The thirsty Brrrr!

The 56 mile road to Chena Hot Springs passes the home to 5-time Iditarod champ Rick Swenson and a number of other dog mushers. There is an extensive system of mushing trails to that follow along the road.  

Here we are! The end of the road at Chena Hot Springs! Home to the springs and the ice!

We really thought that we could withstand the heat of these beautiful springs, but only lasted about 15 minutes! The water mister did not master cooling the hot water, so climbing upon the rocks was our only relief. Whew...let's head to the Ice museum!

The tour included very heavy parkas that were necessary to keep us from freezing! Inside it remains a constant 20 degrees! Ready...set...GO!  Brrr!

Inside there was a xylophone. It was very pretty....and not the music that was being played!

The bar where we we going to sit on ice and drink our appletinni.

These sculptures are professionaly carved...

The chandeliers had 52 branches and were lit to reflect the northern lights...

There is a chapel inside, where, believe it or not QUICK weddings have occured. There are also 4 bedrooms. You can purchase an overnight stay for a whopping $600 per person. The keepers let you in at 10 o'clock at night. They only supply you a cariboo fur skin to lay down on the ice, mind you.....there are no restrooms, so you had better not drink any liquids, because....If you should continue to exist until 6AM you are awarded a certificate of survival!  NO, I am not staying....I want my appletinni!

Finally! My drink is being poured! Do I look thirsty? Do I look happy? Do I look Cold?

CHEERS! This is a moment neither of us will ever forget!

This is for Norma.....

Awww, Nancy found a fireplace to warm up....NOT! Seriously folks...literally EVERYTHING is ICE!

Once inside you could not leave the building because the warmer temps outside (except in winter) will ruin the sculptures. The 40 minutes we spent inside were priceless. On our way out we witnessed a sculpture making more martini glasses!

Once outside our glasses and our camera lenses fogged immediatly!

Part of the tradition is to break the ice glass...I would have rather had it filled again.....