I've asked this question over on British Blades but thought I'd ask here to see if anyone else could give a helpful answer...
I try to spend as much time as I can in the French Alps during the winter. Something I've often fancied trying, especially as it has some pretty important survival uses if one is stuck in the back country for some reason, is building an igloo.
I know a lot of people use a snow saw for such a task, but the more traditional method is by using a "snow knife". I believe the proper name for them is Pana.
Apparently they could be bought from trading posts in Northern Canada for about the price of a fox skin - presumably quite cheap.
Does anyone know where I could go about getting one and how much they are likely to cost?
The snow will probably start falling in about 4 to 6 weeks and I'd love to have a crack at it this winter.
I'm also going to have a crack at making quinzee and normal snow holes - but I'd really like to have a go at making an igloo with a "proper" snow knife.
Cheers.
I try to spend as much time as I can in the French Alps during the winter. Something I've often fancied trying, especially as it has some pretty important survival uses if one is stuck in the back country for some reason, is building an igloo.
I know a lot of people use a snow saw for such a task, but the more traditional method is by using a "snow knife". I believe the proper name for them is Pana.
Apparently they could be bought from trading posts in Northern Canada for about the price of a fox skin - presumably quite cheap.
Does anyone know where I could go about getting one and how much they are likely to cost?
The snow will probably start falling in about 4 to 6 weeks and I'd love to have a crack at it this winter.
I'm also going to have a crack at making quinzee and normal snow holes - but I'd really like to have a go at making an igloo with a "proper" snow knife.
Cheers.