I meant to post on the leopard gene in horses today, but I just didn’t get the post finished. I took a few more pictures of melting ice yesterday, so I thought I’d put them up for today.

Note the difference between the left side of this block, which has been exposed to strong sunlight, and the side facing the camera. This particular block is either in the same orientation it had in the pond or upside down, as shown by the vertical fabric of the sunburned ice.

This coumn was a little better sheltered, but there is still some solar melting on the right side. Notice the clarity of the shaded ice.

The middle part, between the clear ice on the left and the wood on the right, shows the intergrain boundaries as seen from the end. This block must have been turned on its side relative to its original orientation.

The blocks for the single-block competition are 8′ by 5′ by 3′ and weigh a staggering 7,800 lb each. Needless to say, they are positioned by power equipment! The multi-block competition can have up to 4 carvers and use up to 10 blocks of ice, but the blocks are smaller–a mere 3′ x 4′ by 6′. Repositioning and stacking these blocks is done by cranes, and the crane operators really have a job hoisting these delicate carvings into precise position. Aside from Harvest Moment, the photos in yesterday’s post were all single block.