The time has come for our next installment of handy tips and techniques for winter camping and outdoor activities. Today, we are exploring snow caves and igloos.
When I was a kid, I remember setting out to build an igloo in the front yard. It was February in the middle of a Central New York winter. We had enough snow; I even had one of those handy igloo block makers. But, after packing freezing cold snow for about 30 minutes, I abandoned the project with only a few precariously stacked layers of the base of the igloo. I was in search of some hot cocoa in my real house, the one without holes in the wall… and a roof! My project proved to be useful for something. The “igloo” later became a shelter for my big brother who hurled snowballs at me, from behind the safety of my constructed wall. Oh well.
So, I admit, building an igloo is not an easy endeavor, but with the help of these diagrams and information on proper design from the Hurricane Island Outward Bound School Winter Handbook, you’re off to a good start!
Snow Caves
Snow caves and igloos are time-consuming to make and require a particular consistency and depth of snow, so they’re not the most efficient means of winter camping. But when conditions are right and time allows, snow shelters provide an afternoon of fun and a snug night of sleep.
You can dig a snow cave in the side of a deep slope of snow. Make sure that you’re not digging into a potential avalanche slope! If you lack enough snow for this, you can mound up a pile of snow, allow it to settle for an hour or two, and then excavate a cave, leaving two-foot thick walls.
Igloos
Traditional igloos are aesthetically pleasing and quite pleasant to sleep in, but constructing them properly requires great precision and patience. Each block should measure about 2 ½’ x 1 ½’ x ½’. Wind –packed snow works best for igloos. In Maine, open fields are the best possibilities. Like the snow trench, the igloo looks easier to build than it really is.
Good luck!
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