GOL DANG IT!!!!!!

[dakotamouse]

All week long I have been looking forward to playing in the snow this weekend. The grand plan was an IGLOO! I knew this would require some hard work but I was looking forward to it.

Now tell me what kid hasn't always wanted an igloo? Or for that matter a secret room behind a bookcase like the three stooges were always running across??

Well I figured this was my year. We have record amounts of snow here in North Dakota. I knew that you needed snow that was hard packed. The snow in the back yard seemed too fluffy, but the stuff the snow blower threw out seemed pretty hard.

NOT HARD ENOUGH!!! Dang it!!! I cut it and it just crumbled. OK plan B. I picked up one of those snow block maker molds from Menards. The snow is still too crumbly.

I'm grumbly.

My husband is having a great time laughing at me.

Oh, heck. At least I can do all the cross country sking I want......but dang I so wanted to build an igloo.....

[tinksdad]

Believe me!!! As somebody who used To live in the "snow belt" region; an igloo is no big thing!!! Once you get it built; you are tooooo cold to spend any time in it!!

As far as cross country skiing; I could post some pics; but they would probably get censored by the admins. They are just pics of me and the skis!!! They were taken at the local nudist park. Yeah!!!! I know; I'm craZY!!!!

[dakotamouse]

What nude skiing? Well son of a bucK!! And I thought it was warm here today! We've had an 80 degree swing in temperture over the last two days. Went sking today in a sweatshirt and snow pants. Actually was too hot.

People are getting a little bit of cabin fever up here in da nordth land. I wanna go camping!!!!!

[Miriam C.]

:o What nude skiing? Well son of a bucK!! And I thought it was warm here today! We've had an 80 degree swing in temperture over the last two days. Went sking today in a sweatshirt and snow pants. Actually was too hot.

People are getting a little bit of cabin fever up here in da nordth land. I wanna go camping!!!!!

Skiing is good. Sorry about the igloo though. That would be neat.

[Arne]

What can you do in an igloo you can't in a teardrop trailer parked in the snow?

reminds me, I have to pick up a box heater.......

Those people in Sweden who spend big bucks to stay in an ice hotel a brave, nuts, sensory deprived and have to much time and money on their hands... or, the reservations are made by a horny guy who wants to keep his woman closer than she wants to be.

http://www.icehotel.com/ I can't believe in all of Sweden, this is the no. 1 destination...... I guess extreme cold does that to you. numbs the brain.

remember, Eskimos stayed in igloos because all they had to build with was snow.... given their druthers, they would have picked a t/d trailer... with a heater.

[WarPony]

When we were kids we used to build igloos out of big, rolled up snowballs. It was a quite a chore because as you used up the snow near the igloo you'd have to roll the new "bricks" from further offsite. All the neighborhood kids would be involved so you had to make it big enough to fit everybody. Man, was it warm inside those things!!

Heck, you guys will need a good 40 degree day to make the snow sticky enough to make an igloo. Post pics if you get a chance.

Jeff

[M B Hamilton]

The traditional way to make a igloo is to cut blocks from a snow field where the snow has sintered. There is a one block high base layer and then the blocks are cut to create an ascending spiral which ends with a key-block at the top center. Each new block only contacts the structure at three points (bottom right, bottom left and top right - assuming a counter-clockwise spiral, as seen by the builder inside the igloo).

A wind-blown field may be the best place to find the snow you need. As there will be a lot of blocks, and they seem to get rather heavy after a while, build where you find the correct snow conditions. Use a standard carpenter's handsaw as your snow-knife.

If you can't find the right conditions for an igloo, how about building a quinzhee (snow mound, where you excavate the interior). After you make your snow mound you'll have to wait at least 20 minutes for the snow to sinter before you start digging it out.

Have some fun with it.

Mark

[Classic Finn]

What can you do in an igloo you can't in a teardrop trailer parked in the snow?

reminds me, I have to pick up a box heater.......

Those people in Sweden who spend big bucks to stay in an ice hotel a brave, nuts, sensory deprived and have to much time and money on their hands... or, the reservations are made by a horny guy who wants to keep his woman closer than she wants to be.

http://www.icehotel.com/ I can't believe in all of Sweden, this is the no. 1 destination...... I guess extreme cold does that to you. numbs the brain.

remember, Eskimos stayed in igloos because all they had to build with was snow.... given their druthers, they would have picked a t/d trailer... with a heater.

Arne we have an Ice Hotel and Ice Sauna in Finland. Nothing about the rich. And its not all to the words of sensory deprived. Not necessarily all about having a lot of money either. Here its for all ages and lifestyles.

Its a Domestic as well as an International tourist attraction. Also there is an ice church. It maybe new to some but for us it isnt. Take a trip to Scandinavia and see, you may enjoy it.

Also it is a big tourist attraction and it has been a huge success. Dont speculate if you dont know anything about it.

If you cant believe it Arne come and see for yourself.

Classic Finn

[Classic Finn]

Here ya go. Check this out. check the entire website in English too for you.

http://www.snowcastle.net/en/children/

Id say it also includes children.


This is not only the Swedes that have these.

Classic Finn

[Classic Finn]

What can you do in an igloo you can't in a teardrop trailer parked in the snow?

reminds me, I have to pick up a box heater.......

Those people in Sweden who spend big bucks to stay in an ice hotel a brave, nuts, sensory deprived and have to much time and money on their hands... or, the reservations are made by a horny guy who wants to keep his woman closer than she wants to be.

http://www.icehotel.com/ I can't believe in all of Sweden, this is the no. 1 destination...... I guess extreme cold does that to you. numbs the brain.

remember, Eskimos stayed in igloos because all they had to build with was snow.... given their druthers, they would have picked a t/d trailer... with a heater.

rreservations are made by a horny guy who wants to keep his woman closer than she wants to be.

Im a Travel Professional Myself & I think Id know what the no.1 attractions are dont you think? Especially being here right on location.

[Classic Finn]

Believe me!!! As somebody who used To live in the "snow belt" region; an igloo is no big thing!!! Once you get it built; you are tooooo cold to spend any time in it!!

As far as cross country skiing; I could post some pics; but they would probably get censored by the admins. They are just pics of me and the skis!!! They were taken at the local nudist park. Yeah!!!! I know; I'm craZY!!!!

Yes we also live in the Snow Belt. And if you are dressed proper it is not a problem to build an igloo if you so wish and enjoy the comforts of it. Weve done it on many occasion. You just dress warm and also have a right mind and soul for it.

Classic Finn

[Classic Finn]

All week long I have been looking forward to playing in the snow this weekend. The grand plan was an IGLOO! I knew this would require some hard work but I was looking forward to it.

Now tell me what kid hasn't always wanted an igloo? Or for that matter a secret room behind a bookcase like the three stooges were always running across??

Well I figured this was my year. We have record amounts of snow here in North Dakota. I knew that you needed snow that was hard packed. The snow in the back yard seemed too fluffy, but the stuff the snow blower threw out seemed pretty hard.

NOT HARD ENOUGH!!! Dang it!!! I cut it and it just crumbled. OK plan B. I picked up one of those snow block maker molds from Menards. The snow is still too crumbly.

I'm grumbly.

My husband is having a great time laughing at me.

Oh, heck. At least I can do all the cross country sking I want......but dang I so wanted to build an igloo.....

This is what we have and use.

http://www.varuste.net/tuotetiedot2.asp ... Iglumuotti

We have a lot of fun building them. As well as camping in them.

We use camping matresses or reindeer skins under us and sleeping bags.
And they are plenty warm even inside just a sleeping bag.

Here are instructions for building them (This one in the Finnish Language)
however there are photos there as well.

Classic Finn

[dakotamouse]

Got to do A LOT of xcountry skiing this weekend. Went up to the Cross Ranch State Park. They have a loop of trail that totals 10 miles.

The weather was really nice. We've done the entire 10 mile loop before and we intended to this time. Half way out the snow became sticky at some points we couldn't slide we actually had to walk in our skis.

The last quarter of the trail was messed up with hard, wind blown drifts. This was exactly the kind of snow I wanted for an igloo but after 7.5 miles of rough skiing I was in no shape or frame of mind to start excavating snow! All I wanted was to get home to a hot shower and a Blue Moon beer!!

In all of that trail there are only 4 or 5 down hill runs. On the last one a huge drift blew across the trail causing a cliff. By this time I was pooped! I sat on my skiis and slid down the cliff. Myron went for it and ended up doing a face plant!!

We had a good time but were both still kinda hurtin'!

This winter has been terrible on the wild life. We came across deer, twice, that had died. Whether from illness or starvation, I don't know. But they laid down for the night and never got up.

[dakotamouse]

[quote="


This is what we have and use.

http://www.varuste.net/tuotetiedot2.asp ... Iglumuotti

We have a lot of fun building them. As well as camping in them.

We use camping matresses or reindeer skins under us and sleeping bags.
And they are plenty warm even inside just a sleeping bag.

Here are instructions for building them (This one in the Finnish Language)
however there are photos there as well.

Classic Finn [/quote]




I saw an English ad for those. They were $175. My husband already thinks I'm nuts! That would cinch it.

I'm not giving up yet on my igloo. We still have 3 months of winter to go!

[Classic Finn]

Got to do A LOT of xcountry skiing this weekend. Went up to the Cross Ranch State Park. They have a loop of trail that totals 10 miles.

The weather was really nice. We've done the entire 10 mile loop before and we intended to this time. Half way out the snow became sticky at some points we couldn't slide we actually had to walk in our skis.

The last quarter of the trail was messed up with hard, wind blown drifts. This was exactly the kind of snow I wanted for an igloo but after 7.5 miles of rough skiing I was in no shape or frame of mind to start excavating snow! All I wanted was to get home to a hot shower and a Blue Moon beer!!

In all of that trail there are only 4 or 5 down hill runs. On the last one a huge drift blew across the trail causing a cliff. By this time I was pooped! I sat on my skiis and slid down the cliff. Myron went for it and ended up doing a face plant!!

We had a good time but were both still kinda hurtin'!

This winter has been terrible on the wild life. We came across deer, twice, that had died. Whether from illness or starvation, I don't know. But they laid down for the night and never got up.

Here Cross Country as well as ski jumping is a big wintertime sport for young and old alike. As well as camping in the snow. Our winters are terribly long and dark. So we do a lot of outdoor activities ourselves.

As far as harsh winters here we see a lot of animal carcasses due either as you say cold, starvation and who knows what caused my winter.

In our culture we even have children sleeping outside in their carriages dressed warmly. Anywhere from 20 minutes to 1 hour during the days.
And its healthy and the children do well.

Thats life in the Arctic and Scandinavia.

A good sauna after being outside wether skiing or sledding is very relaxing as well as refreshing.

Classic Finn