Igloos

[campershell]

The post about camping in the snow made me think about igloos. Can you make something like that for a winter camp? Is it safe and won't cave in?

[thymas]

I grew up making snow forts that l called igloos, and I would spend hours inside. I think it depends on how much you pack the snow...each "brick" of snow needs to be able to fuse to the surrounding bricks. Just make sure that you don't light a fire inside and make your igloo melt

[Refrigerator]

I have one of these and works very well indeed.

ICEBOX - Igloo, winter camping tool, Grand Shelters

[Wild Rose]

I am not knowlegable in building igloos, but it sounds like a fun project. Last winter, we had a major snowstorm. We usually do not see much snow here. I was excited and built a snow dinosaur, my husband in a canoe, and a snow dog. By the time I realized I wanted to make an igloo, the snow was not sticking. I am definitely going to try an igloo out, first thing, if we have another big snow!

[Grandpa]

A few years ago, I saw an ad for an igloo vacation. A guy in Colorado had built some igloos that could only be reached by snow machine. He would haul you in and come get you and other than that I cannot remember the details. But I haven't been able to find out anything about it since so I guess it didn't go over so good as a business venture, unless I'm just not looking in the right places.

As for safe and not caving in, depends on if you make it correctly.

[Traveler]

I like to try building an igloo too. What material can you use in creating the blocks? How big should the blocks be so that it is not too light or too heavy for the igloo?

[Philly]

Originally Posted by thymas

Just make sure that you don't light a fire inside and make your igloo melt

I wonder how the Eskimos cook inside their igloos. How do the Eskimos do their igloos that it won't melt even if they cook inside their homes?

[Michael]

Originally Posted by Philly

I wonder how the Eskimos cook inside their igloos. How do the Eskimos do their igloos that it won't melt even if they cook inside their homes?

They use little trays with fat in them. You burn small hunks of fat and it works basically like an oil lamp. Well, it basically is an oil lamp.

They provide light and heat. If it's too cold to go outside and cook, you can use the things to cook small amounts of food at a time.

[carmen]

I think if you have enough snow you could but for us we are lucky to get snow. In our area we mostly get ice so we would need to travel to find enough snow but I would try it, at least once.

[thymas]

Originally Posted by Michael

They use little trays with fat in them. You burn small hunks of fat and it works basically like an oil lamp. Well, it basically is an oil lamp.

They provide light and heat. If it's too cold to go outside and cook, you can use the things to cook small amounts of food at a time.

I didn't know that. But it didn't make much sense to have a big roaring fire inside of an igloo. Now I'm excited for the next big snowfall so I can make another igloo!