Fun with Snow in Seeley Lake

SEELEY LAKE – Weather is always a tricky variable when it comes to snow sculptures. Unfavorable snow conditions of the past few Januarys are part of the reason the Seeley Lake Snow Sculpture Contest was discontinued. Nonetheless, the Seeley Lake Chamber of Commerce decided to resurrect the contest for Winterfest 2018. Despite Mother Nature's oscillations between hot, cold, snow and rain, seven plucky groups defied the odds and created what one snow sculpture judge described as "really cool" sculptures.

The judges representing Alpine Artisans were couples Carla and Gene Schade and Chris and Bud Jewett. Representing the Seeley Lake Chamber of Commerce was Executive Director Lisa Hayhurst and board member Eric Hayhurst. Their son James also judged.

Professional Category

Doug Richards was the only entry in this category for professional artists or someone with considerable experience doing snow sculptures. Despite the lack of competition, the judges applauded "Bear in Mind" on its own merits.

Located at 700 Timberlane Drive, the sculpture of a bear with a food cart was Richards' tribute to the dedicated individuals who, through the Seeley Lake Senior Center last year brought 2,047 Meals on Wheels to needy folks in the valley. Judges pointed to the coffee pot on the cart as a particular example of attention to detail.

"It was a fabulous sculpture," said Judge Gene Schade.

Business Category

The first-place award went to the "Sip-n-Slide at the Winter Castle," an interactive sculpture at the Tamaracks Resort. Jessica, Jeff and their son Kayden Kimmel along with Kayden's friend Ty Castillon spent three days creating the sculpture using power tools including a chainsaw and tractor.

An inner tube slide that ran all the way to the lake offered quick exit from the castle wall. Many of the judges felt it their duty to try it out. They subsequently pronounced it lots of fun.

Judges also tried out the accompanying "cold" bar on the castle wall. A beverage cooler (with real beverages) was carved into the ice-slab bar. Non-sliders could sit on the icy bar stools and munch on provided snacks, keeping their drinks cold by placing them in the hole carved for that purpose.

The judges all agreed the snow carvers did "a fabulous job" and put "so much thought and ingenuity" into their sculpture.

When the snow sculpture awards were announced, Schade pointed out Tamaracks Resort is going to continue to add to their winter castle tiki bar for the Chamber Chill scheduled for Feb. 17 at 1 p.m. at the Resort.

Second place went to the sculpture at the Grizzly Claw Trading Company on Highway 83 entitled "Good Books, Good Coffee." It featured a grizzly bear sitting down with books between his feet and a mug of coffee in his paw. He exemplified the snowy version of things one could find inside the Grizzly Claw.

Sculptor Becky Wells said, "We wanted something to represent the business."

"Books and coffee is what we are about," added fellow sculptor Sequoia Wilber.

This was Wells' first year participating. She recruited Wilber who had done a sculpture in 2016 for the Grizzly Claw. Wells and Wilber cut the snow bank back and then brought snow in. They had already put in six hours before adding the final details Friday afternoon.

The judges noted the good definition outlining the bear and the books. They were also charmed by the use of a broken icicle for the straw in the bear's mug.

Family Category

The Seeley Lake Trailblazers 4-H Club's "May the Force Be with You" at Seeley Lake 1-Stop swept the family category placing the Trailblazers in first place again after many years of winning the big kids/little kids division. Their sculpture featured a giant Darth Vader face.

Judges were impressed with the size and the great definition of the carving. One of the judges commented that the 4-H always had great entries.

Unfortunately, the previous day's rain had caused considerable deterioration on Seeley Lake Elementary Snow School's entry, "The Noble Eagle and Its Nest." Using two photos taken when the sculpture was finished, the judges were able to evaluate the project more fairly, placing them second in the family category.

The judges noted the use of color to make the eagle and the eggs stand out better and thought the pine bough nest was quite clever.

Snow Person Category

In the Snow Person Category all entrants were considered winners. The judges were delighted by the fun ideas that came out of this category and expressed their hope that more people would participate in this no-experience-necessary category next Winterfest.

Alicia McQuarters and Karla Triepke's exhibit at 578 Grizzly Drive entitled "When No One's Looking" featured a whole family of snow folks wearing knit scarves and hats. Some were roasting marshmallows [rat tails still attached to the bough] over a fire pit [lined with pine boughs]. One had attempted ice skating but had fallen on his back! One was smoking a [rat tail bough] pipe. Another was riding a snowmobile.

Judges commented on the clever use of branches for arms and buttons for facial features which lent a good deal of character to each snow person. One judge commented the snowmobiler was obviously a wild rider; she could tell by the non-matching button eyes, one of which had a swirly pattern.

Richards also entered this category. He made a chubby, patriotic snowman which he titled "Wild Ride."

Judges liked the snowman's large size, pinecones eyes and red coffee-lid buttons, one judge commenting he was "a cutie."

Overall, the judges said they were really impressed with all the entries. Schade said he looks forward to next year and hopes that two or three times as many sculptures and snow people are entered in the competition. This year every participant won a prize with first place winner taking home $85 each and second place winning $60. Both entries in the Snow Person category won $25 each.

Richards said the Chamber is going in the right direction getting the competition going again and has high hopes that next year, if he is capable of doing it again, there will be competition in the professional class.

"If you were disappointed in the numbers this year, help promote more people doing it next year," said Richards.

The sculptures are still viewable as long as the cold weather lasts. Maps showing the locations are available at the Grizzly Claw Trading Company, on the Seeley Lake Area Chamber of Commerce Facebook page and on the Pathfinder website calendar.