Making Igloos

[Bladite]

IceBox brand Igloo Maker kit... lots of fresh snow.. let's make igloos!

first, interior shot day after with very wide angle lens:

base prepped, center stake inserted, pole adjust for first course, and first 3 partial blocks made:

half way around first course, you get the idea of how the form works from this angle:

and around, 1.5 courses:

when will it END?

skipped ahead :> more building, less futzing around:

it's so cute and small. well, not really small, 7 feet in diamter. smallest the kit can make, the dial goes to 12 (feet):

yup

Bladite

 

[Alberta Ed]

Cool!

Going to hit -31 in Canmore this weekend, but not enough snow for an igloo...

 

[Bladite]

Cool!

Going to hit -31 in Canmore this weekend, but not enough snow for an igloo...

wow, nice :>

20 dF here, -6 dF a few hours north of me. plenty of snow.

want a LOT more snow. many more shelters to make and test


Bladite

 

[Bushman5]

inside pics with a candle needed!

 

[Bladite]

inside pics with a candle needed!

it's not dark enough here...

but these are:

http://grandshelters.com/cool-igloo-pictures.html


Bladite

 

[DOC-CANADA]

Man, that's too cool (pun intended) for words!

Though I don't remember seeing one of those in any of the Inuit movies I've seen.

Doc

 

[dawsonbob]

Man, those are cool! I'll be making one just as soon as we have a massive snowfall here in San Diego.

 

[tonym]

Very cool, do you plan on spending night in there?

 

[Bladite]

Very cool, do you plan on spending night in there?

not yet, but maybe...


Bladite

 

[udtjim]

Yeah, maybe in July.

 

[pitdog]

My son last year....

 

[Bladite]

good times


Bladite

 

[Fonly]

Cool!

Going to hit -31 in Canmore this weekend, but not enough snow for an igloo...

Pfft, its minus 35 right now in GP, supposed to hit -42 tonight, and no, that doesn't include wind chill.

 

[kgd]

Its a bit funny to see an igloo next to an apartment complex. Wonder if the landlord can charge rent for that thing?

 

[mete]

The proper Inuit igloo is made by laying blocks in a continuous spiral not course by course ! And the blocks are cut out of snow with a SNOW KNIFE !

 

[AeroNautiCal]

Here's three owners reviews of the Grand Shelters Icebox, from BackPackGearTest.

Lots of great information and photograpgh, long term test reports, etc.

 

[Bladite]

The proper Inuit igloo is made by laying blocks in a continuous spiral not course by course ! And the blocks are cut out of snow with a SNOW KNIFE !

well, a full circle on such a spiral is called a course, by the IceboxIgloo people. it's built in a spiral... pretty traditional in nature. in my igloo's case, there are basically 5 full spiral courses, plus the ceiling.

the only key thing, is that one packs the snow in the frame, which allows for igloo making anywhere there is snow, in almost any conditions, with any snow...

unfortunately, the Inuit method requires pre-compressed snow that's JUST RIGHT. i do have a snow saw that i made, and i've used the technique, and it's wonderful... however, most of the time, in my area, that cannot be done.

snow caves, quinzees, and other structures are also possibly, but a LOT more work...


Bladite

 

[Bladite]

Here's three owners reviews of the Grand Shelters Icebox, from BackPackGearTest.

Lots of great information and photograpgh, long term test reports, etc.

there are quite a few videos on youtube as well.

the Icebox kit comes with a dvd. it's quite useful. i took the instructions, copied them at 90% size, double sided, and had them laminated for inclusion into the kit. weather proof, and USEFUL. it can be confusing.

i could also point y'all at:
http://www.sentex.net/~mwandel/winter/igloo.html
and
http://johanna.wandel.ca/babbles/archives/000230.html
http://johanna.wandel.ca/igloo/index.htm

for some fun stuff to consider


Bladite