snohaus 2014

i started construction of this year's snohaus on 14 february, which was the first time this season we had good enough snow for it.

when it's complete (IF it's complete) it has two domes, a raised walkway, and an interior tunnel connecting the domes.

while the plow certainly helps move and compact the snow, plowing the driveway doesn't put the snow where i need it to be, so it all has to be moved by hand, one sled at a time. depending on snow density a full sled of snow weighs anywhere from ten to thirty-five pounds. plow compacted snow averages twenty-five pounds per sled.

on construction days i move an average of fifteen sled loads a day. with the exception of the january thaw and subsequent snowless days, every day is a construction day. you do the math; that's a lot of snow!

the way the snow can be worked changes based on temperature and humidity. there are three basic categories of workable snow: snow that is loose and dry, snow that is dry enough to pour but wet enough to pack a little, and wet snow that can be packed and shaped.

i need all three kinds for the structure.

when it's very cold in the morning i can move a lot of snow, but can't shape it much. later in the day when it's warm out i can pack snow and re-face the vertical surfaces on the structure. when it becomes too warm out, i have to stay off the structure because when it gets slushy it will be damaged by walking on it.

left undisturbed in warm temperatures it stays in pretty good shape. snow is an excellent insulator and i have learned over the years only to use the cleanest, whitest snow on the external parts of the structure, because even small dirt particles absorb heat and increase snow melt.

visitors are welcome in snohaus. if you see me working on it, come on over and take the tour. alternately, you can make an appointment by dropping me an email. i'm eflask and i'm on gmail.

FAQ

can you sleep in snohaus?

you can, but you shouldn't. it is possible to build a snow cave that is both safe and comfortable for sleeping, and this one is not built for sleeping. it has no sleeping platforms and the entry baffle is not large enough for serious heat retention, so while you would probably be safe, you would be uncomfortable.

is it safe?

mostly. cave-in is always a risk when you dig a snow cave. i never go in the cave without a snow claw and an avalanche shovel. additionally, this mound has been carefully foot-packed to reduce cave-in risk. the walking surfaces are also footpacked, but may be slippery. it is not advisable to walk on snohaus without guidance because it is not always easy to tell by looking which surfaces are safe for walking and which are not.

do you use any special tools?

i use a regular snowshovel, a plastic sled, a hockey stick, a dakine snowclaw, an avalanche shovel, some old shelving and a couple of boards. the hockey stick is used as a pusher for the sled when i move snow, and the boards are used as forms when i can pour and pack snow.


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