How to Make an Igloo With Powder
The igloo is the traditional shelter built by the Inuit people of Alaska and Canada and are still used today. A well-made igloo possesses the strength and durability to withstand harsh winter winds. Building an igloo from powdered snow is not an impossible task, but does take more time and planning than using hard packed snow. Understanding the correct building technique can be the difference between an untimely collapse and a safe, lasting structure.
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Instructions
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Stake the guide pole in the snow, tie a rope to the pole and measure 5 feet of rope. Tie a knot at that length. Hold the knot and walk around the pole with the rope fully extended. The circle created in the snow is the footprint for the igloo.
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Tamp down the snow within the 10 foot diameter until it is hard packed, creating a solid base on which to build.
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Create large blocks of snow by filling a block maker and packing it firmly. While the packed powder is still in the block maker, slowly pour about 1 cup of water over the block to help it harden.
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Set aside the filled block maker for 30 to 60 minutes. Fill other block makers during this time in the same manner. When the blocks are set, gently knock them out of the forms. Blocks will be approximately 2 feet long and 1 foot high.
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Build the igloo base by arranging the large blocks around the 10 foot diameter circle marked out earlier. Blocks should be set at a slight inward facing angle. Use a shovel to shape the blocks so they fit firmly against one another to form part of the circle without smashing the edges.
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Finish each row before beginning the next as you continue building upward, angling more steeply inward with each row and creating the dome shape. Adjust the size and shape of blocks as needed to fill in the top rows.
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Remove any loose snow that has accumulated on the inside of the igloo floor before building the top layers. Step outside the igloo and continue to build from the outside.
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Fill most, but not all, remaining gaps from the outside with loose snow and a light dusting of water. Leaving a few gaps will provide better ventilation.
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Allow the igloo to set all day or overnight undisturbed. The weight of the snow will press down and strengthen the dome.
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Dig a tunnel from the outside, well under the wall of the igloo to create an entrance. The tunnel method is the preferred entry method because it better keeps winter winds out of the igloo than an above-ground door.
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Create a 2 to 3 inch ventilation hole in the top of the igloo with a stick or pocketknife to allow fresh air circulation.
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Light a large candle inside the igloo to create a small amount of heat and melts a small amount of the snow on the inside walls of the igloo. Put out the candle and allow the walls to refreeze for additional durability. The igloo is now safe to sleep in.
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Tips & Warnings
Block makers can be purchased or hand made from wood.
If a wood form is used, spray the inside with a non-stick cooking spray to make releasing the block easier.
Building an igloo requires physical exertion. In cold weather situations, hypothermia is a risk.
Take frequent breaks, drink plenty of water and do not allow yourself to break a sweat in order to avoid hypothermia.
References
Resources
- Photo Credit igloo image by Vladislav Gajic from Fotolia.com
