Ice Fort Building: From Year 1 to 3

[FlexGunship]

So, my friends and I build ice forts each year (well, not last year... not enough snow). Each year they get a little more ambitious as we apply our previously learned trade-skills to the next generation. I thought I would share a bit here; we just started work on the third generation over this last weekend. Dimensions given are the outside wall dimensions and the walls are fairly thick (anywhere between 2' and 4' thick).

Sorry ladies, Flex isn't in ANY of these pictures.

First Generation (15'x25'):

Second Generation (18'x30'):

Third Generation (In Progress - ~20'x~45')

 

[Kevin_Axion]

Awesome forts! Haha, is the bandwidth warning for Canadians?

 

[FlexGunship]

Awesome forts! Haha, is the bandwidth warning for Canadians?

Meh, just trying to be polite. Some people don't enjoy the feeling of opening a photo-heavy thread only to have to wait 3 seconds.

 

[Kevin_Axion]

Yea, I was just wondering because there has been a lot of discussion over the past week with our telecommunications oligopoly. They have restricted the growth of U.S telecommunications companies into Canada and then they charge maximum amount with giving the least possible. Last week they reduced our internet usage from 60 GB to 25 GB and charge $2 for every 1 MB over. I know in the U.S it is common for people to get up to 500 GB, it's really unfair but I'm sure we have it better then other countries.

 

[dlgoff]

Meh, just trying to be polite. Some people don't enjoy the feeling of opening a photo-heavy thread only to have to wait 3 seconds.

Ever heard of dial-up?

 

[Astronuc]

Impressive structures FG!

 

[FlexGunship]

Impressive structures FG!

Thanks! They take a lot of man-hours. We did the base of the long wall in about 3 hours with 8 people working.

 

[berkeman]

The LEOs look happy. They just stop by to say hi?

 

[FlexGunship]

The LEOs look happy. They just stop by to say hi?

Kind of... they got a noise complaint. Told us to quite down, then, of course, wanted to hang for a few minutes. Also... how did you know what their signs were?

 

[mcknia07]

Ok, so I find that to be super cool! If I lived in an area where I could do that, I soooo would! Did you guys just get super bored? lol

 

[FlexGunship]

Ok, so I find that to be super cool! If I lived in an area where I could do that, I soooo would! Did you guys just get super bored? lol

No, not really, actually. Boredom didn't play a part. It was a pretty conscious decision.

"Let's do something awesome."
"Like what?"
"Build an awesome ice fort and throw a party."
"I'll get the paper and pencils."

 

[mcknia07]

No, not really, actually. Boredom didn't play a part. It was a pretty conscious decision.

"Let's do something awesome."
"Like what?"
"Build an awesome ice fort and throw a party."
"I'll get the paper and
pencils."

I find that super cool! Can I be your friend?? :)

 

[mugaliens]

A good ice cave/fort can be quite comfortable! I built a bona-fide igloo in Washington during the month-long January snow records of 2003. It lasted a month, and I spent a week of days roughout the month sleeping in it. I almost always had a small fire going, and used a thick thermarest pad beneath my sleeping bag. I don't think the temp got below 40 degrees on the inside, even when the temps on the outside was in the teens. Even more importantly, the internal thermal radiation is highly reflected back to the inside. When the fire is just to one side of the center, and the person is just to the other, the fire's heat reflection is fairly well focused on person.

It's little wonder a family snuggled in nothing more than bear-skin rugs in an iglo can survive 50 deg F below blizzards in style.

 

[FlexGunship]

I find that super cool! Can I be your friend?? :)

That would be great! Would you like an application?

 

[Topher925]

If you ever get the opportunity, I recommend you check out Michigan Tech's winter carnival.

[PLAIN]http://www.womansday.com/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/media/images/01-wd1209-fairy-tales/836701-1-eng-US/01-wd1209-Fairy-Tales.jpg

[URL]http://www.upfirst.com/UPfirstNaturalFridaysPictures/amtuice2.jpg[/URL]

I think you would fit in very well there.

 

[mcknia07]

That would be great! Would you like an application?

Yes please! :)

 

[fillipeano]

Beer pong on ice...YES.

 

[Borg]

If you ever get the opportunity, I recommend you check out Michigan Tech's winter carnival.

[PLAIN]http://www.womansday.com/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/media/images/01-wd1209-fairy-tales/836701-1-eng-US/01-wd1209-Fairy-Tales.jpg

[URL]http://www.upfirst.com/UPfirstNaturalFridaysPictures/amtuice2.jpg[/URL]

I think you would fit in very well there.

Brings back lots of memories.