If you're tired of the usual winter snow activities like sledding and snowball fights, consider making your own snow fort! Constructing a snow fort is a great family activity that gives you a winter-wonderland hang-out until the weather warms. Remember to always build with a buddy (or several) and to have a "guard" outside the fort in case of collapse.
Steps
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Think about what kind of structure you want to make. Snow forts can be anything from a simple one-wall design to more complex fortresses with four walls and a roof.
- Part of this decision depends on how much snow you have.
- Take into account length, depth and height as you estimate the amount of snow you'll need. Four feet is usually an adequate height. [1] X Research source
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Measure the size of the fort. Use a shovel or branch to mark out the fort's perimeter. If you're low on snow, opt for a single wall with two wings on either side. [2] X Research sourceAdvertisement
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Find a good snowdrift. If you don't have one, make it! Use shoveled snow from the driveway or anywhere else.
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Use snow bricks if you can't get strong snow. Pack Tupperware containers, coolers, or plastic buckets full of as much snow as will fit, invert, and lift off the container. [5] X Research source
- Alternatively, pour cold water over the snow to make a layer of ice. If you're planning to dig a tunnel, leave a space with no water poured over it so you can dig more easily.
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Make your walls. Use the packed snow or bricks to form walls, making sure that they are perpendicular on the inside of the fort.
- If you're using bricks, work like a bricklayer: put down one layer, leaving a few inches (or centimeters) between each brick, and stacking the next level so that each brick straddles two underneath it. Have another person follow you by packing snow in between the bricks.
- If you're digging a fort into a snowdrift, use a shovel or your hands and burrow your way into the pile. Once you've made your entrance, clear out a room from the inside with your hands or a small shovel.
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Pack the outside of your walls with a shovel. Smooth out the exterior of the walls, adding in extra snow for support if necessary. If you've used bricks, fill in the cracks in between the snow bricks, then smooth out with a shovel. Be careful not to break the blocks in doing so. The outside walls should slant just slightly for durability. [6] X Research source
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Pour water over the fort for a protective layer of ice. The water freezes into ice, solidifying the structure and protecting it from melting.
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Sprinkle cold water and food coloring on the fort to customize the color. Dye the blocks as you make them by adding colored water to the snow, spritz colored water from a spray bottle, or mix food coloring in with the cold water you pour over as a finish.
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To illuminate your fort, string low-power LED lights around it. Low-powered lights generate minimal heat to reduce melting. [9] X Research source
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Add flags, snowmen, or other decorations. If there's an abundance of snow, make guardian snowmen or turrets for your fort. Add some furniture if you have room. Carve designs into the exterior of the walls to customize your construction.
Community Q&A
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QuestionHow long does it usually take to build a good-sized fort?Community AnswerAbout one to three hours, depending on the size of the fort and how many people are building it.
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QuestionCan I bring tacos inside the fort?Community AnswerYes. You can bring whatever you want inside your fort.
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QuestionCan you sleep in the snow fort?Community AnswerYou can take a short nap if you have warm enough clothes, but you should not sleep out in the cold for an extended period.
Video
Tips
- Invest in some waterproof gloves. They are available in sporting goods stores and will keep your hands warm and dry during construction. If you can't find any, have a few pairs of woolly gloves: when your hands get wet you can switch to a new pair while the soggy ones dry on a heater.Thanks
- Find friends and family to help you build your fort.Thanks
- Don't get angry over a broken fort. You can always build a new one!Thanks
Tips from our Readers
- If it's your first time making a snow fort, start small. The more the practice, the more you'll learn how to build a bigger fort.
- Wanna make pillars? Use a container, fill it with snow, and place them on top of each other!
- Make sure not to make the snow fort too heavy, as this may cause it to cave in. Be safe.
- Built your fort away from branches as these could snap and destroy your fort.
Warnings
- Don't make the top of the fort too heavy. You don't want it to cave in.Thanks
- Try to select a position out of direct sunlight. This will help the fort last longer and reduce the risk of cave-ins.Thanks
- Do not stand on your fort, as it may break.Thanks
- Do not let animals into your fort that can destroy it.Thanks
- ALWAYS have somebody outside a snow fort, both when you're building and when you're spending time in the fort. NEVER enter it alone. Collapses happen, and you can suffocate if no one is around to help you out. [10] X Research sourceThanks
- Avoid building your fort near a parking lot. Carbon monoxide fumes might accumulate in the fort, which could lead to poisoning and death. [11] X Research sourceThanks
Things You'll Need
- Snow
- Snow gear
- A shovel (optional)
- A smaller shovel (such as a gardening trowel to clean out the inside of your fort)
- Tupperware container, cooler, or plastic bucket if using the snow brick method
- Spray bottle (optional)
- Water
- Food coloring (optional)
References
- ↑ http://www.popularmechanics.com/outdoors/recreation/5-tips-for-building-the-ultimate-snow-fort-16479111
- ↑ http://www.popularmechanics.com/outdoors/recreation/5-tips-for-building-the-ultimate-snow-fort-16479111
- ↑ http://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/how-to-make-the-best-snowfort-ever-451721/?no-ist
- ↑ http://www.popularmechanics.com/outdoors/recreation/5-tips-for-building-the-ultimate-snow-fort-16479111
- ↑ http://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/how-to-make-the-best-snowfort-ever-451721/?no-ist
- ↑ http://www.popularmechanics.com/outdoors/recreation/5-tips-for-building-the-ultimate-snow-fort-16479111
- ↑ http://www.popularmechanics.com/outdoors/recreation/5-tips-for-building-the-ultimate-snow-fort-16479111
- ↑ http://newsfeed.time.com/2014/01/21/7-tips-for-building-the-best-snow-fort-ever/
- ↑ http://newsfeed.time.com/2014/01/21/7-tips-for-building-the-best-snow-fort-ever/
About This Article
To build a snow fort, start by using a shovel or branch to mark the fort’s perimeter in the snow. Next, pack tight snowballs to stack into walls. If the snowball wall isn't strong enough, try filling plastic containers with snow and turning them upside down to make snow bricks! After the walls are in place, smooth them out and add extra snow for support where needed. Then, pour water over the fort for a protective layer of ice. To learn how to decorate your snow fort, keep reading!
Reader Success Stories
- "I made a snow fort for my little one and she really enjoys playing in it! I usually go and rebuild it every week or so to keep the fort from crumbling." ..." more