Nenana Ice Classic Ends at 4:24 p.m. Wednesday

The Nenana Ice Classic ended Wednesday when a tripod mounted on the Tanana River moved and tripped a clock in the annual spring guessing game.

Ice Classic manager Cherrie Forness says the winning guess was 4:24 p.m. Alaska Standard Time.

The tripod actually tripped the clock 5:24 p.m. Alaska Daylight Time but guesses are made in standard time.

The jackpot was $338,062. As of Thursday morning, the Ice Classic’s website said 22 correct guesses had been made but did not list the winners.

The event begin in 1917 when surveyors for the federal agency building the Alaska Railroad waited for open water so boats could bring up material they needed to go to work.

Ice Classic organizers erect a wooden tripod connected by cable to a clock. When the tripod moves a prescribed distance as ice moves downriver, the wire trips the clock.