I LOVE ICE !

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At the mention of Colorado a couple of things are likely to spring to mind: the “mountains”, the “snow”, and perhaps these days last year’s historic decision to “legalize” marijuana. A crucial word that you are unlikely to hear however is “ice”… due, I suspect, to its ubiquitous presence anywhere and anytime the thermometer dips below 32 degrees Fahrenheit.

But whereas our snowy “powder” is famous for its unearthly properties and remarkable ability to feather-bed a downhill skier’s rapid descent, the otherworldly assets of our frozen water goes quite unsung – outside of martincooney.com that is.

Here on my blog and gallery I attempt to redress the issue by posting as many photos of “ice sculpture” as I feel I can reasonably get away with, recognizing of course that perhaps my willing absorption in all things ice around this time each year might not be reflected by society at large.

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I have of course witnessed ice in a great many places, as I am sure have the majority of visitors to martincooney.com. But what makes the ice here behave so strangely is a question on which I have often pondered, and to which I can offer no definitive explanation, save to say that it just does.

I suspect the bizarre shapes, uncanny figures, optical illusions and outrageous “carvings” result from the combination of bone-dry thin mountain air, blistering sun, and a high elevation climate that ensures the near ever-presence of a cooling breeze.

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And so…

Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls: no doubt you have heard of our world famous

Colorado Rocky Mountain Champagne Powder

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May I introduce:

Colorado Rocky Mountain

“Champagne ICE” !

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I’ve chosen to spotlight Bird Mountain Fountain by way of illustration as I think it serves not only to showcase the aforementioned ‘otherworldly’ properties of the ice, but also serves as a testament to the enduring properties of the limestone itself; a beautiful, immensely resilient, and way under appreciated material.

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With winter almost a distant memory, and springlike conditions the order of the day, we now occupy a time of lengthening warm sunny days combined with nippy evenings and cold crisp nights. Ideal conditions for the procurement of ice sculpture.

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and now

the slideshow

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The truth is that I really have no idea of just what forces are at play here, but whatever elements conspire to create these unannounced images they certainly yield a deft hand.

A month or two and the ice will be largely gone. A few cold nights will follow, eventually to peter out altogether by the onset of summer.

The cold I certainly will not miss. The ice on the other hand, well, that’s another matter.

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Thank you for visiting martincooney.com.

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Take care, have fun and embrace the season !

M σ τ † ¡ π

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~ bye ~

~ for ~

~ now ~

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