Ice is nice, but can it last?

Under the watchful eye of Scanlon employees Dave Line and Matt Baquette, Barnum's Pete Began gets warmed up during his first skate of the year Monday afternoon. Began, who once lived in Cloquet, made a special trip to Scanlon to meet a friend and skate, because there was no ice in Barnum.

Line said crews started making ice as soon as the temperatures came down in the past two weeks after a record-warm December and early January. "It takes about 50,000 gallons of water," he said, adding that Friday, Jan. 19 was the first day for skating there.

Rinks were popping up all around the area but temperatures are climbing again, with at least a week in the mid-30s predicted beginning Wednesday.

Warming house hours at the pair of rinks in Scanlon are 4-9 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 4-10 p.m. on Fridays, 10 a.m.-10 p.m. Saturdays and 10 a.m.-9 p.m. on Sundays. For the daily weather forecast see Page 2. Photo by Jana Peterson / Pine Knot News