On Thin Ice | The Magic of Wild Ice Skating in Alaska [S1-E30]

Discover the otherworldly experience of skating on Alaskan wild ice. Find out what causes wild ice, and hear the chilling sound of raw ice cracking and "singing" beneath our skates.
Watch all of • SEASON ONE | Alaska
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🔹Ep 30 Featured Places: Tern Lake, Seward Highway, Portage Lake, Portage Glacier
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Ice Skating Gear:
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About ART WE THERE YET 🚌🌎
Cora & Jose. Two artists on an epic journey. Alaska to Argentina in a bus turned professional art & recording studio on wheels. Creating art and music inspired by the people and landscapes of the Americas. Creating connections through community murals and songwriting workshops.
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#alaska #wildice #travelvlog #alaskatravel #alaskanadventures

[@ArtWeThereYet]

🎉POLL TIME! Would YOU skate on wild ice?

[@burninoutloud]

Maybe in my younger days. It look like a blissful experience to a good skater.

[@ArtWeThereYet]

Definitely!

[@FloridaLife12]

I am moving from Florida to Alaska seward in a week

[@CerraEquus]

I guess if you show me how to do this, I would :D

[@tacrewgirl]

I already do and it's fun.

[@peachesofheaven]

@5:17 The sounds gave me goosebumps, really magical 🤍

[@ArtWeThereYet]

It was a magical experience indeed! 🙂

[@PaulaandAlanMorris]

This is one of the most magical videos we have ever seen. Stunning beyond words. ❤

[@ArtWeThereYet]

We're so happy you felt the magic of Alaska! 🙂

[@paulfredrickson9589]

What you all have done with this Alaska video series is just stupid good! The attention to detail AND the educational aspect pushes the production to "next level"!

[@ArtWeThereYet]

We're so glad you appreciate the hard work we put into it! 🙂

[@acnlelis]

Wild ice is definetly on my bucket list now!

[@ArtWeThereYet]

Yay! Just don’t forget those ice picks!

[@tacrewgirl]

I highly recommend Nordic skating. You use cross country ski boots with ice blades? Ermine Skates is a local Alaska manufacturer.

[@georgemartin5481]

Cora and Jose' thanks as always for taking us along on a quite impressive experience. I too appreciated the sounds of the dynamic ice!👍

[@ArtWeThereYet]

Glad you enjoyed it, George!

[@judy3624]

Wow, just wow! You two give us such a wonderful “experience from afar.” Love all of your videos and this one just took our breath away. Luis, your skating was quite impressive. And, Cora, your commentary never disappoints. Thank you both.

[@ArtWeThereYet]

Oh hurray! So happy you enjoyed the experience from afar! And thank you for the kind words about JL’s skating and my narrations!

[@edwardmiller6353]

What an amazing ice experience! Never saw anything like it! Thanks!!

[@ArtWeThereYet]

It was! Glad you enjoyed coming out on the ice with us!

[@midwesternpickle]

I visited Anchorage back in February for the Curling tournament during the Fur Rondy. It was an incredible visit. I can't wait to get back, but your videos always give me a little boost to keep me going until I can make it back.

[@ArtWeThereYet]

Aw that is awesome! We caught a glimpse of the curling tournament winter before last. We didn’t understand ANYTHING, but everyone was super nice and welcoming, explaining the rules to us.

[@tacrewgirl]

I had no idea there was a curling tournament during Fur Rondy but I've gone to the curling arena in Mountain View

[@karenfletcher6628]

Another amazing video!!! 😊

[@ArtWeThereYet]

Thank you 🤗

[@burninoutloud]

It's still stunning to me to see the mountains in every direction. Great video! Again! 🙂

[@ArtWeThereYet]

Thanks Dave! Yep those mountains never get old…

[@tacrewgirl]

Looking for to the video. Happy you got to try wild ice skating last winter.

[@ArtWeThereYet]

Us too! We only caught the window a few times, but so happy we did!

[@tomi0618]

Wow ❤❤❤

[@tomas5376]

If I was younger, I’d try the wild ice☃️ Watching/listening to your wonderful videos is like going to school! It’s obvious that you spend a lot of time researching each subject. Gracias👏👏👏👏

[@ArtWeThereYet]

😊 thank you , Tomas. We do put a whole lot into each episode. Thank you for appreciating that.

[@adriennehay4218]

Excellent. Scary sounds of ice cracking

[@gordonquickstad]

So unique an experience. We, in the ‘70’s, skated on ice almost that smooth at Barbour Ponds (now called St Vrain State Park) just east of Longmont, CO.

[@ArtWeThereYet]

Oh wow! Must have been quite a cold snap!

[@gordonquickstad]

@@ArtWeThereYet Yes, in 10 years living there, it was a rare event and never that good again.

[@ArtWeThereYet]

Wow!

[@patriciaburke8729]

The memories…. Here in New England I skating many many days over every winter. Black clear ice. What a joy.

[@ArtWeThereYet]

Amazing. We are hoping to have a few more opportunities for wild ice skating this winter. But as you know, the conditions might happen or might not! Crossing our fingers..

[@MarceloAlexandre3D]

Love everything about you guys!!! The images...the photography...the editing...the soundtrack...the writing...your beautiful voice narrating...the video making...just beautiful!!!💖 💖 💖 I am also a photographer...love nature...62 years young...born in Brazil..in America since 1981...an American citizen now...Just LOVE your work...I've watched thousands of videos BUT you guys are my TOP ONE!!! Keep up the worderful work!!!💖 💖 💖

[@ArtWeThereYet]

Hey Marcelo - oh this is so awesome! So happy you found us and are on the journey with us now. Yippee!

[@pveatch4855]

Love this! Very serene and absolutely beautiful.

[@ArtWeThereYet]

Thank you so much!

[@CerraEquus]

I really hope you got some audio recording of those sci-fi sounding ice noises. Imagine this sounds be implemented in a song - that would sound so unique and cool. I have never seen such very clear ice - pretty impressive. The only sad thing is, that skating on the ice creates those scratches on the surface so that it looks less and less clear with every skater over time - imagine being the very first one - that would be a stunning experience. Wow, now I even saw flower ice for the very first time - didnt know this even exists. Well, my first hope seems to be answered on 22minute mark - feels like you really got those sounds. So great. Would love to see a future music project with those sounds in it.

[@ArtWeThereYet]

Those sounds are pretty crazy, right?! Yes, can you imagine being the first person out in the ice?! I don’t think I could do it…it would freak me out too much.

[@CerraEquus]

Guess if I measured the depth on one point and it was very cold over a week, then I think its ok near the land areas@@ArtWeThereYet

[@ArtWeThereYet]

Folks in Alaska use a pointy pole to test the ice and find it’s thickness

[@edytaprzybysawska4539]

WOOOW!!! I've never seen anything more beautiful & breathtaking than this🤩🥰I wish I lived closer... I'd be there right away :))

[@ArtWeThereYet]

Yes, the wild ice skating in Alaska is just amazing!!!

[@tcgrizz59]

Jose’, you killed it! So cool that you learned skating so quickly.

[@ArtWeThereYet]

Thank you! I still have lots of practice to do before I can skate like Cora 😆

[@Purplehue63]

Wow, that looks amazing ❤ can’t believe how smooth the ice looks and the plant life beneath it is just breathtaking ❤ I feel like I always learn a lot when I’m watching your videos ❤ thank you so much

[@ArtWeThereYet]

Thank you so much for your kind words, it means a lot to us! 🙏

[@ryanjankowski1990]

This is a hit for me. Loved seeing the ice skating.

[@ArtWeThereYet]

Pretty crazy, right?!

[@tacrewgirl]

Your intro music is often used in an awesome KZbin channel called African Biographics. They talk about political history. I'm happy that you got to go wild ice skating. It's awesome fun. Tern Lake and Portage Lake. I skated both along with Skilak this winter. Gorgeous photography and science lesson as always. The sound always scares me. Nordic skating is fun and great for going long distances or skating over several lakes on a portage trail like Nancy Lake and Swan Lake systems. It's awesome seeing Luis learning to skate so well so quickly. I didn't learn until my 30s either. And I'm still not great but enjoy it.

[@ArtWeThereYet]

Shucks that you missed them this year! We missed Skilak. We heard about it, but we’re apprehensive about that road in our Prius..

[@tacrewgirl]

@@ArtWeThereYet We drove Skilak road in an old Camry and it was fine on the west entrance closer to Sterling. EDIT - I meant to say I skated all 3 lakes this winter.

[@ArtWeThereYet]

Oh awesome!! You got all three!!!

[@alaskabarb8089]

Very cool. In the early ‘70s, I played a pickup game of hockey with friends on a frozen lake near Chickaloon, Alaska. The ice was so clear, we could see grayling swimming through long grasses on the bottom, and stacks of bubbles frozen in different layers below the surface. The ice made freaky sounds like vibrating wires as we skated on it. The experience was so amazing, I didn’t notice my toe had frostbite until we were finished.😹

[@ArtWeThereYet]

oh wow, that sounds amazing!

[@lornaaylward2011]

Cora... I love the way you speak... So expressionful

[@ArtWeThereYet]

Thank you, I am so happy you enjoy my narration 😊

[@washingtonbob49]

Dear Cora and Jose'...another incredible video complete with an amazing natural sound track and impressive voice over. I love Alaska so very much but had not heard about the "wild ice " experience....and now I know! The sounds of the crackling ice must have been as chilling and exciting as each yard of lake you skated over...thank you for blessing me with your wonderful video one more time. Much love to you both.

[@ArtWeThereYet]

It was pretty trippy, Bob, not gonna lie! You know that feeling when your body feels a fear of heights? It was kind of like a low-grade, constant version of that. So happy you enjoyed the adventure with us!

[@jeffwells330]

we wore skates with guards to class in Anchorage.strong ankles are important. beluga lake in Homer makes the sounds.joy to you.

[@tompfeiffer2755]

One of the most amazing things I have ever seen!

[@ArtWeThereYet]

Wow, what a kind thing to say. Thank you, Tom!

[@jameslewicki8628]

Great ice!

[@ArtWeThereYet]

Yeah! It was awesome!

[@chitlitlah]

I just moved from Texas to Wisconsin three months ago and got a pair of Nordic skates a couple of weeks ago. I'd never tried ice skating in my life (nor rollerskating for that matter) and my first attempts didn't go so well, but hopefully by the end of the season I can figure it out. This video makes me eager to get out and try it again.

[@ArtWeThereYet]

Hi, thank you so much for watching and we are glad this video is inspiring you to get out there and enjoy the wild ice. José didn't have much experience ice skating either but his has gotten a lot better since the first time he tried, now he loves it!🙂

[@calledtojourney]

What a unique and wonderful experience to skate on that ice! It looked truly magical! We were hiking close to Portage Glacier just a few months before this, and that area is one of our most favorite in Alaska. It's one stunning vista after another. Excellent filming!

[@ArtWeThereYet]

Thank you! Yes, we love love love that area too. We call it “Glacier Valley”. As you know, everywhere you look there are glaciers!

[@jodiheights]

Beautiful footage

[@ArtWeThereYet]

Thanks for watching! 😊

[@brendamountaingirl8354]

Your videos never disappoint you both are Amazing! 🫶🏻

[@ArtWeThereYet]

Thank you so much!!

[@kiwigecko1]

Absolutely breathtaking....lovely videography.

[@ArtWeThereYet]

Thank you so much ☺️

[@pantx0]

Great video and fantastic black ice!! I live in Miami but travel to Canada every year to skate on natural ice! It's my bucket list item that keeps on giving. I would recommend if it's possible, to skate on natural ice blades (which actually attach to xc skiing boots) since they are designed to slide over the imperfections of natural ice making them much more stable than hockey or figure skates. In addition, the xc ski boots keep your feet very warm and they are easy to "tie"down. One can always detach the blades and walk away on the boots.

[@ArtWeThereYet]

Yes, that’s what our friends told us about the Nordic skates. They take some getting used to, but give an even smoother experience they said. And they also love that they can use the same boots for skating and skiing!

[@pantx0]

@@ArtWeThereYet Coolisimo!

[@danielpais5329]

Such a wonderful experience!

[@ArtWeThereYet]

Yes it was!🙂

[@slowdownforadventure]

Super cool! Jose, you learned to skate so well in such a short time! That’s amazing! And the red jacket swap for the from-above shots… so beautiful! Love this episode. - We have a lake here in Talkeetna that also freezes like glass (when we are lucky and snow comes late). It’s eerie to skate it, because the frozen lake will have only few cracks and few bubbles… so it feels like you are skating on nothing. Only when you get to a crack can you tell how thick the ice is. 😊👍

[@ArtWeThereYet]

Hi Debbie, thank you! Cora is a great teacher, I only wish I could skate like she does. I had lots of fun learning, that ice on Tern lake was amazing! I was joking with Cora that that when we did the jacket swap she looks like my stunt double 😆

[@wellslj]

Amazing! I had no idea you could hear those noises from the ice.

[@ArtWeThereYet]

Right?!

[@healerondemand3464]

Great video as usual. I’d love to skate in that ice. Of course I live in Florida so I’d have to learn. But I’d do it

[@ArtWeThereYet]

You could do it! I bet you’d love it!

[@healerondemand3464]

@@ArtWeThereYet thanks 🙏

[@Chris-xk4jw]

Exceptional!

[@ArtWeThereYet]

Thank you! 🙏

[@maurizio8740]

Bel video immagini stupende 👏👏ciao👋

[@ArtWeThereYet]

Grazie!!

[@kyralichtenstein2971]

Wow amazing! Thanks for sharing this wonderful experience.

[@ArtWeThereYet]

Thank you! So happy you enjoyed it!

[@jayahn9399]

Beautiful!!!

[@ArtWeThereYet]

We’re glad you enjoyed the beauty of the ice! 🙂

[@telcantor2069]

Beautiful.... Thanks!

[@ArtWeThereYet]

We are glad you enjoyed it!

[@59kuphoff]

Thanks!

[@ArtWeThereYet]

Wow, thank you so much!!!

[@Frederic38360]

Wow incredible

[@ArtWeThereYet]

Yes, it was so awesome to experience wild ice!

[@brendamountaingirl8354]

Hello 👋🏼 everyone

[@ArtWeThereYet]

So happy you tuned in for the premiere!

[@ARAL446667]

So damn cool!

[@ArtWeThereYet]

It was a super cool experience 🙂

[@RissaBabyyxo]

That lake is almost 8 miles across, how long would you say it took you to Skate across one way?

[@ArtWeThereYet]

It took us about 4 hours out and back but we were going slow enjoying the scenery and filming for this video.

[@Angie-v4r]

❤

[@ArtWeThereYet]

Thank you for watching!❤️

[@AgentTrust]

👍🙏

[@ArtWeThereYet]

🙂

[@DaveBredin]

You should have lit the methane bubbles on fire and warmed yourself!

[@ArtWeThereYet]

Yikes! That’s a level of ballsy we could only dream of!

[@wellslj]

I can't skate so no.

[@ArtWeThereYet]

José didn't know how to skate before this either but he learned quick🙂