From the moment snow started falling this winter, Junior Alex Wilson and many other students have been constructing a giant igloo in his backyard. A huge rainstorm and temperature in the high 50’s put a temporary delay on the project, but the students rebuilt the igloo bigger and better when the next snow arrived.
When asked why he wanted to build and igloo, Wilson simply replied, “It’s fun.”
Soon after construction started, Wilson started inviting other students over to help with the project. Juniors Katelyn Reynolds, Maggie Heraty, Rita Witteman, and Brittany Hite all started coming to help once they found out about the igloo project. |
Junior Alex Wilson stands triumphantly atop his homemade igloo. Wilson |
When asked about her motivation to help build, Hite said, “It’s an igloo, who wouldn’t want to build an igloo?”
Reynolds also commented about her motivation, stating, “I’ve never built an igloo before and it seemed interesting. It has been an amazing thing to be a part of.”
Instead of a traditional igloo built of ice blocks, Wilson employs a different method.
He describes the basic igloo construction process as “Piling up a bunch or snow, packing it down, and then hollowing it out.”
Currently, the igloo is around ten feet tall and twenty feet in diameter; however there are hopes for the igloo to get bigger when more snow falls. Inside the dimensions are roughly 7’x7’x6’.
Concerning the size of the igloo, Witteman said, “I would like to see the igloo get to thirty feet in diameter, along with more room inside.” |
Wilson told me that, currently, the igloo could sleep four without being too uncomfortable. He thinks that almost twenty people could pack themselves into the inside as well.
Wilson braved the cold one weekend and ventured into the igloo for a night’s sleep. He said, “The experience was thrilling, a bit cold admittedly, but well worth it.”
When asked about the possibility of sleeping in the igloo, a smile shot across Heraty’s face as she said, “Oh yeah.”
Everyone involved in the project stressed how amazing the igloo is and that others should see it because it really is a sight. Wilson said help is always welcome and those interested should just stop by on a snowy day.
--Submitted by Bradley Wilson, Staff Reporter |
