleeping person for roof support, to break a falling roof to create an air gap, and/or as a tool to dig out.  One shovel should be left outside to mark the door and aid rescuers in digging occupants out. Some users prefer a marker to be left outside the quinzhee nearest the heads of sleeping occupants to indicate where rescuers should start digging.

==Lumitalos==
A lumitalo is a more elaborate snow-house or building made out of snow in a manner similar to a quinzhee. The term is [[Finland|Finnish]] in origin, and literally means “snow house”.<ref>[http://www.keweenawnow.com/news/heikinpaiva_2002_02_02/heikinpaiva_2002_02_02_p2.htm ''Lumitalo and other Heikinpäivä events''] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110718101949/http://www.keweenawnow.com/news/heikinpaiva_2002_02_02/heikinpaiva_2002_02_02_p2.htm |date=July 18, 2011 }}. Keweenaw Peninsula. February 8, 2002.</ref>

The city of [[Houghton, Michigan]], builds a lumitalo as part of its annual [[Michigan Technological University's Winter Carnival|Winter Carnival]] held by [[Michigan Technological University]].<ref>[http://www.keweenawnow.com/news/mtu_winter_carnival_snowy_02_02/mtu_winter_carnival_snowy_02_02_p2.htm ''Houghton's Snow House''] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090106014652/http://www.keweenawnow.com/news/mtu_winter_carnival_snowy_02_02/mtu_winter_carnival_snowy_02_02_p2.htm |date=January 6, 2009 }}. Keweenaw Peninsula. February 8, 2002.</ref>

==See also==
* {{annotated link|Igloo}}
* {{annotated link|Kamakura (snow dome)}}
* {{annotated link|Snow cave}}
* {{annotated link|Snow fort}}

==Bibliography==
* {{cite book|last=Halfpenny|first=James C. & Roy Ozanne|title=Winter: An Ecological Handbook|year=1989|publisher=Johnson Books|location=Boulder, CO|pages=230–234}}

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{Wikibooks|Quinzhee}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20070927190933/http://http-server.carleton.ca/~dmcfet/quinzy.html How to Build Winter Shelters and Survive]
* [http://boyslife.org/outdoors/outdoorarticles/2992/how-to-build-a-quinzee-snow-shelter/ How to build a Quinzee Snow Shelter]

{{Huts}}
{{Native american styles}}

[[Category:Buildings and structures made of snow or ice]]
[[Category:Indigenous architecture]]
[[Category:House types]]
[[Category:Traditional Native American dwellings]]