It has been rather chilly here since then. No snow on the ground, of course. The leaves haven't even fully left their roosts in the branches. But... it has got me thinking about a little camping and bushcraft.
I want to build an igloo.
I could build it the old-fashioned way:
How to Build an IglooBut browsing the old inter-web, I came across a site. And now I know what I want for Christmas. I want a Grand Shelters Icebox.
Douglas Wilkinson, 1949, 10 min 27 s
The ICEBOX® igloo construction tool is used for igloo building by creating sequential blocks in place. You set the clamps on the form then fill it while packing. after you have filled it you unclamp it and slide it to the next position. A pole with 8 adjustments, 1 for each layer is used to build igloos with the correct catenary shape and to help support the weight of the snow and form while packing the snow. After finishing 6 rows of the igloo you remove the outside of the form as the wall is now leaning in far enough so the snow can be packed from the outside. The snow only needs to hold its form well enough to stay in place until you start the next block. 8 total rows are built including the final cap.
I am listening to some music tonight. Please join me in the enjoyment of some knee-slapping, toe-tapping ditties.
Led Zeppelin - In My Time Of Dying
Neil Young - Don't Let it Bring You Down
Pink Floyd Live At Pompeii - Echoes (Part 2)
Porno For Pyros - Cursed Female
Hope you're having a nice evening.
Mungo
9 Bahs!:
Mungo,
I grew up in Montreal and the mountains north of Quebec City - I learned young about the cold and snow.
I built my first small igloo when I was 10 with my Dad - it seems like yesterday, although it was close to 50 years ago. I hope that you and young Mungo will be able to make similar memories while building one.
If you decide to build one in the valley after a good buildup of snow, I would suggest that you build it on the shady side so that it lasts a few weeks. For your first one, start early after sun up and if you are lucky and the snow is right, you may have a small shelter by dusk.
Regards from the other side,
Dan
Teach a man to build an iglu and he can build one all his life. Give him a gimmick and he can build one only with a gimmick. - ancient Inuit saying (maybe)
Igloos are great fun, although in the UK we don't really get enough snow for them, which is a shame.
I'd agree - you don't need a fancy tool. I built one on the top of the Brecon Beacons once using just my bare hands. OK, so it was only big enough to sit upright in, and I got mild frostbite, but I did it.
Wander out with a snow shovel and start cutting some blocks. It's quite satisfying getting them the right shape - like carving very soft wood.
The Ice Box is much more than a fancy tool or a gimmick. Perhaps the people commenting on it could share their experience of using it? Or maybe they've never even seen it? With the Ice Box you can build igloos from powder and sugar snow that can't be cut into blocks as well as every other type of snow. I've used on on winter trips in Yellowstone the last two winters and it's excellent. Working as a ski tour leader and instructor I taught snow shelter building - snow holes, snow trenches, snow domes and more - for many years and the Ice Box makes shelter building easier and more comfortable (you don't get wet from snow in your clothes).
Because the weather here in Toronto, Ontario isn't always super super cold, the snow probably isn't the best for cutting out blocks. I suspect that the Ice Box is perfect for snow like we have here, sometimes damp, sometimes simply powdery. I totally understand the concept that it is something you'd probably not want to have to rely upon way up north - in case it broke, and you didn't have experience building something else. But for me, I think it would be good.
In the same way that I know how to make a shelter with a knife and some string, I would love to have a Hilleberg Akto tent (maybe my wife will read this...), but wouldn't rely 100% having this useful item.
And as promised, if I get an Ice Box, I'll post elaborate photos of my resulting creation...
Cheers,
Mungo
In Yellowstone we built igloos out of powder and sugar snow with the Ice Box in temperatures down to -25C. It's functional at those temperatures. Breaking it would be hard though you do have to keep track of the parts. Knowing how to build different types of shelter is a good idea for trips in snowy mountains, wherever they are.
If this is a picture of one of the igloos you built - then it looks terrific.
I was in Yellowstone years ago, but during August. I'll bet you had at terrific time. Would love to hear one of your talks about the journey... but alas, it would be a heck of a hike to get to Edinburgh from Toronto... :-)
Cheers,
Mungo
Yes, that's one of the igloos from this year's trip.
I first visited Yellowstone in August many years ago. It's impressive at any time.
I'll let you know if I'm giving any talks anywhere near Toronto :-)
Cheers,
Chris
Ray Mears' Northern Wilderness has an episode on building an Igloo. Nice to see them looking for the right kin of snow to start building.
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