Almost Ice Free

 There is still patches of ice floating around but that didn’t prevent a couple of die hards from getting to their camps. Bunn Island to East was still ice covered, Allan’s reef had 3’ high pile ice with ice to West as far as I could see , heard people had to navigate ice to reach Barepoint. I’m going to try attach a video, it’s the ice at Bald Island on Thursday afternoon, the accompanying picture shows it was 8.5” thick and was gone by 9 am Friday.  Until freeze up have a safe and healthy summer.

1 st boat ride season

 Yesterday I launched both boats and took them for spin. I made it to Green Bouy E 27 just short Bald Island. It’s black rotten ice as far as can see towards Queer Island. Today’s forecast has rain and tomorrow is gusty winds, both should help get rid ice. If you were to boat from Keewatin there is only 1/4 mile of ice preventing you from reaching Scotty’s beach. Welcome Channel still iced in. When I took truck off ice I dragged 2 large boulders off shore and spotted them for floating dock anchors on Scotty’s Island just North and West of Day Marker. One sunk last week the other is still sitting on ice ! Laurenson Lake still 75% ice cover, with all that being said should make Barepoint on Saturday April 27, 2 days past my April 25 prediction. But don’t pack coolers just yet I’ll post when I get home from Barepoint 

Candled ice

 This picture was taken April 14 when open water first started to appear at dock, it’s 8” thick.Forgot to mention in last post is that the ice is still tight to shore on East end our island. And from pictures I’ve seen from back side Scotty’s pretty tight up there as well. We need wind to get ice moving 

Ice update

 April 20 the strong SW winds moved the ice around enough that I could canoe across to East Allie. When this happens I’ve made Barepoint in as early as 7 days and as late as late as 23 days. Still ice between us and Narrows, did manage to connect floating boathouse yesterday, only took 2 winches to get her off bottom, water level is low but has risen almost 1” in past 10 days. Level is 66 1/2” below the flood height of 2022. Our resident Loon arrived yesterday, 7 Swans been hanging around the narrows for 2 weeks now.I still think we will be boating in April but not till very end. This picture shows open water to East Allie, the ice at bottom of picture broke free and drifted North at 17:00

Spring 2024

 I took our truck off ice yesterday, could have pushed her  a little longer but open water on South side of French Narrows Portage is getting larger and with mild temperatures coming next week figured it’s time.Eagles, Gulls and Crows all back but not as many Geese as usual for this time year. Last year I made it to Barepoint May 07 ( did have to push through ice in couple places ) so stay tuned.

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