Ice Storm Coating Branches Near Fairbanks

Thick layers of clear ice encrust every twig and branch of a birch tree, transforming the forest into a crystalline sculpture garden near Fairbanks. The setting sun dips low on the horizon, casting a warm, amber firelight that glows through the translucent glaze. Snowflakes drift slowly through the air, settling on the frozen limbs without disturbing the heavy ice. The bark beneath the glaze remains dark and rough, against the smooth, glass-like sheen of the storm. Patches of melting snow rest on the lower branches, hinting at an early spring thaw. one drop of meltwater hangs precariously from a tip, reflecting the orange sky.