Hmm - I'll take a look at this! I upgraded the backend of this and Krypts to use a system that we could add to easily (and added a few new achievements to the ice fields) and tested, but didn't run into this issue.

Okay I see what is going on! I set up a mechanism for making it so that you don't have to go back to the start if you make it past a certain checkpoint, and then.... didn't put anything about it on the page or explain it at all. every time your alert fired, you'd start at the glacial plain with the "unwilling to admit defeat" text, pick a direction, get lost, and end up right back there an hour later. each trip into the Ice Fields is now a fresh expedition from town: when your cooldown ends, you start from the tundra's edge, find cookies again, and get a real shot at the Bucket of Polar Water. If you were stuck at the glacial plain, you'll be unstuck automatically the next time you visit.