Saranac Lake kicks off the Winter Carnival Ice Palace construction early this year, thanks to favorable weather conditions and eager volunteers
SARANAC LAKE: The Ice Palace construction for the Winter Carnival is off to an early start this year. The volunteers from Ice Palace Workers 101 jumped right in, cutting ice blocks and laying the groundwork for this beloved winter tradition.
Joe Plumb, the director of IPW 101, was all smiles while taking a break from the ice cutting. He mentioned how Mother Nature has been kind, allowing them to kick things off ahead of schedule.
Usually, they aim to start by January 22, but this year, they got going on January 17. The ice has been solid since Christmas, which is a nice change from the warmer winters they’ve faced in recent years.
Plumb expressed his excitement about being ahead of schedule. It gives the carvers more time to get creative and add extra details to the Ice Palace. This year’s theme is “Music Legends,” and they’re hoping to create ice instruments and maybe even a stage.
With the forecast showing sub-zero temperatures, the ice should keep growing nicely. They’re planning to cut around 4,000 blocks, each weighing about 500 pounds. The more time they have, the more fun they can have with the design.
Plumb also mentioned that they’re always looking for more volunteers. The tradition has been around for ages, and it thrives on new faces joining in and learning from the veterans.
Last year, Plumb took over as director from Dean Baker, and he’s feeling honored to lead the build. The energy at the site was electric, with everyone excited to get started.
Some volunteers even brought their own tools, like Greg Washburn and Pat Bourcy, who showed up with ice handsaws they found at thrift stores. They had fun personalizing their gear with their blog names.
Tom Hyde introduced a cool new tool, a chainsaw sled, which makes cutting ice a lot easier. It’s designed to keep the chainsaw at a comfortable height, so no more bending over!
Elle Finocan brought a plaque with her name to honor her friend from IPW 101, while Stacy Annis had a unique gift: a block of ice from last year’s palace that she saved in her freezer. She joked about keeping it right next to the bacon!
Plumb placed that block as a cornerstone for this year’s palace, marking the start of a new tradition. They’re excited to tell future builders that they’ve been using the same block year after year.
