Skating Rink

 Ice is about 3” thick

The Manitou has froze

 She froze over earlier but winds opened her up. She is now frozen, going into winter mode today with 5-10 cm in forecast 

This picture is Ministry Landing Nov 28

 

Ice forming

 Our internet has been down for several weeks ( you don’t realize how much we depend on it till you don’t have it for extended periods) so this is first chance I’ve had for an update. The bridge to Coney went in couple weeks ago. Laurenson lake froze a week ago but with last warm spell and wind reopened in middle, she is now frozen . We normally freeze 2 weeks later, Welcome Channel is froze over as is small bays. The South end (North West Angle area) was making ice 9 days ago.

Lake is open

 That’s me in Red Floater , I pushed north through ice and Rob Edlund was pushing South we met a Finches Point. This morning that ice and all ice visible to East in Bigstone  Bay is gone. However we still have ice visible 1 mile south and  less than 1 mile to East of our place at French Narrows. 2023 boating season has begun, be safe on water, and be cautious with fires we are tinder dry this spring, next post will be when Lake starts freeze.

Spring Update

 April 25 th goes in book as day I can canoe across to East Allie without touching ice ! Looked back at diaries and when this happens it’s anywhere from 7 days to 23 days we can boat to Barepoint. The last snow has melted off on land with some winter snow still hanging in shaded areas in bush .But it has left a protective cover on ice and this is reflecting sun. Another problem is with minus temperatures at night and calm winds we are still making ice and it takes till afternoon to melt. My first guess was May 05 then I revised it to May 13 after getting 8” snow, with cooler long range forecast I’ll stick with the latter.

Last snowmobile trip

 Yesterday I snowmobiled to Barepoint, travel was good, all snow has melted off ice, in places you can’t tell where ice roads were. I would have needed a 10’ bridge to get quad onto ice as it’s open water at all 3 of our landings but once out on ice it’s smooth as table top. The usual areas are opening up , strawberry narrows is open shore to shore, French Narrows open to East Allie. It’s about half open between us and East Allie. Once I can canoe across it’s about 12 days till we can boat to Barepoint so watching this closely! There is an old wives tale that it will snow 3 times after the seagulls return. Deck was white on 15 th and they are forecasting 15-20 cm next couple days, let’s hope the 3rd one misses us or comes in form rain !

Run Off

 Most of snow has melted in bush, all snow has melted off ice, except for yesterday dusting.

So it’s looking like a regular spring ?? Hopefully 

First Spring Report

 

This picture was of our road April 11, sunny,calm, 13c just perfect day. There is 3” water on top ice, ice looks like Swiss Cheese full of holes ranging from 1-10” diameter, ice is 18” thick. Today’s high is 15c and if sun comes out should melt last snow off ice ? There is still about 12” snow in bush, yesterday morning a patch grass 10” diameter appeared , by this morning its 8’ diameter. So far it’s been a very sunny, calm spring but that changes this week with 1” rain forecast. We took our truck off ice  April 02 ahead of the 12” snow dump. But I heard there is still truck traffic off Ministry Landing. I have to make a run to Barepoint this week but will be by snowmobile. With French Narrow opening up more geese are arriving with 2 seagulls on Monday. Too early to tell but first prediction is to boat town May 07