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The Big Igloo build

The Big Igloo build


Postby Paul Webster » Sun Jan 20, 2013 10:06 pm

Date walked: 19/01/2013

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A different trip into the hills this weekend.... the Big Igloo build, together with Helen, Walkhighlands' gear editor Phil Turner, photographer/blogger David Lintern and partner Tanya, plus expert help from Chris Townsend who happens to be an igloo guru. Assistance also from filmmaker Terry Abrahams.

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Chris and Phil getting started

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2nd row

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Women work whilst men point

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Tough working and it's taking a long time...

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A very long time

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11.30pm and it's miraculously finished. 6'7" high inside and 11 feet across, very comfortably slept 5 of us.

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The effort has taken its toll

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Igloo in the morning.

The igloo may be around for a while, would be great to see others' photos of it over the next week or two and hear from anyone else who stays the night in it!

David has made a time-lapse video of the igloo construction, which just has to be shared here:
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Re: The Big Igloo build

Postby ChrisW » Sun Jan 20, 2013 10:15 pm

This is awesome Paul, if I was still over there I'd make a trip just to stay in it :lol:
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Re: The Big Igloo build

Postby Graeme D » Sun Jan 20, 2013 10:24 pm

Superb! :clap: Where is it?
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Re: The Big Igloo build

Postby SusieThePensioner » Sun Jan 20, 2013 10:25 pm

Great!! :thumbup:
Have you got plans for anymore? :lol:
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Re: The Big Igloo build

Postby The Rodmiester » Sun Jan 20, 2013 10:44 pm

Very impressive! I wonder where it can be? :)
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Re: The Big Igloo build

Postby Silverhill » Sun Jan 20, 2013 10:53 pm

Looks like good fun (and hard work)! 8)
This is a good one for 'Where is the pic - Scotland'. :lol:
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Re: The Big Igloo build

Postby andyfitz » Sun Jan 20, 2013 11:07 pm

Why am I not surprised that Mr Townsend is an expert in igloo building - as well as just about everything else!
How long did that take? I might have been tempted to retire to the tent with a refreshment long before 11.30.
Ryvoan?
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Re: The Big Igloo build

Postby JonAksel » Sun Jan 20, 2013 11:14 pm

Just great.
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Re: The Big Igloo build

Postby Alastair S » Sun Jan 20, 2013 11:33 pm

Great effort - well done all, especially as there doesn't look to be a huge amount of snow about :clap: :clap: :clap:
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Re: The Big Igloo build

Postby gaffr » Mon Jan 21, 2013 8:40 am

I guess that you would have to beat the hell out of that fluffy snow to work it into a useable block?
An interesting tool with the 'radius pole thing' and it all set to give you the correct tilt on the blocks?
Big problem, with that type of snow, would be getting into shelter quickly. Is it much quicker to construct the shelter with different types of snow? I have made an igloo with others using the available wind blown stuff which was easily cut into blocks from our 'wee snow quarry'.
I once watched a bloke in the Monadhliaths, at around 600 metres, beating the air out of snow, much more than you folks had, and to give him his due he eventually made a fairly solid mound of snow which he then hollowed it out to form a shelter to stay in. I found an alternative form of shelter requiring a great deal less effort. :)
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Re: The Big Igloo build

Postby bootsandpaddles » Mon Jan 21, 2013 9:17 am

That gadget looks like cheating to me! :lol: I don't think Inuit use those. :roll: Looks impressive though.
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Re: The Big Igloo build

Postby Paul Webster » Mon Jan 21, 2013 10:21 am

beat the hell out of that fluffy snow to work it into a useable block?

I tried that and knocked some of it back down - best to press it hard.

An interesting tool with the 'radius pole thing' and it all set to give you the correct tilt on the blocks?

In theory - although we got something wrong with the angles and after about 4 or 5 feet high the radius didn't reach anymore, so the roof was held up on the heads of people balancing whilst standing on top of a rubble sack packed with snow (and it got pretty icy in there well before the end :crazy: ) Hard for those outside to get the snow high enough too - worse bit for me was taking several direct facial hits late on from shovelfuls of snow thrown up :lol:
I've never built one before but yes expect it would be quicker with more snow - we had to fetch it from round about. And without the ice-box you'd need harder snow I think.

How long did that take? I might have been tempted to retire to the tent with a refreshment long before 11.30.
Ryvoan?

It took us 10 hours :crazy: - though it was a very big igloo. We did have a tea tent and enough of us to swap jobs about.

It's by the bridge over the Nethy on the approach to Bynack More / Lairig an Laoigh. If anyone does go it would be great to see photies.
More details on the build on Chris Townsend's blog.
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Re: The Big Igloo build

Postby MattyAnderson » Mon Jan 21, 2013 5:03 pm

that looks awe...some Paul! And I just happen to be on study leave this week - last exam is tomorrow and the rest of the week off :clap: :clap: :clap:

If I can bag a lift from dear mum or big bro I'm off up there to spend the night on Tuesday or Wednesday night. Was planning a night on Knock Hill in the tent this week but this looks way more fun.

The snow never really came to much where we are and all I could manage was a stick and moss construction - windproof and dry but not nearly as impressive as your igloo :?

Will take photos of mini adventure and post on return
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Re: The Big Igloo build

Postby Klaasloopt » Mon Jan 21, 2013 6:33 pm

Great! :clap: Hard work too. My daughter thinks it's a cool thing and immediately proposed to build one outside our front door. After yesterday's blizzard there's more than enough snow on the streets here in Holland, but it's of the wind-blown, sand-like kind.
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Re: The Big Igloo build

Postby hills » Mon Jan 21, 2013 8:49 pm

Thats different, looks great, well done on doing something unusual, igloos in scotland... :lol: What next? Ice Hotel??
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