What’s An Igloo?
The Inuit Indians or Eskimos developed the Igloo. It was a semi-permanent shelter often built on the edge of the pack ice to shelter hunters for the hunting season (anywhere from 3 to 6 months out of the year). It was usually built with ice blocks using a saw. Therefore, it’s not the most practical survival shelter and is the hardest to build, and you need packable or icy snow. With that said, whenever you talk about snow shelters, everyone always wants to learn how to build an Igloo. And with a few tricks, they can be constructed quite efficiently.
To build an Igloo, you cut blocks about 16 x16 inches by 8 inches thick and then spiral them up to form a dome. The biggest mistake is that people don’t lean the blocks enough and can never close the top and wind up with an open-air mini coliseum. That’s a lot of work, only to get to the end and not be able to finish. Now let’s learn the tricks that can make this a lot easier, and you can have success every time.
1. Step One
Like the Quinzee, you’ll need to stomp out a circle about 6 feet wide (my pack is in the middle).
2. Step Two
Also, you will need a block mining area for an igloo, so stomp out another location about the same size and square. Here’s what the mining area will look like after you start taking blocks out (I put a tree branch and the saw to give some contrast).
3. Step Three
With your shovel, dig a hole in the centre of your circle about waist high and cut your first block out. [NOTE: The trick here is to take blocks out of the centre of the shelter, that way, you are working down as you build up or working double time. You’re multiplying your efforts, and what normally takes five rows of blocks, you can do in three rows this way. Huge savings in time and effort.]
Now cut the first block. When cutting blocks, a saw is easiest, but you can do it with a shovel, and I’ve even seen people use a straight piece of plywood or a stick.
4. Step Four
Set the first block on the edge of your circle, lean it in and cut it at a 45-degree angle from end to end.
Here’s the cut, and I laid my glove on the top of the cut to give some contrast.
5. Step Five
Now cut whole blocks out of the middle and set them around the circle perimeter for your first complete row. Again, make sure you lean the blocks in; I can’t emphasize this enough, the first row is the foundation, and if you don’t lean them in, you will never close the top. There are always three points of contact, the bottom two corners and the top corner that touch the last block set. LEAN, LEAN, LEAN!
Remember to leave a bed and any other features you want as you cut blocks out. In this picture, I’m leaving a bed and a shelf.
The first complete row of blocks! Notice that I’m already two rows high and have only finished the first row. That’s what taking the blocks out of the bottom does; now, only three more rows go. Start the next row up the ramp and around.
6. Step Six
Finish setting the next two rows. Keep them leaning in, and when you’re done taking blocks out of the inside, cut a door and get the rest of the blocks from your mining area. Notice that it’s only three rows high compared to the traditional five-row Igloo. Again, that’s because you’re building down (by taking blocks out of the centre) while building up.
Here’s the door cut out. Again make sure the top of the door is a few inches below the bed for warmth. Also, I should probably mention my dog, Jenna; she’s not a bear, just a black Lab that won’t have any staying at home when there’s an adventure to be had in the outdoors. By the way, the shelf in photo 3 of Step 5 was for her and the gear.
7. Step Seven
Now it’s time for the final or capstone block, and if you’ve leaned the blocks properly, you should be able to bridge this gap; if not, you’ll know. You’ve probably broken your share of blocks by now, but the last One usually takes a few broken ones to get it right, so don’t despair. Here’s a look at the hole to fill.
By now, you’ve probably figured out that building an igloo is easier with two or more people. Especially when you try to set the last block, I did build this One by myself, other than Jenna barking me to hurry up. So you can do them solo, but it’s nicer with two.
8. Step Eight
Now chink or put snowballs in the big holes and then shovel some snow on the outside to fill all the little ones.
9. Step Nine
Punch a vent hole into the side about the size of a softball, at a 45-degree angle, halfway up the wall and not over your bed. Here’s the inside view of the vent hole.
10. Conclusion
Igloos are probably the hardest of the snow shelters to build but also one of the most satisfying. Here’s a picture of the finished product and my dog Jenna ready to climb in. I’m looking up a steep slope, but photos never show the angle very well, so I’m down below the shelter.
Here I am inside the Igloo. You can see the outline of the blocks; make sure to smooth out any rough spots for dripping. There’s also a lot of steam from working inside the shelter; it should settle when you slow down and acclimatizes a little.
Here’s a view from my bed at the doorway (remember from the past posts on snow shelter criteria to ensure the top of the door is lower than the bed area). Also, you can see part of the shelf where my pack is and Jenna will sleep, along with a little shelf for my water bottle and a candle for a little more warmth (again, look at the former posts).
Final Thoughts
You can use many things to cut blocks with, such as a stick, snowshoe, board, shovel, etc. But a snow saw is sure handy. This is a picture of a homemade one that I used.
Let’s rap it up, starting with the most common mistakes when building Igloos… Common Mistakes
- Not Enough Lean. Remember Lean, Lean, Lean. The most common mistake with igloos is not leaning the blocks in enough.
- Too Big. Remember, keep it small; it requires less energy, and it’s easy to build.
- Jagged Ceiling. Smooth the ceiling to prevent drips.
- Doorway to High. Remember to keep the beds higher than the top of the entrance to trap heat; also, make sure the door is not on the windward side and round.
While igloos are not the most practical shelter to build in an emergency, they can be fun. Remember, many people never practice their emergency skills or use their emergency gear until a true emergency happens. The only problem with that approach is that it’s a bad time to find out something doesn’t work, or you’re not sure how to do it. I can’t count how many times a student broke one of those wire saws from their survival kits or had one of those 99-cent reflective blankets rip in half in the wind. I’ve always emphasized that my students use and test their skills and gear to find out what works, so when the time comes that they truly do need them, they can count on them.
Remember, “repetition is the mother of skill”, and after you build a few, you’ll be an old pro.