How to Build a Snow House

Snow houses have also been called snow caves or igloos and can serve as a recreational activity for children or provide shelter from the elements in a survival situation. Some cultures live in snow houses year round in colder regions of the world. Building a snow house can be done in a few hours under the right conditions. The snow has to be previously pack naturally by snowfall and compaction or if the snow is the right consistency it can be piled up and dug into.

Things You'll Need

  • Snow shovel
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Instructions

    • 1

      Find a snow bank with densely packed snow that is at least six feet high and ten feet wide.

    • 2

      Begin digging at the base of the snow bank with a snow shovel. Dig out a hole three feet around at a slight downward angle. Dig the hole until it goes four feet into the snow bank.

    • 3

      Continue digging upward and ever backward at the end of the four foot tunnel. Push the snow out of the tunnel and out of the snow house. When the hole at the end of the tunnel is large enough to be upright on your knees dig out a shelf large enough for any gear other than bedding.

    • 4

      Dig out a second shelf a foot above the first shelf large enough to lay down on comfortably. Continue pushing all excess snow out of the entrance of the snow house. Lay a waterproof tarp over both the first and second level shelves to protect camping gear and bedding from moisture.

    • 5

      Poke an air hole or vent through the wall of snow house five feet above the entrance door to the snow cave.