SANDSTONE, Minn. — Now this assignment was cool - literally. I've been waiting for the ice to form so that I can capture winter's beauty.
Last weekend, I had the perfect opportunity to capture it. Thanks to a suggestion on my Facebook page, I went to the Sandstone Ice Festival at Robinson Park. It's an annual event that happens in January and it's where people climb an old quarry, which is full of ice.
I arrived and immediately heard the sound of ice axes pinging against the wall and people yelling "Nice job!" There were a bunch of people hanging off the ice-covered quarry. Scary!
I talked with Peter Lenz, of the Minnesota Climbers Association. He told me that every year in December, they flood the quarry walls with water and wait for it to freeze. The right temperature is about 25 degrees. Climbing goes beyond the festival, I'm told, as people usually scale the walls into March.
For someone who doesn't like heights, I actually walked away from this assignment interested in trying this sport out. I just may have to drum up some bravery before I put the harnesses on.
Ellery's Photo Stop: January 2019
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Email: emccardle@kare11.com
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