I can confirm the Big Igloo is still standing!!

My prelim exams finished on Tuesday but I decided to wait for my mate, Gav to return from his holiday ski-ing in France on Thursday before venturing up to Aviemore to spend the night in the Igloo.

We got dropped off at the Glenmore lodge around three and got kitted up for the walk in. The car park was hoaching and we were getting some strange looks and comments - we had decided to take the tent in case a) the igloo had melted or b) we couldn't find it I would say to all those people who see two boys getting kitted out with winter outdoor walking gear and packing a tent then "yes, we are going camping"!

The track as far as An Lochan Uaine was easy walking, many skis, dog sleighs and boots having gone before us. We were making good time and with time to spare before it got dark and using the axe to test the ice on the lochan we spent some time being boys!



After the lochan the going got a wee bit more tricky...the snow getting deeper and in some places no track as such to follow



The light was beginning to fade when we spotted the igloo, just before the bridge over the Nethy. Neither of us have ever spent the night in an igloo, we were both looking forward to it. The wind had started to pick up and we were getting hungry. It was good just to be able to hunker down with some shelter.



The structure is still standing up well, although part of the roof has started to come down. If there had been more time, more daylight and less wind we could have headed back to the trees to find some roof supports but hunger won the day and we figured we would be OK as long as we slept away from the "cave in". Candles lit and tinned macaroni for supper! I guess it must have been about minus eight outside but we reckon the temperature inside was about freezing or just above - and we know this because the stove worked!







How did we sleep? Very well actually!! With the temperature as cold as it was and with the wind howling we both agreed that the igloo beat a tent. Next time we would make sure that we had better (more insulated) roll mats or gathered heather or moss to give us an extra layer between the floor and our bags. Our feet, where they were poking off the end of our mats got cold. We didn't wake up until after eight o'clock so we must have been comfortable and when we emerged for natures first call in the morning the difference between the temperature in the igloo and outside was very, very noticeable! The stove was still working as well so hot chocolate for breakfast.

It must have been windy over night because our foot prints from the walk in had totally disappeared, even in the very deep snow.



We were being picked up at around three so we had plenty of time for some exploring and soon headed back to the lochan...here we thought it would be funny to pitch the tent on the lochan - very mature I know but it created a photo opportunity for those out and about



A great mini adventure and "sleeping in an igloo" has now been ticked off - thank you Paul and co. I hope all this white stuff is still about for the next school break which will be in February...a night in a snow cave!!