Arctica busy times
Arctica busy times
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?
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- Dr. Pyro
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Re: Arctica busy times
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.
Re: Arctica busy times
Be in line before they open. (or just enjoy the line). Youll be conversing because your phone doesnt work.
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- lucky420
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Re: Arctica busy times
Nope we’re pretty darn fast now. Been working ice going on 8 years now 

Oh my god, it's HUGE!
Re: Arctica busy times
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.
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.
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Re: Arctica busy times
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.
Go when it's most inconvenient for other people to go.
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Re: Arctica busy times
Thanks everyone for all the replies!
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Re: Arctica busy times
How much does ice cost? Wanting to know how much cash to bring since I believe ice is a cash purchase?
- lucky420
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Re: Arctica busy times
Yes it’s cash. 4 bucks a bag iirc. I should know this but I always forget
Oh my god, it's HUGE!
Re: Arctica busy times
Even when the lines are long it is often entertaining or a welcome low energy moment in the arctica line.
Re: Arctica busy times
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.
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.
Re: Arctica busy times
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
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Re: Arctica busy times
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.
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