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posted: March 1st, 2019 |
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This page begins with February 2nd and a drive up to Murphy Dome. Murphy Dome is a 2,884 foot (879m) dome on the west side of Fairbanks. After that we jump to a few days later and some foods which we had for our dinners on February 3rd and 6th. Then there are two photos taken from our porch during a moderate snowstorm, and those are followed by a shot of a partial sun halo. Following those photos, the remainder of the page shows photos taken at the Fairbanks Tanana Valley Fairgrounds, which is the "Ice Park" until March 31st. Click on any thumbnail to begin.
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| Begin February 2nd |
The first two shots here show the same snow artifact, just from different angles. The snow here was fairly hard and it was windblown so there were an abundance of weird shapes. The third shot shows Kazuya standing and looking off to the north from the summit of Murphy Dome. Murphy Dome was once home to Murphy Dome Air Force Station with a dozen buildings and 250 personnel stationed here at any given time. Now, the vast majority of the site has been cleared though one remaining facility still stands in working order as a Long Range Radar Station. The purpose is to detect military air threats from afar so that they might be intercepted.
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 Feb02_04_From MurphyDomeRC |
 Feb2nd_010_ MurphyDomeRC |
 Feb02_05_From MurphyDomeRC |
The first photo here shows Kazuya on Murphy Dome. The wind was blowing like a banshee, so it was cold! The second shot shows what may be the Ray Mountains and the third shot shows the Radar Dome.
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 Feb02_07_From MurphyDomeRC |
 Feb02_14_From MurphyDomeRC |
 Feb2nd_015_ MurphyDomeRC |
I have no idea what the name of the mountains shown in the first two shots in this row. If you know, please tell me via email. The third shot shows a nice sun, note the elevation above the horizon on this date at about 3:00 PM.
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 Feb02_25_From MurphyDomeRC |
 Feb02_27_From MurphyDomeRC |
 Feb2nd_016_ MurphyDomeRC |
Here is one shot of the radar dome on Murphy Dome and one shot of the Murphy Dome Road.
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 Feb2nd_019_ MurphyDomeRC |
 Feb02_35_From MurphyDomeRC |
Here is a final shot looking up at the radar dome and then a shot of our pickup truck on the Murphy Dome Road.
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 Feb02_44_From MurphyDomeRC |
 Feb2nd_037_ MurphyDomeRC |
| End February 2nd, Begin February 3rd - 6th |
The first shot here shows what is known as Ehoumaki, which is a treat which we had for supper on Setsubun Day. We only get it once a year, so it's a very special treat. The second shot shows some nice fried gyouza and the third shot shows some wondrous boiled gyouza. We don't make gyouza very often, it involves a fair amount of work, so it's also a special treat for us.
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 Feb3rd_001_ EhoumakiRC |
 Feb6th_004_ GyouzaRC |
 Feb6th_006_ GyouzaRC |
| End February 3rd - 6th, Begin February 12th - 15th |
This 2018-19 winter we've seen very little snow, so here are the best "snowstorm" photos we've managed to get all winter.
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 Feb12_1_ SnowstormAtHomeRC |
 Feb12_5_ SnowstormAtHomeRC |
Here is a great photo of a partial sun halo. If that cloud bank had not been there I suspect that we would have been able to see an entire halo.
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 Feb15_01_ SunDogsRC |
| End February 12th - 15th, Begin February 19th - 24th |
From here to the end of this page all of the photos were taken at the Fairbanks Ice Park. There are two of them this year, so this is the one at the Tanana Valley Fairgrounds. If you're into this kind of stuff, their website is https://www.icealaska.org (CLICK HERE- New Tab). These three photos were all taken right at the entrance, at the King's Throne, made of course, of ice. The first shot shows a friend of ours, the second shot shows Kazuya and the third shot shows me. We have spent many hours at the Ice Park already this winter because our friends were in the competition for the "two-person classic" event. We bought a season pass, as the venue will be open until March 31st. We have already more than paid for the season pass compared to buying a daily ticket.
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 Feb19_01_ IceParkRC |
 Feb19_03_ IceParkRC |
 Feb19th_003_World IceArtChampionshipsRC |
Here is a shot of the King's Throne in the dark, shot with the aid of a flash so that it shows up much better. The second shot shows our friend on the seahorse she has been working on for several hours to get back in practice for the competition. The third shot shows me riding the seahorse.
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 Feb24_001_IcePark _2PersonFinishedRC |
 Feb19_04_ IceParkRC |
 Feb19_08_ IceParkRC |
Here are two shots of our friend's seahorse taken five days after the photos above, and with the aid of a flash. Notice how clear and beautiful the ice has become.
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 Feb24_007_IcePark _2PersonFinishedRC |
 Feb24th_002_Ice ArtChampionshipsRC |
Now let's start showing some of the competitive sculptures or carvings. This one is entitled "Final Trophy". This was at Site #1 and was carved by two Americans - Todd Dawson and Chris Currier. It placed #6 in the Two-Person Classic competition. The first shot was taken on the 22nd and the second shot was taken on the 24th.
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 Feb22_30_ IceParkRC |
 Feb24_027_IcePark _2PersonFinishedRC |
Here are two additional shots of "Final Trophy".
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 Feb24_028_IcePark _2PersonFinishedRC |
 Feb24th_025_Ice ArtChampionshipsRC |
This one is entitled "Hades Hound". This was at Site #2 and was carved by two Netherlanders - Roel van Wijlick and Erik van der Leur. It placed #20 in the Two-Person Classic competition.
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 Feb24_030_IcePark _2PersonFinishedRC |
 Feb24_031_IcePark _2PersonFinishedRC |
 Feb24_032_IcePark _2PersonFinishedRC |
This one is entitled "Fire Bird". This was at Site #3 of the One-Person Classic competition and was carved by a Russian - Evgenii Gorbunov. It placed 5th in the One-Person Classic competition.
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 Feb19_15_ IceParkRC |
 Feb24_16_IcePark _2PersonFinishedRC |
This one is entitled "Spelling Bee". This was at Site #3 and was carved by two Americans - Jeff Kaiser and Brian McKinney. It placed #15 in the Two-Person Classic competition.
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 Feb24_08_IcePark _2PersonFinishedRC |
 Feb24_034_IcePark _2PersonFinishedRC |
The first two shots here are of a sculpture entitled "Samurai". This was at Site #15 of the One-Person Classic competition and was carved by a Japanese - Hiroaki Kimura. It placed 3rd in the One-Person Classic competition. The third shot is entitled "New Beginnings". It was on site #11 of the One-Person Classic Competition and took 4th place in that event.
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 Feb19_29_ IceParkRC |
 Feb19th_035_World IceArtChampionshipsRC |
 Feb19_31_ IceParkRC |
The remainder of this page will take you through the creation of a single sculpture. It is on Site #13 and is called "Cornucopia of the Sea". It was created by our friends Tom and Carol Lewando. They used to live close-by, but now they live in Anchorage. The first two shots show Tom just scraping the snow off the ice block so that they can get started on the carving on the following morning at 9:00 AM. The third shot was taken on the first day in mid-afternoon, after the main portion of the sculpture has been roughed out.
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 Feb19_17_ IceParkRC |
 Feb19th_023_World IceArtChampionshipsRC |
 Feb20_08_ IceParkRC |
In the first photo here I am talking with Tom while Carol searches for a tool on the picnic table. In the second photo Tom is using the chain saw to get the rough shape of the piece which will become a spiral. In the third shot Tom has accomplished the first part of the task. These three photos were all taken on the second day.
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 Feb20th_007_World IceArtChampionshipsRC |
 Feb20_11_ IceParkRC |
 Feb20th_024_World IceArtChampionshipsRC |
In the first photo here Carol is starting the shaping of the spiral for the Cornucopia. The second shot shows that she has succeeded and is removing the paper template. In the third shot Tom works on the shell.
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 Feb20th_026_World IceArtChampionshipsRC |
 Feb20th_031_World IceArtChampionshipsRC |
 Feb20th_039_World IceArtChampionshipsRC |
| End Page 1, but February 19th - 24th continue on Page 2 |
| Thanks so much for taking the time to look at this page. Now, please go on to Page 2 for the continuation of this month's adventures. |
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