With Winter Carnival now 10 days away, the Carnival Council is scrambling to construct the traditional ice sculpture in the center of the Green without snow or any assurance it will snow.
Last Thursday, a large clump of snow was dumped on the Green.
Council co-Chair Patricia Bankowski '95 said the snow was taken from Campion Ice Rink -- "basically the ice cleared by a zamboni."
She said the snow was essential to constructing the sculpture because it was solid, icy snow used to create a solid ice base for the frame.
"Without an ice base, there was the possibility that a strong wind could knock over the frame," Bankowski said.
She said it was difficult to get the snow to the Green because it needed to be broken up before it was transported.
Larry Ufford '67, who works at Trumball-Nelson Construction in Hanover, volunteered to help dump the snow on Thursday so a strong enough base could be built for the rest of the scaffolding.
Council members said they do not expect to get any more snow from Campion Ice Rink. Bankowski also said the snow is the wrong type of snow for the sculpture because it clumps very easily.
"It isn't very useful," Carnival Council co-Chair Tim Chow '96 said.
Bankowski said she is not sure where the rest of the snow will come from, because snow cannot be bought and ski resorts will not be willing to donate their snow.
Since it has been cold for several days, scraping Occom Pond may be possible, but Bankowski said there are "no other ideas that are realistic at this point."
There also is a problem of getting the snow to the Green. The Council needs a front-end loader to drive to where there is snow, Bankowski said.
Getting a snowblower is not an option either, because "to rent a snow blower is extraordinarily expensive and complicated," Bankowski said.
Although the fate of the ice sculpture seems grim, the Council remains confident there will still be a sculpture this year.
"I can't say for certain where I will find the snow. I know it will all come together," she said.
Bankowski said she is still hoping it will snow, but both she and Chow said there is still work that can be done on the sculpture now.
"We are trying to get everything done that we can and just wait for the snow," Chow said.
Right now, the frame is being completed. This week, the frame will be put together and covered with plywood. Then, chicken wire will be stapled onto the structure. The entire scaffolding will be 30-feet high on each side, Bankowski said.
When the snow eventually arrives, the structure will be ready to have the snow slushed on it in time for the Carnival, Bankowski said.