Arctica busy times

[Pow Pow]

From reading on ePlaya and watching YouTube videos, it seems the wait time can be very long for ice at Arctica. Is there a better time of day to go or is it busy all the time?

[Dr. Pyro]

I'm not at all sure this is going to help, but...Barbie Death Camp always makes it a priority to be there just about as soon as they open, 9 a.m. But we usually buy 24-30 bags of ice and perhaps 8 blocks of ice; sometimes more than that. They have always allowed placed (and subsequently well-known) theme camps the privilege of driving around back and special order ice. That of course is lousy advice if you are only trying to pick up a few bags of ice. But for really large orders, Arctica will play ball with you.

[Ratty]

Be in line before they open. (or just enjoy the line). Youll be conversing because your phone doesnt work.

[lucky420]

Nope we’re pretty darn fast now. Been working ice going on 8 years now

[Savannah]

I would go right when they open, and beat the rush. Mid-day always seems the worst wait, but it's pretty festive. Don't cut it too close to the end of the day; they have to end the line somewhere.

Bring water, a hat, and if you have one, a wagon.

If everyone in camp takes turns, it's not so bad. Or perhaps you can delegate a reliable Icemaster, who by virtue of their errand is exempted from a task of equal length.

[BBadger]

Oddly enough, I remember going mid-day last year and it was a breeze getting through the line. Maybe it was because it was extremely hot and nobody thought they wanted to be standing in line for ice. Or maybe it's just more efficient these days.

Go when it's most inconvenient for other people to go.

[Pow Pow]

Thanks everyone for all the replies!

[Paisley7]

How much does ice cost? Wanting to know how much cash to bring since I believe ice is a cash purchase?

[lucky420]

Yes it’s cash. 4 bucks a bag iirc. I should know this but I always forget

[spacetime]

Even when the lines are long it is often entertaining or a welcome low energy moment in the arctica line.

[Token]

Here is a story for your amusement.

I had a custom bike rig for ice runs back about a decade.

An old Diamondback that was abandoned moop at our camp one year, with a welded ball hitch and garden cart attached.

I took an old trench coat from a thrift store and sewed in a ton of pockets on the inside that held small 200ml and 50ml bottles.

I’d fill those pockets with good scotch.

I would proceed on my rig to the area where folks were loading up their ice, open the ice chests on the cart and flash the ice crew while proclaiming: ”Fine warm scotch! Get your fine warm scotch here.”!

I never waited in an ice line.

Granted, it was really good scotch and part of my “gift”. Yes, the gift also included the big middle finger to the line I was cutting

Culture was jammed.

[vlajim]

Margaret and I worked at Arctica last year, what a blast. Margaret was a cashier, I was a slinger. Figure we sold $40.00 of ice a min. Largest singe buy was $720. We will be there this year, coolest job on the playa!

[Sunny D]

I've gone on random times throughout the week and never waited more than 10 minutes. The wait is pretty entertaining, so it always felt like it went pretty fast.