Ice Run Report for March 2008

 

March's Ice run was performed on April 2, with the Shift Policy in mind. The Shift Policy is where we try to shift the Ice run date further out in the months during winter by going 5 or more weeks between ice runs. This shifts the ice run date later and later in the month. In the following summer, we will be back to four weeks or less between runs, which slowly shifts the Ice run date earlier and earlier in the month. Over the space of a year, it all even's out, but it also means that once a year we have a month without an ice run (March, technically run done in April) and a month with two ice runs (usually in July or August).

A couple of years ago, we were actually able to lap ourselves and eliminate one whole cycle. We only did 11 ice runs that year. Global warming has made that impossible the last two years. This past summer, we even had to add an extra run...thirteen in all last year.

We'll see what this year brings.

Meanwhile, back at the Institute.......

When we arrived at the Facility, for the first time in four months we were actually able to drive the load up to the Shed....no more sleds!!!

(We brought them just in case)

 

The weather was fair, and I had a trained and seasoned assistant, Morgan S.

We opened up the shed and then the Cryonic chamber and prepared it to receive another load....

 

 

Our high tech thermal sensing device seemed to be functioning.....we read a balmy minus 90. Note that the needle has gone completely around the indicator and that readings are thus approximate.

 

We also found some nice Crystal Critters and formations....

 

 

We removed all the debris and paper from the Cryonic Chamber....

and prepared to load the new ice in....

 

It's pretty hard to estimate the amount of ice remaining these days.....you can't even see all of it. Experience and temperature indicated there was at least a 500 pound equivalent left. We added 1600 pounds and pretty much filled 'er up, leaving approximately 2100 pounds, total. Note how we had to split several blocks to get them to fit in the cracks...

Then we put the cover back on, locked up the shed and loaded the empty roll-aways back on the truck. We paused to reflect upon the serene beauty of the place, and then headed back down the mountain to home and a hot meal.

Next Ice run is scheduled for May 7 (April's Run)