How to Stay Warm in an Igloo

Posted by Anonymous , 9/4/2007 Tags:StayWarmIgloo
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How to Stay Warm in an Igloo

Introduction

For anyone other than an Intuit or someone who has spent time living with them, the idea of staying warm in an igloo probably conjures up images of a generator, space heater, massive down parka and perhaps 8 or 9 blankets. Those images are surprisingly inaccurate. Discover how easy it is to be comfortable in an igloo.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Steps

1

Step One

Make sure that the doorway to your igloo has an appropriate entrancea??one with a good windbreak situated at the level of the igloo floor.
2

Step Two

Make sure that the igloo has appropriate ventilationa??a hole roughly the diameter of a person's arm cut 2/3 of the way up the leeward igloo wall. The hole should not be higher than this or too much heat will escape from the igloo's interior.
3

Step Three

Insulate the igloo floor with any available pine needles, boughs or dead vegetation spread over the floor to a depth of 3 or 4 inches.
4

Step Four

For a heat source, a single lit candle will suffice. The radiated heat and reflected radiant heat will actually melt a thin layer of the interior igloo wall. This then refreezes and establishes a wall of ice insulation.
5

Step Five

Pay attention to the floor covering while the candle is lit. As the vegetation dries out, it obviously becomes increasingly flammable.
6

Step Six

Extinguish the candle as body heat further warms the igloo.

Tips & Warnings

  • If more than one person occupies an igloo, body heat may allow the temperature to increase to a level where heavy outer garments may be removed.
  • It is important to not have the igloo door dip down below the level of the igloo floor. If it does, this creates what is called a carbon dioxide trap.
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