We picked out a location between our saw mill and a pond. Here two WWOOF’ers and son John start digging holes for tamarack 6×6 posts. I bulldozed the area pretty flat with a small slope so water from melting ice will drain back toward pond. The post locations were carefully marked with small wire flags. It is important to measure all dimensions and have equal diagonal measurements.
After clearing the snow off the ice with an ATV with a snow blade, we begin cutting ice with a chain saw. The ice is 16 inches thick.
Lifting out an ice block with tongs made from an old disc harrow frame, a rod and wood dowel cover for a handle using an image found on the net for a concept. Lifting the handle pulls the picks together.
Placing the blocks of ice in the new ice house with sawdust from our sawmill. Perhaps we can sell tours this summer showing old technologies, our trout pond and its nursery, and including walking tours in the woods and airport.
Here is a link to a short video of getting ice:
http://www.ctq2.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/99Collecting_Ice.avi