Garrett Foster using the 80-year-old Duso saw to cut in the grid lines for ice blocks on the first day of Ice Palace construction on Jan. 17, 2019. (Enterprise photo — Jesse Adcock)

SARANAC LAKE — Construction of the Saranac Lake Winter Carnival Ice Palace is scheduled to begin on Monday.

Scores of volunteers have been kept busy removing snow from the ice field on a daily basis for the last week. Snow removal is necessary to encourage ice growth. Construction involves harvesting ice from Lake Flower, transporting it to the shore and assembling it according to a blueprint, which is kept secret from the public until the Palace is built. Construction on the palace will likely continue until the start of Carnival on Feb. 2.

The Ice Palace is built by volunteers, organized by a group informally known as the Ice Palace Workers 101. The public is welcome to volunteer and roles are assigned based on comfort level, skill and ability.

The construction of the Ice Palace is a community effort by those dedicated to keeping this time-honored tradition alive. Volunteers are subject to very cold temperatures and inclement weather conditions, all while handling ice and snow. Despite these harsh conditions, camaraderie is evident and a sense of pride is felt among the volunteers who contribute to continuing the legacy of the Ice Palace. Members of the Women’s Civic Chamber provide refreshments daily to the IPW workers. St Joseph’s Rehabilitation provides hot chocolate and coffee.

Modern equipment is used for the heavy lifting, but traditional manual methods are practiced as well, including antique hand saws and ice tongs. Another manual process which is critical to the construction is making slush, a mixture of water and snow. The slush forms the mortar which holds the Ice Palace together. Volunteers fill countless buckets with water, pound in snow, carry it to the palace walls and apply the slush with rubber gloved hands.

The Ice Palace is a crowning achievement and is the most popular attraction at Winter Carnival. The palace is located adjacent to the Lake Flower State Boat Launch on River Street.

Saranac Lake Winter Carnival is a 10-day, community-wide event that traces its roots to a one-day Winter Carnival held in 1897 by the Pontiac Club.

For more information, visit the Saranac Lake Winter Carnival website at www.saranaclakewintercarnival.com. The 2024 Winter Carnival will take place Feb. 2-11.