What It Takes to Sleep in Quinzees: A Changemakers Backcountry Journey of Grit, Snow, and Self-Reliance
Written by Erin Angel, CI Senior Instructor, Changemakers & Alumni Coordinator. Smile and say “Quinzeeeeee!” Changemakers Outdoor Leadership Corps were all smiles when they finally finished building their quinzees in time to scarf down a late dinner and crawl into their snowshelters to sleep. Building them had taken the whole day. Well, almost the whole day. First, they had to scout for a backcountry campsite with enough snow (in this drought year!) in the Indian Peaks Wilderness. And, once we found a good site with lots of snow, we had to haul all our gear in backpacks and packed toboggans through the dense forest. Only after that hard slog could we start piling snow for our quinzees.
How is it to sleep in a quinzee on a subfreezing February night, at over 10,000 feet in elevation? Well, according to the Changemakers’ morning reports: surprisingly good! Everyone reported being warm and cozy in their snow caves. And so satisfied that they had built them themselves. The instructors and assistant instructors tried a different winter shelter – snow trenches. They are fast to make, just dig a coffin-like hole in the snow and pull a tarp over the top. The instructors all said that it was the best night’s sleep they’d had in a month!
Changemakers spent the next day having fun, playing games and fighting the gray jay for their cheeseballs. They took a break from their silliness to have a lunchtime conversation to solidify their action project topic. Then the silliness recommenced as they destroyed their quinzees which devolved into a snowball fight that devolved into climbing up high and jumping into the deep, puffy snow.
Not one of them will forget the first time they slept in a quinzee they built themselves. For one weekend these students got to forget homework and college essays and literally be IN nature. Inside nature’s cold, snowy belly. Working hard and being tired, cold, and happy. Sharing connections and making core memories.
A big thank you to the funders and supporters who help make the Changemakers Program possible, including: Larrk Foundation, Great Outdoors Colorado, Thorne Nature Experience, and Tony Grampsas Youth Services Program.
If you, too, are passionate about getting students outside to have unique learning experiences, please consider making a donation or becoming a monthly donor! You’ll help invest in our students, programs, and long-term sustainability and success!
