Ice Farming

[Dechristo]

I might be trying my hand at ice farming this winter. I've a 15-ton RT crane with a sixty-foot mast, 35 acres in a remote location, and, pretty much, unlimited water supply.

 

I'm thinking, after extending the mast fully, of letting out the cable just to the ground and fixing some sloped iron arms intermittently on the cable (the arms would not be intended to support the ice, only create surfaces for it to form with the eventual aim of the ice supporting itself from the ground up). I'll experiment with showerheads in multiple locations.

 

Anyone have suggestions?

[crackers]

In slovenia they use baling wire and chicken wire to give the ice a structure to form on. Have you called the guys at Ouray?

[Farrgo]

I had a buddy make a wall. He used a section of construction fence (the orange mesh kind) and suspended it between two mondo trees.

[G-spotter]

Farmer John, I'm in love with your water

Yeah the one with the champagne ice

[John Frieh]

Go to the expert: http://www.alaskanalpineclub.org/IceWall/IceWall.html

[Dechristo]

Good input, thanks.

 

 

...with the exception of Dru; Neil don't... no, wait. Neil's a fine suggestion for some of the tunes pumped into the air whilst picks and frontpints stick ice.

[John Frieh]

The contents page in alpinist 14 might also be worth a look