Igloo!

Feb. 15th, 2011 08:58 am
[personal profile] fitfool
So far in 2011, only 1 in 3 runs have been while the temperature was above freezing. With all the snow and ice, the sidewalks have been a near solid block of ice for weeks now. I've taken to running in the road, wearing an orange jacket that I hope tells cars, "Please don't hit me!" On the plus side, I set a new personal record. My coldest run ever now stands at -6F with a windchill making it feel like -21F. Did I mention that I love the adjustable fleece hood my boyfriend gave me? (Hot Headz 6-in-1 Fleece Hood if anyone else is looking.) I had bundled up enough that I ran 4 miles that day relatively comfortably.

All this cold has a silver lining though. It's been cold enough to freeze a river. Cold enough that 3 men took a chainsaw and ice saw down to that frozen river and cut out blocks of ice. And just for kicks, they built an ice igloo!


photo of igloo with ice fishing huts in the background




farther away shot of the igloo and neighboring ice fishing sheds

Standing on shore, you can see the igloo and its neighboring ice fishing sheds. This is where a bunch of people spot the igloo, and then debate whether or not they think the ice will really hold. Sure it looks like some others are out on the ice, but wouldn't it be just my luck to be the person who falls through a thin spot in the ice?



the slope from shore to the frozen river surface
Walking down to the river's frozen surface is easy enough. This is the only tricky part. The slope from shore down to the river had a ladder tied to a yellow rope as well as a wooden plank. The river is a tidal river meaning that it rises and falls with the tide. As the water goes up and down, the ice along the edges would often crack open, exposing a bit of water. You would then carefully walk across the plank over the gap on those days. On this day, it was all frozen and you just needed to slide down all the cracked ice bits. There was a lot of those loose ice shards and that discouraged some people from continuing any farther.



dog trying not to go down the hill
This dog was really not happy about going down that slippery slope. His owner gently tugged on his leash every few moments until finally he was back to level ground again. Soon as the dog felt level ice beneath him, he was happy to trot around, sniffing at everything he could find, chasing the seagulls that were standing on the ice.


igloo and its entrance

Slippery footing but I love seeing this igloo. I spent about an hour walking around, admiring the igloo, and enjoying the fact that I was standing on the river. I had wanted to go on the ice for years but had been too timid until last year when the igloo first showed up. That was irresistible and I had to go take a closer look.

me standing inside the igloo with plenty of room to spare

The door was about as high as the bottom of my ribs and there was plenty of space above my head once inside. The igloo stands about 10-feet high. I lingered inside for a while and when I went back outside, I was surprised by how much colder it seemed. Even though I had been inside a building made of ice, it felt warmer since it blocked the wind.

When they built it, one guy cut out blocks of ice, another guy carried the blocks to the site, and the third guy was the mason who built the igloo. They used slush as mortar to stick the blocks together. The trickiest part was placing the blocks at about shoulder-height and higher when the blocks are slanted and tend to shift. Many thanks to Kirk Kucharski, Robert Parizo, and Glenn Eberhardt for building this igloo.

two kids playing ukelele During the hour or so that I was there, people would come by and snap a few photos, poke their heads inside, and then wander on. These two kids had been playing ukeleles by the river, and then decided to play inside the igloo.



ice fishing shelters

Every year, ice fishing shelters pop up on the frozen river. Some look like they'd be semi-permanent structures and some even have little stoves inside to keep you warm while you're fishing. I'm mystified why that heat doesn't just melt the ice there but maybe it does and then you drag your shelter over to a new spot on the river.


Here's a shot of last year's igloo.
last year's igloo


entrance to last year's igloo
You can see the ice was different last year. Clearer and more translucent. Last winter had been warmer. This year, with one storm after another, you can see different layers of ice with snow trapped in between.


old mill building converted into apartments

One more shot of the frozen river. This old mill building was built in 1827 and has since been converted into apartments. High ceilings and beautiful views of the river. Along the near edge, you can see some of the cracks I was telling you about. That whole sheet of ice just rises and falls. Sometimes when I jog along the path there at night, I can hear the ice creaking and cracking, water sloshing beneath. Spooky.

Date: 2011-02-15 11:13 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] ruthling.livejournal.com
awesome! We walked around on a frozen pond last year, which was kind of cool.

Date: 2011-02-15 11:23 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] carmy-w.livejournal.com
Cool!

I'm surprised they weren't using the igloo for ice fishing!

My husband grew up in NW Iowa. In the winter, they go out, survey, and put up street signs on the lakes, so you can find your way back to your hut. They also run electricity out to them.
Some of the huts are 2 stories, and he has told me of spending Superbowl Sunday out ice fishing and watching the game.

Date: 2011-02-16 10:03 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] fitfool.livejournal.com
One article mentioned that they also did ice fishing but the fish hadn't been biting so then they decided to make an igloo. Two-story huts and watching tv out on the ice? I've never heard of such a thing! Very cool! Do people sleep there overnight? I thought about it but again, would've been too nervous about an accident.

Date: 2011-02-16 11:45 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] carmy-w.livejournal.com
In the coldest parts of winter, you could probably stay out for a month or more at a time. I don't know if they actually do, though.

The ice gets well over a foot thick, so there's really no worry about it breaking up till spring thaw.
He has talked several times about moving back up there-every time, I shiver!

Date: 2011-02-15 11:42 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] normalcyispasse.livejournal.com
I am so terribly happy to live somewhere warm right now.

Date: 2011-02-16 10:04 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] fitfool.livejournal.com
I would be too! I think that's one reason why I love the igloo so much. In the midst of all this cold, something awesome showed up. Enough that when temperatures hit 55F for a day on Monday, I fretted that it would melt the igloo.

Date: 2011-02-15 12:10 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] medwriter.livejournal.com
Great pictures! Thanks for sharing!

Date: 2011-02-16 10:05 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] fitfool.livejournal.com
Thanks for reading :)

Date: 2011-02-15 12:25 pm (UTC)
annieeats: (snow)
From: [personal profile] annieeats
That is SO cool.

Date: 2011-02-16 10:11 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] fitfool.livejournal.com
So cool! I went back yesterday to check on it after the temperatures had spiked for a day up to 55F. Still hanging in there. It's supposed to get above freezing until Friday and then back for another stretch of really cold days. I hope the igloo survives the warmer stretch.

Date: 2011-02-15 12:39 pm (UTC)

Date: 2011-02-16 10:12 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] fitfool.livejournal.com
Yes, it makes me smile every time I see it.

Date: 2011-02-15 12:43 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] pondhopper.livejournal.com
Oh wow! That's a REAL igloo, built the traditional way.

Ice breaking up makes the loudest noise...
I walked out on frozen Lake Mendota in Madison, WI one winter when the whole lake froze (and it's a big one!). The only reason I trusted the ice was because I could see ice fishermen out there and they're not *usually* stupìd.

Date: 2011-02-16 10:09 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] fitfool.livejournal.com
Sometimes when I hear the ice cracking as I jog by, it sounds like a gunshot and startles me. In other years, I would see people out on the ice and still be hesitant. Sure, the ice held THEM but maybe now the ice is reaching its capacity? Even when I saw people drive out onto the ice I would worry, "But did they now weaken the ice?"
(deleted comment)

Date: 2011-02-16 10:12 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] fitfool.livejournal.com
Glad you enjoyed.

Date: 2011-02-15 02:16 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] imaginarycircus.livejournal.com
People ice fish on the Charles?!?!

Date: 2011-02-15 03:09 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] browngirl.livejournal.com
Of course! If it's got three eyes, two tails, or fur, you get extra points!

Date: 2011-02-15 03:10 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] imaginarycircus.livejournal.com
LOL! It's Blinky!!



Are you a local too?

Date: 2011-02-17 09:55 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] browngirl.livejournal.com
I swear I've seen him in the Charles. I've been here since college. :)

Date: 2011-02-17 10:02 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] imaginarycircus.livejournal.com
*waves at you from Porter Square*

Date: 2011-02-16 10:14 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] fitfool.livejournal.com
This igloo was up in New Hampshire. I haven't ever seen people ice fishing on the Charles but when I searched online, it seems that they both try ice fishing AND catch fish there!
http://www.mafishfinder.com/charles-river-134-location.html

Date: 2011-02-16 04:21 pm (UTC)

Date: 2011-02-15 03:07 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] browngirl.livejournal.com
That was really nifty and WAY too cool.

Date: 2011-02-16 10:15 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] fitfool.livejournal.com
Happy to make you smile!

Date: 2011-02-15 03:33 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] twirlingtulip.livejournal.com
You're so hardcore!


I wanted to add this but didn't know if it would be appropriate or rude:
(Is it because you had a tiger mom?)

Date: 2011-02-16 10:17 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] fitfool.livejournal.com
Funny thing is that I think I'm a dabbler at this running thing. I've been reading a few running-related books and compared to them, I'm so far from hardcore! I get out every day but my runs tend to be pretty short.

I did indeed have a tiger mom. Initially, that Wall Street Journal article incensed me but later interviews and articles calmed me down when I realized the WSJ's excerpts were misleading about her book's overall tone.

Date: 2011-02-15 04:40 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] alsoname.livejournal.com
Some of those photos are just downright gorgeous! Wow.

Date: 2011-02-16 10:17 am (UTC)

Date: 2011-02-15 07:10 pm (UTC)
ext_35267: (Peaceful)
From: [identity profile] wlotus.livejournal.com
An igloo is SO COOL! (No pun intended, LOL!) I would have gingerly walked out there to get a better look, too.

Date: 2011-02-16 10:20 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] fitfool.livejournal.com
So cool! Funny thing is that I went back yesterday to look at it again and the wind picked up and started gusting. I ended up ducking inside the igloo to warm up for a moment since it at least blocked the wind :)
(deleted comment)

Date: 2011-02-16 10:21 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] fitfool.livejournal.com
below 65! I wish I lived in a place that would let me decide that... If I did that here, I'd be unable to run or bike for 4-5 months of the year!

Date: 2011-02-16 03:59 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] yesimthegirl.livejournal.com
That is awesome!

Date: 2011-02-16 04:55 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] canyoncat.livejournal.com
The igloo is very cool!

Profile

fitfool

February 2014

S M T W T F S
      1
2345678
910 11 12131415
16171819202122
232425262728 

Most Popular Tags

Style Credit

Expand Cut Tags

No cut tags
Page generated Jun. 16th, 2025 06:24 am
Powered by Dreamwidth Studios