Is it Spring Yet? Signs say it's getting closer

Nenana Ice Classic -- Tripod Days

(photo courtesy of Miss Alaska 2005, Rebecca Hayes)

Spring is just around the corner, and now we all get to participate in the great Alaskan tradition of waiting for breakup.... Oh, and that other great tradition of betting on when breakup will actually happen.


Luckily for all of us up here, the days of standing on the river and waiting to head out to sea are behind us. Instead of sacrificing some poor soul to spring, the town of Nenana sacrifices a hugantic tripod each year. (even though the "tripod" has four sides, we still call it a tripod)



Each year a hearty group of alaskans venture out onto the river and help hoist the tripod into position. Once errected on the ice, the tripod is connected to a clocktower via ropes and such.

Now, instead of waiting around for the ice to break, we all place bets on the exactitudes of when the tripod will move which will stop the clock and signify that, yes, Virginia, there really is a spring up here in the far north.

After the tripod raising, we let ourselves be dragged around the downtown streets of Nenana by the locals...



Then, went looking for pop culture


And finally stocked up on Beer for the rest of Winter