Dunedin chainsaw artist carves snow cave

Jim Leithead has created a cool hangout for his friends.

The Dunedin based artist has carved a snow cave at an undisclosed location in his neighbourhood.

With the help of friend Jeff Smith and others, Leithead has spent weeks building a snow fort fit for all ages.

As a chainsaw artist, Leithead usually works with wood but inspired by the snow, he turned his attention to the creation of a snow cave.

Having studied outdoor recreation, Leithead said he has built snow shelters, or quinzhees, in the past but not to this scale.

He said it was on the first Family Day holiday in Ontario, in 2008, that he decided to build a big snow fort and host a party, which he did and did again the following year.

“This is the third one and by far the biggest,” said Leithead.

The structure is more than 40 feet in length, including a lounge and entrance way.

Leithead said he started by making a big pile of snow and let it settle, then block-by-block the snow was cut out with a chainsaw and transported out of the cave on a sleigh. 

The cave is equipped with a woodstove, bar and seating covered in furs that Leithead has tanned himself. It is lit at night with candles and a bicycle wheel chandelier.

Leithead said he and Smith slept in the quinzhee on the weekend and while it was below -30˚C outside, it was just below zero degrees inside.

He continues to change the design

“I am constantly reworking it,” he said.

Leithead has ideas for other snow structures and would like to build them for others.

Known as Cedar Fox Sculpture, Leithead also works in metal and other materials. Visit cedarfox.com.