While my packing time is still overly slow, an 8' has been built!
I'd been arranging to build this at the Norquay ski area, but we got a good snowfall in the Banff townsite last week. This is built in the parking lot of a recreation area near where I live. It can't be used for camping, but I wasn't intending to do that with the first one anyway.
With all the attention this one has received since Sunday night's completion I don't think I'll run my insulation experiment in it...I'll build a 7' and poke holes in that instead. It'll be much easier to reach all parts of the igloo that way anyway.
I have to wonder - is there an easier way to build a big pad? It took me about 2 hours to convert the plowed pile into my pad. I felt it was quicker to convert the pile than gather the snow for one from scratch. While I've snowshoes I felt I was better off breaking it up & packing it down with my boots. I was glad to have made the pad the day before the build though - nice to be on a more solid surface and not wear away the footholds so much.
No support system was used overnight for this igloo; we figured that the 4th level didn't hand inwards enough to be a sagging concern.
Though I've good gloves, I find my hands still end up getting cold while packing. I'm considering using some kind of curved packing tool instead to avoid this...
Final thought of the build: my shoveller almost mis-read the plumb-bob hanging off the side of the form during the 1st level, and it's even harder to read as the packer. I'm considering temporarily attaching a torpedo level. Could be quicker for solo building as well?
It was nice to see the small flag catch the wind as it does.
