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In 1989 I met a lady in Churchill, Manitoba who told me a story about her father, at trapper, who was out on the tundra near Hudson Bay when bad weather rolled in. Caught in what could be called a “situation,” he built a primitive, but efficient shelter, the Quin-Zhee. She attributes this shelter for saving his life.
    The Quin-Zhee’s principle is simple. You make a windbreak that insulates you from the cold and wind as well as use, to some degree (no pun intended), the earth’s heat.
    The first step in making the Quin-Zhee is to tromp a round area in the snow nine to 10 feet in diameter. Tromp the snow inside this circle to a pulp.
    Now shovel a pile of snow about five feet tall into the shape of a hemisphere shaped dome, filling the circle you have just tromped. Wait about an hour for this snow to crystallize. If the snow is warm, give it about 90 minutes. During this “down time” you can gather firewood, do other chores or just rest.
    Next, tunnel into the snow pile, usually from the east, since winds are commonly from the west and north. Tunnel in making the opening just large enough for the largest occupant to enter and exit.
    Scrape out the inside, roughly the shape of the outside, making the walls about five inches thick at the bottom, tapering to about two inches at the very top. Make a two-inch vent hole dead center at the top.
    Smooth the inside walls to avoid melting snow from dropping straight down and also make a trough to allow water to run out the door. Scrap snow down to ground level. Believe it or not, even frozen ground often insulated by snow will emit some heat.
    Make a door out of a block of snow, LEAVING SOME VENTILATION and your Quin-Zhee is completed. Take time constructing your Quin-Zhee, as you need to avoid perspiring. Remember that wet skin removes body heat very quickly. Since the Quin-Zhee is white and blends in with the surroundings, you need to mark the area around it so it can be seen.
    I cannot stress enough the importance of building the shelter with a companion present as snow could fall in on you during construction. Adequate ventilation is also important to avoid suffocation. A small source of heat such as a candle or lantern or just breathing could deplete oxygen levels enough to asphyxiate you!