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Big day for construction on the Ice Palace today as the sun was shining and the weather was .... well, cold. But not too cold.
I'm not sure how the guys on top of this tower are going to get down but I assume the crane picks them up by their neck scruff like tiger cubs
I'm not sure how the guys on top of this tower are going to get down but I assume the crane picks them up by their neck scruff like tiger cubs
From left, Corey Pandolph and father-son carving team Liam Ward and John "Doc" Ward carve a sculpture at the entrance.
This is important this year, since most viewers will be driving
"Not a real doctorate," Doc said of his nickname "More like a dock you'd put your boat next to"
This is important this year, since most viewers will be driving
"Not a real doctorate," Doc said of his nickname "More like a dock you'd put your boat next to"
They stood on ice blocks weilding chainsaws. Dangerous work.
"We're stable-footed, but there's always concerns," Corey said. "We try to be safe."
"We're stable-footed, but there's always concerns," Corey said. "We try to be safe."
Liam was getting blasted in the face by ice shavings thrown by his "spinning knife" tool.
He said it is scarier than using the chainsaws.
"It's like a 8-inch kitchen knife spinning at 10,000 RPM," he said.
He was smoothing out the rough edges left by the chainsaws.
He said it is scarier than using the chainsaws.
"It's like a 8-inch kitchen knife spinning at 10,000 RPM," he said.
He was smoothing out the rough edges left by the chainsaws.
The tool is a die grinder with a very special bit. Liam said he last year reached out to ice carving world champ @AaronCostic who sells the bits. A set of three costs $700.
It's worth it, he said, to get the fine detail on their work
It's worth it, he said, to get the fine detail on their work
Liam said last year Doc spent two days using it to carve details on the Bigfoot sculpture. The theme then was "Myths and Legends"
Yes, Bigfoot's nose is a penny. Pennies are a Palace tradition.
Yes, that is my fiancee @ToriMartinez3 and good friend @soupandskin
Yes, Bigfoot's nose is a penny. Pennies are a Palace tradition.
Yes, that is my fiancee @ToriMartinez3 and good friend @soupandskin
Liam said every year he carves his initials and his wife's somewhere on the palace grounds. It's been sort of a secret, and I doubt anyone could have seen it
Last year it was on the back underside of the UFO
So in the future keep a lookout for:
LW
&
EW
Last year it was on the back underside of the UFO
So in the future keep a lookout for:
LW
&
EW
It is delicate work, moving ice. Just before this video I saw the claw accidentally break a block in two.
This piece of heavy machinery is called a knuckleboom loader. It's usually what I think of when pharmaceutical commercials say "do not operate heavy machinery"
This piece of heavy machinery is called a knuckleboom loader. It's usually what I think of when pharmaceutical commercials say "do not operate heavy machinery"
Winter Carnival Committee Chairman Jeff Branch, whom I could identify because of his conspicuous sweater, moves ice blocks into place once they're up there.
I wonder if that plane can see what's going on down here.
I wonder if that plane can see what's going on down here.
This has to be one of the most publicly visible construction work sites around. The Ice Palace work has the eye of all passersby and is a reason for many Saranac Lakers to leave their homes and go for a walk across town.
