How To Build an Igloo
An igloo is a protective shelter for people during snowy wilderness. We provide you tips on how to build a simple igloo.
- First locate an area with quite a few feet of hard-packed snow. Even if the top layer is fresh powder you can get harder, icier layers after digging down.
- After digging a pit to stand in, cut out uniform blocks of snow using a saw on either side of the pit. After lifting them out, slowly place them on top of the snow to harden again while continuing cutting.
- Cut large blocks that can be carried.
- After marking a large circle in the snow, lay blocks all around. Bend these blocks in about 15 degrees by trimming them to get the accurate shape using a hatchet.
- The next row of blocks should be placed on the first and stagger them on the blocks underneath like bricks. By trimming and shaping each row bent a little further to the center of the circle.
- Let a helper be positioned inside the igloo with a shovel so that he/she can remove the snow from the floor of the igloo in such a way that it is few feet lower than the first row of blocks. In this way your igloo will not become too tall.
- Let your helper trim the last block of snow and shove it into the last open space from the inside of the igloo.
- After cutting out a semi-circular entrance on the downwind side of the igloo, remove snow in front of the entrance until it is even with the floor inside. Building a tube-like structure at the entrance will keep the snow and wind out.
- Pack the spaces between the blocks using snow from both outside and inside the igloo air tightly.
- Cutting a couple of small holes in the top of the igloo will provide air exchange. This prevents asphyxiation.
- Smoothing the inside of the igloo with your gloved hands will allow less dripping of water. Using heat source will warm the interior and help in easy smoothing.
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Source: http://www.ghowto.com/outdoors/how-to-build-an-igloo.html
