snow (at least 3" on the ground and a decent size yard)
a cube-shaped mold (Target sells white Itso storage cubes)
a shovel
Ideal weather conditions: the snow has to be wet and packable, so right after a rain shower, or on a mild day (upper 30s-low 40s)
first, map out a location and make a blueprint:
Then just make blocks using the mold, remember to pack it in good. turn the mold upside down and it should slide out. place blocks in a square shape:
to make the roof, you need to have some patience, and the snow should be very wet. Take chunks of snow (or half-blocks) and smoosh them into the top corners, slowly forming a dome shape. this year, i was actually able to take chunks of ice from a nearby pond and place them over the top, then i shoveled snow on top of that. the snow you add to the top will bond to the existing roof and make it stronger. a couple of cold nights and the igloo should be hardened.
now, if you're like me, just leaving it like that isnt enough. from here, I use the shovel and just slather on shovelfulls of snow to the sides and the top of the igloo when the snow is still wet. eventually it will become round and much thicker. I use some blocks to make the entrance tunnel and then i just mold it to the shape I want. I am able to fit inside it and you can go inside to smooth out the inside walls. its about 40" high X 45" wide X45" long inside (big enough to sit up, or lay down comfortably in)
the finished product:
the walls of the igloo are about 30" thick, allowing it to last through any prolonged warm spell or driving rainstorm we might have this winter!
if we get more snow, i will use it to make it even thicker, and i may expand the inside to make it bigger. I will post pics of my progress!
