Giant snow bison sighted in Keystone

Dahl’s Chainsaw Art in Keystone was abuzz over social media with a snowstorm snow carving that drew the delight of locals and visitors alike. Some came from as far as three hours away to see the bison carving.

This was the first snow carving Jarrett Dahl has done, although he has carved in ice and competed in ice-carving competitions before.

His mentor, a world champion ice carver from Alaska, came up with the snow sculpture idea during the last snowstorm. The storm gave the Dahl crew some down time and he thought it would be a fun way to pass the time.

Ideally heavier wet snow, like the type the Hills received in this latest storm, works the best. In the middle of winter the temperatures are usually colder and the snow is thinner and can’t pack as good. Jarrett says snow carvings are easier than wood.  

“They’re faster and they’re completely different,” he said.

The carving drew a steady flow of traffic to the Dahls’ Keystone location. 

After seeing the response to the snow buffalo, Jarrett is considering doing a few more snow or ice carvings, weather dependent. 

“The kids love this,”  he said. “People are always looking for something to do in the winter, anything that would be fun to do and give them this type of experience.”

He also has the right crew of guys for the task. It took the crew 17 hours to make the carving. 

That same crew, composed of carvers from all over the country, is working on a 37-foot buffalo sculpture in Custer. 

That carving has taken about three weeks and should be complete. The Custer sculpture is the first giant the Dahls have built for a business other than their own. Jarrett thinks it’s going to be a pretty big hit. 

Locals and tourists can see the other Dahl giants in Keystone, Hill City and Wall, which boasts a 42-foot jackalope with a staircase that Jarrett says is “completely different” from the other giants of Bigfoot and Smokey Bear.