We made it to Barepoint this morning

 Had a good ride in with little ice at Cat Island to push through, great for cleaning the hull ! Next is was in Bigstone on East side Lunny’s Island but could navigate around that easily. Arrived home 15:00 there is still ice south of French Narrows around White out island, you can’t boat from West to East across the Manitou but you can get around by Scotty’s and Hades and  shammis narrows is open and you can travel Holmstrum marsh and Back channel. Looking East into Moore Bay, Andrew Bay both clear it looked a little white as far East into Bigstone as you could see, expect last of lingering ice to disappear 9 or 10. Lake has risen 10” since it first opened around our dock, nice height you don’t need a ladder to get out boat. This will be last post till Freeze up , safe boating 

Lake is open

 Just got a text from a friend who was flying today and his report is we can get to Barepoint.

However there is still some ice in Bigstone and Manitou to navigate around and you won’t get too far past French Narrows. We have had huge pieces of ice flowing past all day, some size football fields.Debbie and I will make our first run in for fresh produce in morning and I’ll be all over the Lake Friday so when I get home in evening I’ll post

May 6 boat ride

 Beautiful day here yesterday lake was glass not a breath wind hit 23c, sunny. I made it to green Bouy E27 the ice here is 6” thick, candelled with cracks, Dorian Marsh is ice free. When I can reach this point the earliest we made Barepoint is 4 days and longest was 10 days. We have a strong North wind this morning should help move ice around. I will go out again on May 8 see how far I can go and post again. Remember bridge to Coney comes out on May 09 but is poor weather next date is May 12

Countdown starts today

 This morning we are ice free between our Island and East Allie, when this happens we can make it to Barepoint anywhere from 7 days as in 2013 or as long as 23 days in 2021. Average over past 19 seasons is 14 days which would be May 14, I’m still thinking we could make Barepoint by May 09 with a little more help from Mother Nature and warm things up. On April 28 we dipped down to -5 and made 5/16 “ ice . Laurenson Lake is 1/2 clear of ice and yesterday April 30 the water bomber was practicing in Safety Bay.

Spring 2025

 On this date last year I boated to Green Bouy E27 before being stopped by ice. We are definitely a week behind. I’m predicting  to reach Barepoint Marina May 09 . I’m going to attempt to attach a couple pictures of this morning, if it works the candled ice on railing is 9” thick,  it’s like that for about 20’ out from shore to solid ice. Still haven’t seen a Robin or heard a Loon yet. Every spring we are seeing more Swans, this year counted 14. Doesn’t seem to be as many geese as in past years.

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