Description[]
Level 202, also known as the Snowy Glaciers or simply the Glaciers, is a level consisting of a plethora of glaciers and icebergs floating in a vast sea of unknown size. However, unlike typical glaciers, some of the glaciers in Level 202 are much larger, spanning hundreds of kilometers across and reaching lengths comparable to the Lambert Glacier in the Frontrooms.
Level 202 possesses a cloudless, clear blue sky. The sky has no visible sun, nor any other celestial body or light source that would normally be required to provide light, and so the source of light for the level is believed to be anomalous. However, the level does possess a day-night cycle equivalent to that of Earth in the Frontrooms, albeit without ever displaying the distinguishing colors of sunsets or sunrises. Additionally, light is still present in Level 202 even when it is dark, although it is still very dark and difficult to see without the use of an external light source. Despite the level possessing a day-night cycle, it is believed to not have seasons, as its temperatures, day and night lengths, and sun patterns never change.
A thick layer of snow permeates the majority of the glaciers' surfaces that are directly exposed to the sky in Level 202, though some areas lack any snow, posing a potential slipping hazard to anyone walking on these areas. This is especially dangerous near and at the edges of the glaciers, where one is susceptible to sliding right off of the glacier and into the freezing waters below. Due to the snow only appearing on surfaces directly exposed to the sky, the glacial 'walls' of ice mountains and hills and the interior of glacial caves are devoid of snow. The average snow depth is 30cm; however, the snow is so compact that one cannot possibly sink into the snow. Unlike regular glaciers from the Frontrooms, the glaciers in Level 202 are mostly not flat, instead possessing slopes, hills, and even small mountains.
The temperature of Level 202 never seems to vary, always staying at a cold -15°C. Because of the health risks posed by this temperature, it is unrecommended to stay in the level for long unless one has the right clothes, equipment, and resources. Additionally, the waters of Level 202 are extremely cold, at a steady 10°C, and should not be entered for any reason[1].
When one arrives in Level 202, they will be sent to a random part of the level rather than somewhere relative to their previous location, though it will always be on a glacier. It is unknown how large the glacier must be to be a potential point of entry, and the M.E.G. is currently researching this phenomenon[2]. However, wanderers travelling in groups have a small chance to arrive at the same spot, or at least the same general area. Due to this, it is believed that either the time or location of one's entry to Level 202 from the entry point plays a part in where wanderers end up in the level.
Crevasses are one of the few major hazards in Level 202, and although rare, they pose a great risk to wanderers' lives. Most of them are really deep, with it being difficult to impossible to escape once one has fallen in. Some of them are so deep that they go all the way down to the bottom of the glacier and lead to the freezing waters below. In addition, some crevasses are hidden by a delicate layer of snow and ice and one has no reliable way to know where they are without first testing the ground with an object as heavy or heavier than oneself.
Entities[]
No entities have been discovered in Level 202 and it is assumed that the level is devoid of entities.
Previous Life[]
Despite the lack of entities in Level 202, there have been numerous reports from wanderers of giant skeletons of unknown creatures buried in the ice, suggesting that native life used to exist on the level a long time ago. So far, it is unknown what the skeletons belonged to or if the reports concerning them are even reliable.
Notice
If one discovers bones buried in the ice, it is highly encouraged to report it to the M.E.G. so that further updates can be provided, as information about these bones could be vital for discovering what life could have been like in Level 202 long ago.Colonies and Outposts[]
Due to the high risk of groups being split up upon entering Level 202 and the level's extremely cold temperatures, no colonies or outposts have been established and creating any has been deemed infeasible.
Attached Note[]
While the Backrooms is an unforgiving place, I have nonetheless found a place of safety.
This new level does not resemble anything on the Database, so there is no doubt in my mind that I stand on uncharted territory. However, where I expected there to be a dull, disorienting landscape utterly drained of beauty, I instead find the opposite. This new landscape is peaceful and picturesque, isolated yet calming. Icebergs and glaciers mostly covered by snow float on a perfectly still sea, often forming sloping or jagged shapes.
I've never been to a glacier in my life, but from what I've seen from pictures and heard from other people, this level near-perfectly replicates the Antarctic. The surrounding ice could easily be perceived as natural formations. The only obvious difference upon observation is its lack of any overhead sun, moon, or stars, despite the bright sky above with not a cloud in sight.
I begin my exploration of this mysterious frozen landscape. Luckily, the snow is quite thick, so traversing it is relatively easy. I reach a winding, snowy slope that runs up through an ice formation and begin ascending it, marveling at the ice walls as I walk. Countless snowflakes must have accumulated to form all the ice and snow I see around me. How long must it have taken? Decades? Centuries? Millennia? Then again, this being the Backrooms, it may have formed some other way. However, it still calls to mind the processes that would be required to form landscapes like this on Earth, and that alone is amazing.
The cavernous slope does not go up for that long, and I quickly reach the top. I look around and marvel at the view; much more is visible from here. Surely a view to rival even that of Antarctica on Earth.
I walk on, determined to explore more of the snowy glaciers. My journey here has likely just begun.
Entrances and Exits[]
Entrances[]
- It is believed that finding an iceberg in Level 7 and touching it will teleport one to Level 202, but this entrance remains unconfirmed.
- Walking into one of the blue-lit storage rooms in Level 193 has an extremely small chance to send one to Level 202.
- If one wanders long enough in Level 202.1, one may find an exit that leads to the outside area of this level, with the exit usually being replaced with a regular ice cave; however, one may rarely be able to go back the way they came via this same cave.
- Noclipping through an ice blockage in Level 38.1 will send one to Level 202.
- Breaking a portion of the ice on a frozen river, lake, or ocean and jumping into the freezing water on Level 415 has a 50/50 chance of sending someone to Level 202.
Exits[]
- Finding an area with no glaciers or icebergs and swimming out far enough will take one to Level 468.1's sea. It is believed that this also has a small chance to take one to Level 7, but this remains unconfirmed.
- Entering and going far enough into a cave has a chance to lead seamlessly into Level 202.1; rarely, one may be able to go back the way they came through the same cave.
- 15 minutes of lying in the snow might take one to Level 395.
- One wanderer reported falling into a hole in the ground and ending up in Level 44, though this remains unconfirmed and is likely false.
- After falling asleep, one has a very rare chance to wake up in Level 186.
Gallery[]
Footnotes
- ↑ While the water temperature in Level 202 is much warmer than that of the air temperature in the level, water conducts heat faster than air and therefore drains one's body heat faster, making the water much more dangerous.
- ↑ Discovering how the phenomenon works is low on the M.E.G.'s list of priorities due to the lack of knowledge not posing any danger to wanderers. Therefore, it is unlikely that any updates regarding the phenomenon will be released in the near future.
Author: Forknife
1st Image: Pexels, modified slightly by me using Online Photoshop
2nd Image / Background Image: Pix4free
3rd Image: Flickr
4th Image: GNS Science, edited slightly by me using Pixlr
5th Image: Wikimedia Commons, cropped by me
6th Image: Pix4free
7th Image: Wikimedia Commons
8th Image: Pickpik
Survival Difficulty Icon: Made by Scutoid and edited by me using Pixlr
| Levels | Level 9.31 │ Level 135 │ Level 186 | Level 193 | Level 202 │ Level 202.1 | Level 204 │ Level 210 │ Level 412 │ Level 468 │ Level 468.1 │ Level 600 │ Level 600.1 |
|---|---|
| Anomalous Levels | Lurking Demise | The Surrounding Abyss | The Subwaters | The Parallel | The Red Colosseum | Oceanic Chaos |
| Locations | The Smile Room |
| Entities | Entity 43 | Entity 86 | Entity 303 | Entity 500 |
| Anomalous Entities | The Abomination | The Halloween Demon |
| Objects | Object 21 |
| Phenomena | Phenomenon 14 | Phenomenon 366 |
| Anomalous Phenomena | The Decay |
| POIs | Jack Umbra |
| Tales | Incident V1 | Hunted | A Snowy Rebirth | Descent | The Skybound Catacombs | Endless | Uncertain Waters | Within | Dark Fate | Simulation 37 | Creation | Awakening | Darkness | Record | A Place to Rest | Agony | News Report | What Will Remain I | Project Ark | The Show Must Go On | Smiling | Ravenous | Illumination |
| Miscellaneous | The Backrooms Legends |