April 24, 2015

The NENANA ICE CLASSIC is an annual ice pool contest held in Nenana, Alaska. It is a fundraiser where individuals attempt to guess the exact time the Tanana River ice will break up at Nenana. Tickets are $2.50 each. A tripod is planted on the river ice between the highway and railroad bridge in Nenana--300 feet from shore. The tripod is connected to a clock which stops as the ice goes out, moving the tripod with it.
Nenana is 55 miles southwest of Fairbanks.
This years jackpot is worth $330,330.00 for guessing the correct month, date, hour and minute the ice will break up and stop the clock.
I try to participate every year and one of my guesses is ALWAYS on my son Henrys' Birthday, April 24th at 12:19 pm. This year the tripod was tilted for a day and then fell over but didn't go far enough to stop the clock so the wait was on, from last Monday until Friday. THEN as my guess came and went movement was spotted and the tripod unleashed itself and started downriver--stopping the clock AT 2:25 pm!!!! Two hours after my guessing time!!!! I told Henry he should have waited and been born at 2:25!!! Who knows, maybe no one guessed that time and I still have a chance??? I'll let you know.
Its fun and tickets are available in most of the stores in Alaska and I purchased mine on line at their Nenana Ice Classic web site. I'll be back.