This is an eyewitness report from the NowPublic member Pasi who was on the scene.
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Snow Survival is an event at Jyväskylä Finland, where local reserve soldiers make up "snow igloo" and sleep one night inside them. Event was canceled last year, because the lack of snow, but now there sure is enough snow.
This year I decided to write a story about the event and even participate it, to get a better view about "snow survival".
Event goes like this.
10:00 we started to build up the snow igloos and managed to make three in two hours. Then we'll have to wait some time, that the "roof" gets harder. (while writing, we are having this break)
16:00 we will continue and dig the chambers inside the igloos. And then we'll have to wait again. And as we are Finns, we'll go to sauna during this time.
about 22:00 we'll go to sleep and hope to survive to the mornings. It should be only -5C, so it is not going to be very cold. I'm a little bit worried because I have asthma, which does not like cold air, but we'll see, what will happen.
06:00 we will wake up, and we will have to brake the igloos, because they can be dangerous for small children, if (when) they collapse.
Pasi
Jyväskylä, Keski-Suomi, Finland
arcticroute.com
Italy
Jo Sand-Mann
United Kingdom
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Paschen
Narita, Chiba, Japan
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Negros Oriental, Philippines
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La Paz, Mexico
Most RecentMost Recommended Comments (8)
at 03:55 on February 27th, 2009
Raising the floor from the entrance 6 inches or so and using a candle can make an igloo more of a warmer environment. Done it and wore the T-shirt. Hope you had fun I did and my army sleeping bag actually was like toast and I woke in the morning's sweating. Also I have used the same method cutting out a ice cave in a snow drift as part of a snow survival exercise.
Brrrr. now you made my shiver even though I am sweating in this tropical heat. lol
Don't change your clothes as things like dirty socks etc help keep you warm, lol
at 04:31 on February 27th, 2009
Snow and Ice block are the best insulation, We used to pack snow against the Log house and on the roof to insulate it, same Idea as an igloo. In a way it easier to protect one self against the cold then it is against the heat with very little, just snow and Ice. Why Global warming is no good news.
at 06:34 on February 27th, 2009
Got your email and I guess you did not want to be picked on for self promotion, firefox is causing me a great problem as I was going to place the Flash file on the forum here as a guessing game of who is this member.
But my friend Pasi I decided to point to a very cool Pasi on Ice somewhere near father Christmas's reigndeer ranch, lol
Pasi on Ice
Looking good mate, looking good. I gather there could be a cool chick somewhere, but who can tell with all those bulky clothes you finish people have to wear. Now I am beginning to understand how Finland is liberated as every body want's to get the cloths off and jump in the nearest hot pool or hot house. You must get sweaty under all that clothing, lol
at 07:18 on February 27th, 2009
good stuff, i had visited Jyväskylä years ago. maybe one day i will visit again and i can come watch the Snow Survival event
at 07:20 on February 27th, 2009
God does that bring back memories for me! Brrrrrrrrrrrrr!
at 08:24 on February 27th, 2009
A good and entertaining piece - thanks!
at 08:29 on February 27th, 2009
Really good contribution - good example of value of blogging and alternative form of journalism. What is the size of the igloo? Do you carry torch or lamp?
at 02:32 on February 28th, 2009
There was room for 3-4 persons. We had candles inside and while digging, we did not need light at all.