A Night In My ALASKAN IGLOO At 20 Degrees Below Zero

I recorded this video in January of 2021 during a prolonged cold spell here in the Interior of Alaska. I had built this igloo a couple of weeks earlier and had used it several times already. On this trip, I wanted to see if I could capture the experience of arriving at the igloo and setting up camp in the deep cold. I wanted the viewer to experience the gradual warming of the interior space, to the point were I could comfortably remove my gloves and relax on my sleeping cot for the night.

The camp stove is the same one I use in my Arctic Oven Igloo tent in my other video. It is made by Kni-Co Manufacturing. It is the Trekker model. I like it for several reasons. It is collapsable and all the parts store inside the stove. It can throw the heat too. It could easily raise the temperature in this igloo to the point where the snow would begin to melt. So I keep the stove damped down so the interior air temperatures high up in the dome stays under 32 degrees. As you can imagine the floor where I sleep is much cooler.

As in all my winter camps, I do not count on a stove or fire to keep me warm at night. Wether in a tent or igloo or just out under the northern lights, I always let the fire die out. I rely on my sleeping system to keep me comfortable. With a properly rated sleeping bag I can roll out by bed under the stars at -20 degrees (-28ºC) and stay very warm all night long.

The real benefit of the igloo is that it provides an excellent shelter. It is completely windproof. If and interior temperature of 30 degrees (-1ºC) seems chilly to you, remember, that it is fifty degrees warmer than the outside temperature tonight. That, along with no wind, is a great improvement my friend.

This week I am traveling to Kodiak Island (Alaska's Emerald Isle). I will be packing my camera along and will be on the lookout for wonderful things to share with all of you when I return. Meanwhile, this week, I am excited to share this different sort of a video with you. Let me know what you think. I had a ton of fun making it.

Peace to you my friends.