Ice On Whyte

January is such a brutal weather month for winter festival activities.  We are subject to nose tingling cold then fickle melts, sometimes only days apart.  I always watch in anticipation as events such as Ice On Whyte prepare their ice sculptures.  The sculptors tell us that -5C is the perfect temperature to work their special clear ice blocks.  This is when the ice is stable, the small amounts of water and friction used between  the blocks freezes clear and the air temperature doesn't create melts.

This year, the artist have battle temperatures from +3 to +6 and have protected their works with tarps for shade,  insulated mats, and the smaller pieces are covered with boxes. Last year they fought similar conditions in the week that they created the castle and sculptures, then within a day of opening, we dropped right back into the -20's making it less appealing to go and play.

Here are some shots from the 2009 Ice on Whyte.  The 2010 festival has just opened and Images camera club has an outing there tomorrow.  Go early and catch the morning light playing in the ice or go at dusk and see everything lit.  Enjoy and stay warm.