Polar vortex…that’s the new buzz words for us this winter. The Kentuckiana area has tasted this Arctic gift twice so far and we haven’t had a winter this cold in many years. It manifests with the temperature bottoming out around 0 degrees Fahrenheit…colder still with the wind chill. Snow and ice also accompany this blast of icy weather. Once under the spell of the polar vortex…all one can do is ride it out. It’s going to be bone-chilling cold for several days in a row. Even if you know it’s going to happen, you really don’t feel prepared for it. People tape plastic over their windows to trap heat and foil wind. Shoppers rush out to purchase bread and milk. Folks let the faucets drip throughout the day and night to prevent freezing and bursting water pipes. Still, the plumbers are busy. Extra layers of clothes are needed however, you still feel cold around the edges. If there is a weakness in a machine…the extreme cold will find it and this happened to my trusty rivermobile. School may be out, but otherwise it’s pretty much business as usual.
The part about “business as usual” also strikes me as being a bit sad. I am of the opinion that the reason the Earth has winter is to slow everything down and that’s vitally necessary. It’s meant to be reflective and allows a moment for a deep breath before moving on again. We all have more than enough pushing us to accomplish tasks at increasing breakneck speed. The polar vortex challenges us to slow down if we can.
In an effort to foster personal wonder for the world, I made it out to the Falls of the Ohio on a day that wouldn’t risk frost bite. Over the years, I have prized coming out here on cold winter days especially if it meant seeing different ice formations. There are ice ribbons, sausage-shaped icicles, frozen homemade candles, and just plain ice blobs on display. I love the variety of forms and the play of light through the magic of solid water. The most interesting ice formations are near the water’s edge where the willow trees catch the rising steam off of the river. The water is warmer than the surrounding air temperatures and this “fog” helps coat the roots and branches with glassy layers of ice. I thought I had the place all to myself when I was joined in this frigid landscape by a new friend.
He described himself as being a fellow “ice tourist” and so that’s how I remember him. He said he was curious about the ice, but also wary of stepping through thin ice and feeling the burn of extremely cold water. I’ve had this experience before and so I could relate. The Ice Tourist told me he had followed my tracks into the ice field and so far I had kept him out of danger. We spent about an hour together before parting. Here are some more pictures of him posed next to the ice formations we encountered.
The Ice Tourist had to check out everything as closely as possible. He would climb upon the willow branches and roots to get the best view. As it turns out, he was a local guy who like me, likes to hang out near the river whenever he can. He was wearing a very thin and worn out t-shirt that said something about the town of Jeffersonville on it. That’s the next town over from the Falls of the Ohio State Park. I mentioned something about the poor condition of his garment and how it didn’t look substantial enough to keep him warm. His response was that feeling warm was as much a mental state of mind and he was far too engaged by this novel environment to feel the cold.
The sun was rising. The day was warming and the ice was beginning to drip and lose its strength. Today’s show was at an end. The image of a hot cup of coffee or cocoa was starting to have great appeal to me and so I said my farewell to the Ice Tourist. Perhaps we will run into one another again at the river…we shall see? Leaving my new friend behind, I walked the riverbank and could see that the Ring-billed gulls that had been absent during the polar vortex were once again in residence in the park. I wonder if the groundhogs will see their shadows tomorrow?
Artist at Exit 0 Riverblog 
Of all my winter river walks, I have never seen such amazing ice formations, nor met the ice tourist. Well done.
Thanks Lynn! I’ve seen many amazing formations out here over the winters. The river can rise and fall in quick succession and if it is cold enough…produces amazing ice.
Very, very nice ice formations.
I too feel the desire to slow down when it is cold. In some ways cold weather requires a lot of extra work, just keeping everything working is hard work. But then when the fire is roaring and I have a hot cup of tea ready, it’s time to contemplate. Or hibernate.
After a while on a sunny day, cabin fever sets in and I have to go for a cold walk. I’ll keep my eye out for the ice tourist.
I’m surprised the Ice Tourist hasn’t come to your part of the world. I do like cozy winter days when the weight of the world isn’t pressing.
Beautiful ice pictures! I am ready for spring but do enjoy the winter.
Hi Rose! Winter will turn the corner soon enough. I could use a little more sunshine about now.
The torn and tattered state of the Ice Tourist’s shirt lends a great deal of visual pathos to this entry in your riverblog, Al. “He” looks rather like I’ve felt for the last week or so. LOL. Great ice images!
Gulls, Vortex, and groundhogs—hmm,my money is on the Vortex for staying power. The lucky gulls have wings and as such can travel. Water though is a necessity for our feathered friends. It’s been freezing about as fast as I put it out here. The only thing to do is keep putting it out.
I like the image of the Ice Tourist following your footsteps very much. It’s like some ice age foreshadowing….
Hi. Hope you’re keeping the frost from biting.
Hi Buffalo-lady…I hope that whatever was making you feel like my tattered tourist has left your zip code? I found myself looking at that image in my post with the foot prints as well and getting a peculiar vibe from it. I think I’ve been watching too many post-apocalyptic shows on television. Funny how that has trended so heavily. Here it is the year 2014 and I’m still waiting for some potential world’s fair to extol how wonderful life will be in the new millennium. Where is the positive vision that accompanied the beginnings of the Modern Age?
Fascinating and beautiful photos of your polar explorations.
Thanks Linda…just trying to have fun as I go along and this winter has been a challenge.
I wish I could write as well as you 🙂
Thank you for this compliment. Writing is hard and for me, the least secure aspect of my projects. I keep reminding myself that with so much out there competing for readers…keeping the language active, descriptive, and economical is important. I don’t know if I will ever consider myself more than an adequate writer because the effort required doesn’t come as naturally for me.
“The part about “business as usual” also strikes me as being a bit sad. I am of the opinion that the reason the Earth has winter is to slow everything down and that’s vitally necessary.”
What an intriguing point. We pretty much praise the ability to regard “business as usual” as a virtue. But too much of it is a form of blatant ignorance and stubbornness that hampers us from adapting, learning, and accepting the agency of the world.
I found this comment in my Spam filter and so I missed it the first time around. There is much food for thought in looking at business practices and how at odds they are with the natural motions of the planet. When the Earth needs a break from us to recover…what we are doing instead is increasing the speed of everything. Once upon a time I read that the brain actually becomes addicted to doing tasks quickly and with the standard business model of ever increasing “growth”…this doesn’t bode well for our limited resources.
I can definitely relate to this addiction in my own mind 🙂 Good to step back and heed the rhythm.
As an aside, I’m doing a piece on some of your stories. Can I use a few of your images to connect viewers to your site and work?
Isaac…I would be honored…use what strikes you and much thanks!
Thanks! Here’s the link to the finished piece:
http://ekostories.com/2014/02/14/top5-ecoart-ohiofalls/
Great ice pics! I wish so much I could have gotten down there recently to capture some of the ice, but would you believe my dog bit my right ring finger- sliced it almost to the bone? (The party just doesn’t end at my house, let me tell you…heheh.) Glad I got to live vicariously through YOUR lens. ;0)
[…] 4. The Ice Tourist […]
Al,
You really captured the feel of this winter with your photography this post. Beautiful. I wasn’r too excited about the shoveling and all that has gone with it, but must admit to the beautiful vistas of snow and ice I saw.
Thanks Leslie…winter can be such a long season, but it is also good to remind ourselves that there is beauty here also. I love the different formations that ice can take on. Hope your projects are all going well!