Show K H BH BE a Bi H HH Bi B Ba Build An Igloo For Winter Fun By Jason Moses Feature Editor t Winter is upon us once again r and its it's time for us to start wondering wondering wondering won won- dering what to do with our winter winter win win- ter weekends If youre you're bored of skiing or snowboarding or would like to find something different to do heres here's a tion Winter Camping Winter camping is fun stress relieving and some one say spiritually rejuvenating Have you ever spied a cottontail frozen against a snowy background Have you ever seen the swirl of ice crystals crystals crystals crys crys- in the air on a sunny day Or how about the shish of snow breaking the silence as it slides down the side of a fir a hundred feet away If not its it's time you did o When you go winter camping camping camping camp camp- ing its it's a good idea to plan some activities to occupy some of the time and give you a break from hiking Here are two that I suggest suggest suggest sug sug- gest for every winter camping trip Drinking coffee and hot chocolate and building an igloo You need some extra things if youre you're building an igloo so Ill I'll just include them in the following following following follow follow- ing list of things needed for winter winter winter win win- ter camping First of all you'll need warm clothing The best way to dress is to layer clothes so they can be betaken betaken betaken taken off or put on as needed dependent on the temperature Some recommended clothes would be wool and down Down is light and warm wann but worthless when wet Wool is warm wann when wet but heavy and bulky as hell Its It's best for socks and gloves You will also need a good backpack backpack backpack back back- pack an insulated sleeping pad 5 or lower sleeping bag and anda a pair of telemark skis or snow shoes You will also need a snow saw and a tent You will want to bring a tent even if you plan to build an igloo Better safe than sorry All AIl these can be rented at most stores that sell camping gear Just pack up and youre you're ready to go Now for the igloo Igloos make excellent shelters Warmed with a candle they will stay relatively cozy using the snow as a natural insulator You Youcan Youcan Youcan can build one or more early in inthe inthe inthe the winter and reuse more comfortable and warm wann than a tent To build an aw igloo choose choose a flat area with deep snow Using your skis or snowshoes trample down an eight by eight area of snow This is where your igloo will stand After trampling the snow mark a grid of blocks about 8 inches thick and two feet wide cut the blocks and lift them out of the trampled area When all the blocks are out you will have the floor of your igloo Now determine where you want the entrance to your igloo Dig a trench in this spot The trench should be two feet wide and long and deep enough that you will be able to crawl under the wall of the igloo Now place your first two blocks so the meet half way over the center center center cen cen- ter of your trench Proceed to place blocks edge to edge in an eight foot circle When finished start a second level of blocks on top of the first fast Be certain to tilt it in slight slight- ly Doing this with each successive successive successive sive layer will tilt the walls into a dome Chink the cracks as you go along Be sure the blocks are stable before you let go of them As the walls become steeper one person may have to hold the blocks while the other chinks It may be necessary to cut some of the blocks to size as the walls close in at the top If you run out of blocks simply cut some more out of a nearby spot When the blocks are all in place and your igloo is well chinked inside and out shovel a bunch of snow on top This will provide extra insulation and protect protect protect pro pro- the igloo from the sun Now you have a permanent shelter from the elements that if not found by vandals will last the entire winter Now go have some hot chocolate as a reward for a job well done 4 a 4 t a 1 if i E Photo by Craig Craig and Jason Moses exit alt their tent to see a sparkling new day Due to their chronic lateness they didn't get started until very late the night before meaning no Igloo the first night A foot and a half of snow fell that night obscuring packs and equipment 4 4 r u 2 ty t- t y r 4 N 1 I In n Photo by Craig Igloo construction has began in earnest The site has been chosen and the snow has been trampled and is being cut for blocks The space I left ft after the removal of oC all the blocks will serve save as the floor of the igloo Cutting and removing the blocks is backbreaking but worth it it A r i r ky S' S r Lati q i ii if ih i h f E R s sa r a p r Photo by Craig This is were building an igloo really starts to get fun The first fast row of blocks is finished and the igloo is finally beginning to take shape Now each successive row will be tilted inward to create the dome shape 1 J JP b j L 4 p rd Photo by Craig A time for rejoicing The igloo is finished ready for use Extra snow can be shoveled on time to protect it from Crom the sun Craig and Jason will now go and drink hot chocolate until they fall Call asleep in the snow and die of hypothermia |