Monday, March 9, 2015
It was freezing when I took this photo, but I HAD to show that I was really there!
Each year Alaskan’s have an opportunity to bet on Mother Nature; the day the ice will break up on the Tanana River near Nenana, Alaska.
In 1906 six guys bet on the day the ice would break up and by 1916 workers from the railroad held a contest, selling tickets to Nenana residents only, but as word spread everyone wanted to get in on the fun. The early day winners won a round of drinks at the bar and the first payout was just over $800. Of late the purse has been well over $350,000.
The bets are placed on when the ‘tripod’ will fall into the water as the ice breaks. It is a tripod of 4 beams and is placed on the ice of the river in early March each year. To accurately get the time of the ice break up, there is a clock attached to the tripod.
I have never bought a ticket, but was ready to this year as I was there on “Tripod Weekend!” Guesses cost $2.50 each. I ended up walking away without a ticket, but I do bet it will break early due to the warm winter we have had in Alaska!
Because the Iditarod was rerouted for the race this year, I watched about 6 teams run by the tripod
the tripod in all its glory was erected the day before I arrived!
This is a year round reminder of the the Ice Classic.
timistravels 
Haha it sounds like a lot of fun
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