CONSTRUCTION: CHALLENGING 2 to 3 hours for two people. EQUIPMENT: Sawing instrument SEASON: Winter The Igloo shelter is not a shelter that should be built in an emergency situation as they are hard to build and may take several hours to complete. Therefore, don't wait until it gets dark to start building. The result however is an aesthetically pleasing looking shelter that is roomy warm and provides good shelter. KEY CONSTRUCTION REQUIREMENTS AND TOOLS There are four key requirements for building your Igloo. REQUIREMENT#1: Hard packed snow is essential for igloo construction as it is constructed of blocks of snow. The harder the snow, the easier it will be to cut and shape the blocks. You may not be able to determine how compressed the snow is until you cut out your first snow block. Locate an area of hard packed snow that is at least 12 inches or more in depth. The blocks should be at least 12 to 15 inches in height or length to facilitate ease of construction. If you cannot find hard packed snow then these options are available to you: Trample on the snow to pack it down. This will require you to add more snow to build up the depth or use a larger area Heap snow in large quantities and then let it sit for a few hours. This would be similar to building large mounds of snow for Quinzee shelter building. Pack snow into a box. A recycle box or a home-made ice box are Recycle items that can be used. Pack snow into the box and them tip it box out. This method is like making sand castles. Note that plastic bins become fragile in the cold weather. Once the blocks are made they Ice Box can be cut into smaller pieces. Authors: Paul Young-Davies, Chuck Fraser Page 1 of 5 REQUIREMENT#2: Snow Blocks: Effective and efficient building of an igloo dictates that the blocks should be cut as large as possible. The recommended size is 36 inches in length, 12 to 15 inches in height and 8 inches in depth. A block of this size can be cut up into two smaller blocks for construction. REQUIREMENT#3: Cutting Tools: You must have an instrument to cut blocks out of the hard packed snow. The cutting tool should have a thin cutting edge that is at least 12 to 18 inches long. A Snow Saw is the best tool to use, however this may be hard to find or expensive. (Cutting edge 12 to 18 inches in length) A Wood Saw. (Cutting edge 12 to 18 inches in length) Snow shovel with straight edge. (metal or plastic at least 12) REQUIREMENT#4: Two persons: A minimum of two people are needed. As the walls of the Igloo are built, one person must stay inside while the other hands the blocks over. The person inside will eventually be sealed inside the igloo and they must then cut their way out after the shelter is complete.
CONSTRUCTION PROCEDURE After you have created or located an area of hard packed snow, cut the slow into blocks. The blocks should be at least 3ft length, 12-15 inches in height and 8 inches in width. Lay the blocks in a circle that is large enough to accommodate all the people who plan to stay in the Igloo shelter. This is your first row of the Igloo shelter. It is very important to cut the edges of the blocks so that they fit together when you create the first row. When you fit the blocks together, the edges should point towards the centre of your Igloo. By doing this, you will create the circular shape of the Igloo shelter and it will help the robustness aspect of your shelter. Two blocks Shape edges Fit together After you have laid the first row, dig out the snow from the centre of the Igloo. This will lower the floor of the Igloo and then cut the blocks in a spiral fashion as shown. This angle will help you build up the walls of the shelter in a robust manner. Smooth the surface of the blocks with your cutting tool so they are as flat as possible. Cut a slight angle in the blocks which points to the centre of the Igloo. This angle helps each row of snow blocks lean inwards and form the rounded shape of the Igloo. Start the second row. Prior to placing the blocks on top of the first row, shape the bottom of each block with a slight curve. The two lower edges of block will crush when the block is placed and help anchor it in place. As you add new blocks ensure that they overlap the blocks in the lower row and lean inwards as you build up. This provides stability in the walls of your shelter. Make the blocks fit as tight as you can, but at this point do not be concerned about gaps between the blocks. Overlap Authors: Paul Young-Davies, Chuck Fraser Page 2 of 5
When each row is finished, smooth the top surface and continue to build up the walls. Ensure that each row curves towards the centre of the Igloo. Finishing the top of the Igloo: This is the most challenging part of building an Igloo. As the walls are built up they close in and the angle becomes more severe. The person on the inside has to be careful to position each block so it is secure and doesn t fall in. To avoid the blocks falling in, prop up the blocks with cross country ski poles or small spars. As the last row of blocks is completed, a small gap will be left at the top of the Igloo. The person outside will place the final block on the top of the Igloo and the person inside will shape it so that it fits into the hole, sealing themselves inside the Igloo. Thus is it important that they have a shovel to help them dig their way out. The person inside must dig their way out of the igloo. There are three means of doing this: Option 1: If there is ample snow depth, dig through the floor of the igloo under the walls. In doing so, a natural sink hole is created which will trap cold air and keep the heat inside the Igloo. Option 2:If there is not enough snow to dig down, then tunnel through the wall at ground level Option 3: Have the person on the outside create the entrance by digging through the Igloo wall. Igloo Entrance: Once the entrance hole has been created, it should be covered with snow blocks to give protection from the weather. There are three entrance designs to choose from as shown: Authors: Paul Young-Davies, Chuck Fraser Page 3 of 5
Regardless of the entrance design that you choose, keep in mind the following: Build a wall near the entrance to block the wind from blowing snow into the entrance. The entrance must be wide enough to crawl through wearing your winter clothing Wide enough to push your sleeping gear into the Igloo FINISHING YOUR IGLOO Now that you have now built your Igloo, the next step is to (1) fill in all the gaps between the blocks, (2) add ventilation holes and (3) setup your sleeping area Fill in the gaps: Start on the outside of the igloo. First, fill in any large gaps with small blocks of snow. Second, shovel snow over the Igloo and stuff snow into the smaller gaps with your hands. Smooth the inside: Fill in any gaps on the inside and then wipe your hands over the all of the inside to smooth it out. When you sleep in the Igloo, your breath will heat up the inside and it may drip. A smooth interior will to make sure that drips do not fall on you while you sleep. Ventilation holes. Add several ventilation holes about 1 inch in diameter all around the igloo as this stops blowing snow blocking a ventilation hole. Make sure that holes are on the upper part of the Igloo otherwise the wind may blow on you while you sleep making you feel the cold. If you do not create ventilation holes then you risk a build up of carbon dioxide from your breath. Setup your sleeping area higher than the entrance. This will save you from sleeping in an area where cold air may pool. PREHEAT YOUR IGLOO If you want to heat your igloo, then place a few candles in the centre of the Igloo once you have finished it. Light the candles and then seal the entrance. The heat from the candles will rise and make the upper part of the igloo melt. The Because of the dome design, the water flows down the sides will run down the sides of the igloo and soaks the blocks of snow. When the blocks are almost completely saturated with water, extinguish the candles and open the entrance. The cold air will freeze the water forming a thin ice shell on the inside. Caution: Do not place your sleeping gear in the Igloo while you have a naked flame in the Igloo. BEDDING: Do not lie on bare snow as it will drain your body heat very quickly. You will need insulation. This could be an air mattress, debris or cardboard sheets. If you use debris, make it thick enough to cover the area you plan to lay on. Choose material that you would like to sleep on. EXTENDING YOUR IGLOO An Igloo is a great shelter for one or two people. More than two people will the Igloo a significant amount of effort and a cramped shelter. Rather than build an extra large Igloo, consider building one Igloo and then adding extensions to it. The choice is yours. Extending your Igloo makes a fun overnight experience as more people can sleep together. Authors: Paul Young-Davies, Chuck Fraser Page 4 of 5
KEY TIPS SNOW BLOCKS: If the snow is not hard packed, use a snow box to make your snow blocks TIME: This shelter takes several hours to build. Do not build this shelter late in the day. WIND: Erect a small wall to block wind from blowing snow in the entrance. VENTILATION HOLES: Create ventilation holes all around the shelter. This stops blowing snow from blocking up your ventilation holes. TWO PEOPLE: An Igloo is very hard to build with one person, especially as the Igloo roof is completed. HEIGHT: Taller is not better. Do not build your Igloo above head height. Tall shelters take more time, energy, and resources to build and take longer to heat up in the winter. ROBUSTNESS: Seal all of the gaps in the blocks and smooth the inside. This will improve the airworthiness of your shelter. Do not build your Igloo underneath tree limbs as inclement weather may cause tree limbs or large amounts of snow to fall on to your shelter. FIRE A small fire can be setup in front of this shelter to provide warmth. ADVANTAGES All round protection from the weather Robust design provides excellent shelter Shelter can last several days DISADVANTAGES Requires packed snow which may not be readily available Takes a long time to build Construction is complex and require careful planning Requires more than one person to construct Authors: Paul Young-Davies, Chuck Fraser Page 5 of 5