Spring has officially arrived! The Kuskokwim Ice Classic Tripod has been raised and is ready to go!
This year, the Ice Classic had to do a bit extra work to prepare for the raising. In 2015, the Tripod committee was interested in changing up the Tripod. We asked the LKSD STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) students for ideas. The idea of a tripod consisting of storyknives and kayaks was so unique that we couldn’t pass it up. We took that idea and gave it to master builder, Eric Whitney, who transformed the idea into a massive work of art that stood on the River for all to gaze and guess that year.
As luck would have it, when the river went out the tripod was so well built and breakup was so mild, that Eric was able to kayak himself to the now floating tripod and bring it home! In 2016 the tripod was resurrected, repainted, and raised for the 2016 Ice Classic, but unfortunately it was crushed by the ice and went downriver never to be seen again.
Over the Christmas break, Eric stepped up to the task again and this year we have a new tripod with an amazing paint scheme that looks tremendous! You really have to see it!
This morning onlookers watched as Eric, Robert Hodges, Bob Wasierski and the Ice Classic crew raised the tripod for 2017. It went off without a hitch and now stands proud and tall marking this start of the Spring season.
Thank you so much to everyone, but especially, Whitney Home and Energy, AMW Construction, Rick Hanson, Robert Hodges, Yuut Elitnaurviat, Lucas Salzbrun (Rural Service Solutions), and everyone who participated. Get your guesses in! It won’t be long until it’s that time!!