Snowshoeing accross McCulloch Lake and building Quinzee’s on the little island in the middle of the lake. Learn how to build a winter snow shelter called a Quinzee by following the pictures below. Also learn about the potential dangers of building a Quinzee and how much weight the Quinzee roof will hold!
Okanagan Hiking at McCulloch Lake / Hydraulic Lake in British Columbia- the signs below are the signs to look for when you are driving down Highway 33 towards Rock Creek from Kelowna.
Okanagan Hiking at McCulloch Lake / Hydraulic Lake - sometimes it helps to see a picture of the turn off before you go. This is where you turn to get to McCulloch Lake as well as Nordic Ski trails and Idabel Resort.
Okanagan Hiking at McCulloch Lake / Hydraulic Lake - The turn off to McCulloch Lake from Highway 33 in British Columbia.
Okanagan Hiking at McCulloch Lake / Hydraulic Lake in British Columbia just up a short forest service road off of McCulloch Road in British Columbia.
the McCulloch Lake Forest Service Site
Drive up the snow laden forest service road
snowmobiling - share the road
Okanagan Hiking at McCulloch Lake / Hydraulic Lake - Snowshoeing accross the frozen lake.
Okanagan Hiking at McCulloch Lake / Hydraulic Lake - Snowshoeing accross the frozen lake.
Jesse opted to pull a sled instead of carrying a backpack.
I (Clayton) got my "woolies" on. It was minus 10 degrees celcius.
When you take kids on a winter hike in British Columbia - you have to make sure they understand the importance of wool underwear. Zack had fun and kept warm.
Okanagan Hiking at McCulloch Lake / Hydraulic Lake and Quinzee Building. Caleb did a great job of shoveling down to the ground and then shoveling the snow back into the area as you build the pile a little higher than your head. This one will be used for myself, Caleb and Zachary. I just have a little more shoveling to do.
When you shovel the snow for your Quinzee be sure to break up or rake the large chunks of snow so that it can set. After the pile of snow is high enough, push some boughs in so when you begin to dig you will come to the end of the bough and stop digging so you wall will be thick enough. I kept my sidewall and dome at least two feet thick.
sometimes it pays to STOP (stop,think,observe,plan)
Building a winter shelter called a Quinzee takes at least 3 hours. Pile the snow, put in your depth finder branches, hollow it out, put in your bed of boughs... Take a break Delane
At home in the Quinzee
The bed of boughs for insulation against the cold and moist snow. It does not get below zero degrees if you keep your doorway low in your Quinzee. I could barely crawl in to mine.
Quinzee Ceiling
Quinzee Interior
Time for a little campfire smoke and to dry out by the fire
Time for bed, eh.
Snug as a bug in a rug.
snug as a bug in a rug.
Watch the video of this Quinzee Crashing test. I figure the quinzee is good too withstand about 1000 pounds or more as it took four boys jumping on it to crash it. However, when you hollow it out it is not fully set and if you dig to much into the dome she will crash down on you so make sure you have a knee to push yourself out or you may get pinned.
British Columbia Hiking in the winter with a little Quinzee (winter shelter) building and subsequent CRASHING. What happens when you shoot a Bear Banger inside a frozen Quinzee?