23 March 2013 The Battle of the Ice Park

Journal

Some things are crystal clear......

Texas Girls 0 Ice Park 3

Jill Smith (Northern Alaska Coastal Ecosystems 2013) and I rented a car to do some sight seeing, first stop the Ice Park. We both felt fairly confident about our selection of cold weather wear until we lasted about 20 minutes outside before heading indoors for something hot to drink. Hands and toes so cold that they felt like pliers were pinching the end of each and every digit. Our faces were stinging from the cold too.

We head out in search of supplies because we were determined to take more time at the park and to return at night as the sculptures are lit. I find my toes survival kit in a -50 degree pair of boots. Back to the hotel for putting on ski bibs, face mask, another pair of socks, and the new pair of boots. The temperature is warming up from 4 degrees to 10 degrees. Round two, now armed with better protection from the elements, we return to the park feeling we have it under control. Partial success was achieved, toes are toasty, my face was much warmer, but my eyes were cold. I wondered for an instant; will my contacts freeze to my eyeballs?

Back to the outfitter place again for more items. For the evening trip we purchased some hand warmers from the park and I wore ski goggles. What a sight we were; my face mask would ride up on my head like a dorsal fin and Jill's scarf radiated out like a lion's mane. Do you think they noticed that we are not from here? Round three at the park and now it is after 9 PM with temperatures between -1 and -4 degrees. We cannot get the hand warmer package open....ugh....but hey we are more equipped then round one and two. My fingers are freezing again! We press on and wimped out after 15 minutes. Ice Park won but there will be a rematch. (Check out Jill's journal to learn what happened to her eyebrows.)

Ice Sculptures

The Ice Park In Fairbanks, Alaska is the home of the World Art Championships 2013. The sculptures come alive at night with the illumination from the colored lights. Compare the detail from morning to night.