2die4
02-07-2014, 02:32 AM
My New Years resolution for 2014 is to exercise my survivalist skills. With all the damn snow that dump on my AO yesterday I decided to put some practical survival skills to good use. I built my first Quinzee hut. It wasn't too hard with a snow shovel. I had the pile as tall as me within 15 minutes. It probably would taken much longer with an E-tool in a survival situation. (Which I would have in my BOB) Once I got the pile set up and packed in I started digging out snow. I was a little worried about it caving in on my head but with the huge amount of snow I packed into a pile it was no problem. Carve time took about 15 minutes. (It probably would have been less time if I wasn't 6'3 and 250lbs.) Once everything was carved out I crawled in and made myself at home. Inside of the hut, it was actually warm. I couldn't believe it. Within 5 minutes of sitting in my hut, my breath was actually making the snow melt. I had the snow dripping on my head. Snow really is a wonderful insulator. The Eskimos are onto something I tells ya.
Things I would do if I built my hut for a life or death situation:
1. Try and find a fallen tree or natural shelter and pack snow around it for insulation. This will save a lot of time (especially with a small E-tool) and avoid me getting wet.
2. If number 1 is not available find lots of natural ground cover along with trying to line the wall with pine needles or what shrubbery I could find to prevent my breath and body heat from melting the snow.
On Monday I will try building a fire near the opening of my hut to see if the heat will flow into the hut without the snow melting all over my head. I update this thread If and when I do.
Overall it was really cool (pun intended) to finally put my knowledge to practical use.
Scooping it out.
http://s25.postimg.org/lemvi12vz/12355472554_94596424f9_o.jpg
Side View
http://s25.postimg.org/8w6a1g5wf/12355482454_6ae7f41f94_o.jpg
Front View
http://s25.postimg.org/k0v8mq3mn/12355196123_3a1b492a31_o.jpg
Me in my hut
http://s25.postimg.org/iur8nxfbz/12355031855_c45b937894_o.jpg
Inside view
http://s25.postimg.org/xf8biraan/12355029345_bf6b6d7992_o.jpg
Rest of the pictures.
http://http://flic.kr/ps/2M6kN4
Things I would do if I built my hut for a life or death situation:
1. Try and find a fallen tree or natural shelter and pack snow around it for insulation. This will save a lot of time (especially with a small E-tool) and avoid me getting wet.
2. If number 1 is not available find lots of natural ground cover along with trying to line the wall with pine needles or what shrubbery I could find to prevent my breath and body heat from melting the snow.
On Monday I will try building a fire near the opening of my hut to see if the heat will flow into the hut without the snow melting all over my head. I update this thread If and when I do.
Overall it was really cool (pun intended) to finally put my knowledge to practical use.
Scooping it out.
http://s25.postimg.org/lemvi12vz/12355472554_94596424f9_o.jpg
Side View
http://s25.postimg.org/8w6a1g5wf/12355482454_6ae7f41f94_o.jpg
Front View
http://s25.postimg.org/k0v8mq3mn/12355196123_3a1b492a31_o.jpg
Me in my hut
http://s25.postimg.org/iur8nxfbz/12355031855_c45b937894_o.jpg
Inside view
http://s25.postimg.org/xf8biraan/12355029345_bf6b6d7992_o.jpg
Rest of the pictures.
http://http://flic.kr/ps/2M6kN4