By Nigel Maxwell

Crooked River man builds snow fortress

Jan 19, 2018 | 1:00 PM

The man responsible for creating a giant snow castle in the Crooked River area, is still shocked by how big his project has become.

The snow castle stands 11 feet. high, is 30 feet wide, and boasts three adult sized walk-in rooms. 

Karl Mehler started the project in mid-November after moving back home with his parents to help run the farm over the winter. One of his chores was to shovel snow.

“We’ve got a big long driveway and a big turnaround area and I noticed my dad was piling it all in one spot, and I thought it might be fun to make a little snow fort,” Mehler said.

Faced with only a moderate supply of snow, Mehler hauled truckloads of snow from the front and back yards. When that supply ran out, he started making his own blocks of ice.

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“You have to cut through it with a saw and some of those blocks were not less than 40 to 60 pounds and I have moved some that are 80 to 100,” he said.

In addition to its large turret and the three rooms, the snow castle has a staircase and slide which has become a popular attraction for the local kids who live in the area, and his niece and nephew.

Mehler estimated he had spent over 120 hours on his project. His parents chipped in as well, and together they hauled over 100 five gallon pails of water needed to keep the snow castle solid. When asked how his parents felt about his project, Mehler said they are a bit apprehensive about the new addition to their home.

“If I had known how big it was going to be I would have built it a bit further from the house by 30 feet, because it comes up to the second story of the house,” he said.

Mehler said he has not slept in his snow castle as of yet, but he and his mother have talked about doing it. He is currently putting the finishing touches on his latest project – a nine foot tall snow-quonset.

nigel.maxwell@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @nigelmaxwell