Ice Road Conditions

The colder weather had certainly helped the ice road conditions. As of today, Leonard is out widening the road and things are looking good. Should be attempting to put driveways in today. I was out yesterday to check my camp. Not much snow, lots of ice fisherman/shacks out there already.

Ice conditions as of yesterday, were not as good as we would like them when driving on the ice road. Leonard was out and did push a road in, but only 10-10.5 inches of ice. He is not recommending driving on it yet, and is hoping it will tighten up in the next couple of days as the temperature will be down a bit. Drive at your own risk if need be. There are vehicles out there, but 12 inches would be better.

Ice Update

Brought our truck out to the Island today,There are no roads yet,just snowmobile and Quad tracks(and not too many of them).If you plan on venturing out anytime soon check ice thickness often and be careful.

First Town Trip

Made the first trip into town by snowmobile on 16th.Travelling by sled is awesome,the ice is smooth and with 1" snowcover makes for a nice ride. The only pressure ridge between here and Town was on the North side of Dorian Marsh and at present is not very big.Terry Lunny took his vehicle to Scotty's yesterday.If your travelling with quad or snowmachine "come on down" BUT leave the trucks on main land.

ice thickness

Beautiful bright day with a high of -23c. Was out on sled this afternoon checking conditions.The thinest ice was Andrew Bay @ 6" there was 7" over @ S.E.area of Queer Island.We have 8" @ our landing French Narrows.The problem area is that Bigstone Bay only froze on 12th.Will be a couple more days before heading to our truck @ Bare Point.Do not recommend anyone to venture out on ice yet.

Hey Rick.....

Leonard was saying that there is 2 inches of ice north of Rocky Narrows as of yesterday. Bigstone has now froze over, so on our way to making good ice.

Ice Update

This past week has been awesome weather for making ice.Our temps have been a little warmer than Wpg's, but we caught up this morning with a -26c. On the 10th I checked ice thickness At our landing and had 5.5" more than enough for a snowmobile BUT this year the lake stayed open in sections. I'm only guessing but I think these sections may only have 2-3" and I'm not about to venture out to check!
I have heard people are on sleds in Welcome channel and 4" ice @ Wolf Island on Manitou side.After this weekend I will take out the snowmobile and start checking ice thickness in our area.

The last of the open water froze over today-ice for as far as we can see all directions, -20's all week-good weather for making ice.

were back @ lake

Arrived home 1pm this afternoon. No ice from Bare Point to the Hade's. Then we pushed ice from the Red Bouy south to Hall's Gate. No more ice till we passed the "Outfitters Island" then it was ice all the way to our dock. The ice was 3/4" thick and we had a heavy load so it was easy going. The picture was taken in the Hades,solid ice to South. The picture of our path is looking North-Bare point to left,Northern Harbor to right. Current temp-11,light flurries and a low of-20.

Lake is OPEN

Boated to Bare Point this morning after the heavy fog lifted.We still pushed a little ice but by the time you guys arrive Friday night all the ice will be gone.
On our return trip to the Island we passed a couple boats.Spotted first Cormorant on 3rd and saw the first Beaver swimming around today-also heard frogs for the first time.This will be the last picture of the spring season,it was taken on May 04th Strawberry Portage in foreground looking south to Queer

may 6th 1:20 pm

what's happening today ??? can you see water or ice ??? the weekend is coming up ??? soooo maybe sat or sun or monday ??? maybe a hairdryer attached to the front of the boat c/w gen/set !!! that'll work ,,, i know it will ,,, it's got to work ,,, please try it and get back to me ,,, us !!! thanks for keeping us up to date ,,, it's now 1:22 ,,, pt

Okay...enough of the "S" word already! I want summer and want it now! Hahaha...nice pics you take. That's ugly looking at all that ice still. Terry Lunny said it was open from our place to Strawberry yesterday, but may have closed in again. Ice seems to be moving, but not fast enough. Keep up the reports, much appreciated.

Update

Today was my prediction for boating to town, Not going to happen. Sharon was closest.
Yesterday I boated from our place to the "H" in Hades-had to dodge and push my way through some huge ice chunks.Cannot get past Strawberry either.This picture is today over Scotty's looking East into Bigstone,looks pretty solid.Don't pack the perishables for the weekend just yet BUT you may want to bring warm clothes-long range is for 5 cm of snow.Will let everyone know when we make it out.Lake has risen
3" since 29th.

Update

On todays walk around Island we saw a Partridge standing on a log-we got to see him from start to finish do his "drumming" call.
I don't have very good news about the progress of ice conditions so I thought we would share a wildlife photo-this picture was taken on April 23 rd.(the only nice spring day we have had so far high 17c) There was a dead fish floating past and there was a total of 5 Eagles soaring and diving on it.(double left click on image to enlarge)
In the past 48 hours the lake has risen 2"--When you consider we do not reach our crest till July 01--I think the beaches will be a little shorter this summer--If it ever arrives!!!!!!
On today's boat ride,I made it just past the 2nd green buoy @ Frezell's Island and what I thought was open water on the other side was Just a different color "ICE".
Only short of Bald Island by the word "FRENCH" check your maps.From the "H" looking west towards Queer Island its solid ice.Checked the diary and we are not far off last years mark.

Ice thickness

Still can not get past the 2nd green buoy @ Frezzell's, that is were I picked up this piece of ice for Happy Hour(3 7/8").Ice was pretty black(3rd time-so stay off!!)
The female Loon's arrived today-lots of calling back and forth.

Ice

This is the last picture I took before pulling her off the ice(tried taking pictures of your camps for you but they were all a blur-will try again)
This picture was also taken on 22nd. I'm on North side of Elbow looking South.-Oliver Island would be just out of picture top left corner.These 4 pictures were taken @ approx: 500 feet above ground.
As far as boating goes we cannot boat around our Island yet-made it past the Red bouy and 1st green bouy at Dick & Linda Frezzell BUT could not reach the 2nd green bouy.Ice up to the Outfitters Island and looks like lots of open water to the North.
Cannot access any of the docks in your bay, or Dorian Island and ice still blocking the channel in front of old Lodge.I'm still hopeful for boating out on May 4th but realisticly 7-8 th looks better.3 nights this week we made 1/4" ice each night and it does not melt till noon.Another rule of thumb is when ice goes out on Laurensons Lake-we can boat a week later.Apperently that lake is very black and could go this weekend.

beer

we'll all get together and have a couple of beers ,,, and the winner gets the bottles to return for the deposit ,,, and all the beers that are left over ,,, if we don't drink then all ,,, pt

Spring Thaw-Stalled

Half of the open water out front skinned over yesterday 1/4" ice.Still cannot make it to the Narrows--75 yards short-ice is 5 " thick but will not support my weight-got a booter!The next posting will be when we can get past the Narrows.Still waiting to hear back from Peter on our "wager--prize"?? You started it!! Book says its the male Loon that arrives first--still waiting for his mate. This picture was taken 22nd. Queer Island looking North towards Strawberry.

Loons

Saw the first loon the morning of 23nd. and in the afternoon they was another one North of the Narrows and they were calling back and forth.Can hear them calling now as I type this. If you double left click on the picture of the Lynx it enlarges it.
We took tin boat out today to see how far we could get--about 150 yards short of narrows.This picture was taken on 22nd.That is Queer Island on left-looking North to Hay Island-the white line is our old ice road.

Hey Rick......

Nice information you are passing on to us "lake people". Keep up the good work. Anxious to get out there. I'm thinking May 5th will see us getting out there.....wanted in on your estimated time of opening. Nice pictures.....keep them coming.

ice report

This picture is looking North towards the Narrows at 16:00 on 22nd.--our place is in the right foreground.Nothing new to report,Ice is melting slowly. There is an old wives tale the locals repeat and that is "after the ice turns black for third time stay off its no longer safe to walk on." We saw it go black on 21st. for the 1st. time.Changed the plane from ski's to floats on the ice yesterday.Today I will pull her onto land and take the quad off the ice,down to using the ice boat for travel.Looking out kitchen window The last of the snow has now melted in the bush.

lynx sighting

Spotted this lynx coming off the tip of East Allie around 15:00 on the 20th. and walking over to the Island south of us. He walked the length of that island and headed north to French Narrows about an hour later.Have seen his tracks in winter,this is the first sighting.Flying in to Bare Point on ski's this morning.Still 24" ice were I park plane but had to build a bridge to get quad onto ice .Will post a picture of ice with a report later today.

officially spring

Spring has arrived-killed 3 skitters on 16th. The Pelican's arrived this eve 17th.
While getting a boat ready @ the dock I noticed 3 deer walking on the ice from point of F.N.-they walked up to the open water-jumped in and swam to East Allie.Next day they showed up here.

ric's pictures

Spring Thaw Again

Was out flying today-this picture is of the ice road in front of Guy & Gaye's. The trees under the cowling are Dave & Pats point.Ice is deteriorating fast,Ice is starting to "candle" and shore lines are pulling away.I thought I might make 1 more quad trip to town but Queer Island route is definitely out,will have to go 12 mile route.
Mallards arrived on 13th
Turkey vulcher on 15th.
Blue Jays and Chick-a dee's have moved on
On the 12 th my 1st estimated boat trip to Bare Point was May 07th, after today Peter put me down for May02nd.

first open day for boating ?

lets do a, who can guess the first day you could boat to our camps?

peter thiessen---may 2

Spring Thaw

Not a lot of changes here in past week. The Goldeneye ducks returned on April 12th.
Was flying on 12th and there are still trucks travelling over 12 mile and a van was fishing @ Rocky Narrows.Saw a boat pushing ice in Keewatin Channel.
While typing this letter I'm watching 4 Eagles chasing an Otter around the open water out front.
The ice road is gone in front of Guy Belluz and have to pick your way around the tip of Queer-other than that travel is good by Quad as all snow melted off the ice on
11 th.

Sping /09

Spring has been put on hold in this area,we have 5" of fresh snow on the ground and woke up to -17c
The open patch out front has froze over.

Spring og 09

Took the town truck off the ice on March 23,the long range forecast is for 10 mm of rain and 21 cm of snow by March 30.Woke up to 1" rain overnight-all snow is off the lake but lots in the bush yet.Here are a few sightings we have seen to date:
March 09 -Eagles
March 14 -heard owls
March 15 -2 raccoons and crows
March 19 -evening grosebeaks
March 21- black birds and our pair of eagles @ East Allie
March 22- 2 geese
March 23- sea gull