Aurora Borealis Over Canadian Snow Shelter

A quinzee, a traditional Canadian snow shelter, could be summer’s biggest wilderness ticket when the Aurora Borealis lights up the sky. A quinzee is a large, dome-shaped shelter made of compacted and hollowed snow. At the lodge, the quinzee is built with a substantial amount of loose snow to ensure thermal insulation. The structure looks like a simple penguin igloo, like something out of an earth science textbook. The shelter’s round interior shields from wind and its hollow shape traps body heat to make for a cozy night. The snow's unique structure allows the shelter to be structurally stable, yet still warm enough for a good night's sleep. The snow sculpture sits in the foreground while the Aurora Borealis lights up the sky in the background.

The solitary experience

The spotlight on @herry.with.an.e’s snow hut adventure came as the Aurora Borealis made its way to the Northwest Territories in Canada. The quinzee shelter in the footage is at Blachford Lake Lodge, a family-owned wilderness lodge. A quinzee is a seasonal feature. Snow huts can end up hidden under more snow or wiped out completely due to churning temperatures and winds. Still, the family-run Blachford Lake Lodge has been hosting visitors through the Canadian winter, and they have done so along the same principles, from its earliest days.

Meeting the wild chill

Although the video does not describe the immediate weather conditions, comments from other visitors to Blachford Lake Lodge paint a picture. It can be as cold as -7C, or 19F, in the peak months of the season. The winter in the Canadian North is a true wild experience. Away from city lights it can be impossibly dark, but the stillness offers a rare gift: the ability to watch the night sky unspoiled, including the elusiveness of seeing the Northern Lights on any given night. Evening temperatures can plummet to -30 Fahrenheit.

Canada’s Snow Shelter Skills

The architectural planning of a dormir

A quinzee is made by first collecting a large pile of loose snow. The snow is then shaped and compacted into a dome or igloo structure. The dome is then hollowed out from the inside to create a living space. Building a quinzee takes some skill. The ideal location is near trees and other shelters, which block wind and trap heat. The double-walled interior of the quinzee design also helps to keep warmth inside and cold outside. The structure is designed to be a true snow shelter, with the outer layer of snow providing insulation and the inner layer providing structural support. Ecological construction is a way of life for natives of the Northwest Territory.

Material benefits of compacted snow

Rather than using rare woods or new materials for a shelter, a quincee is built entirely of compressed snow. Snow is also an excellent insulator because it traps air, which in turn traps heat.

From snow cave to quinzee

The nouvelle quinzee is not to be confused with an old, plain Quinzhee. Quinzees have a simple design, while the snow huts are more complex, with features like tunnels and windows. The quinzee, as you might learn in Boy Scouts, is a house made from snow in a cave. The fifteen foot wide quinzee gives a more spacious living space, with a living quarter. It provides the warmth of the quinzee, while offering space to store gear.

Preparing for next season

The snow sculpture requires a severe convergence of several conditions to produce its natural light show. Taking advantage of the conditions, visitors can come to the Lodge for a whole season.

Tucking in for the view

Not everyone can wake up one night to enjoy the Aurora Borealis. In the Northwest Territories, snow shelters help guests comfy and warm. Visitors standby the lodge with binoculars and a thermos for tea. The lodge serves a family dinner, with smoked fish and wild hares. After dinner, everyone gathers around the fire. Timing a trip to coincide with the northern lights could be the only time you’ll see it.

@herry.with.an.e's Quinzhee bedroom

A quinzee might be the next big thing in the cold season adventure. It blends into the landscape and provides an authentic experience for those who seek it. The next time you're looking for an innovative way to spend time in the frigid north, consider the quinzee.