Ridges

This picture is of the ridge @ NE corner of Queer Isl.-that is Pipestone Pt. in the background. There was enough room under the ridge that I could crawl through it!!! I cut the ice chunks into little bits and used fire pump to flood the area. I'm hopeful that when I go back in morning it will be solid enough to drive a vehicle over. I tried to do the same to the ridge at Allan's Reef but by the time I got set up my equipment was froze up and nothing would work. So I went visiting at Moore Bay Lodge-ice was good in Moore Bay-drove through there yard and into Andrew Bay -tried to go over the Portage at Bottle Bay but there were 5 trees in a clump over the trail and my chain saw was frozen,had to back out and travel West in Andrew Bay to Dorian Marsh to get home. Will check out the ridge in the morning and if it's froze I will attempt to freeze Allan's Reef.
I froze pine trees at both ridges to mark the safest passage--But if anyone is traveling this route I strongly suggest you do not assume it is safe to cross!!-please check for yourself,

Finally made it to Town!!

Plan was to snowmobile to Town this morning--the strong winds over the past 2 days blew all the snow off the ice and onto the shore. So I made the trip by quad!! the least amount of ice we came across was 6" this was in the areas that froze last.I left French Narrows and traveled West to 12 mile portage(only 1 pressure ridge and it was a long WET one). From 12 Mile traveled North to Strawberry Portage(2 pressure ridges here and again both had water either side) Once over Strawberry there was only 1 small ridge close to Rocky Narrows then good right into Bare Point.
The trip home took us over Strawberry Portage and headed straight for the Point of Queer Island-the pressure ridge in the picture was taken @ Allan's Reef looking West. This pressure ridge starts out @ South tip of Scotty's and travels through the Slate Islands past Allan's reef. and heads towards Pipestone Pt. There is another real bad ridge @ the Most NE tip of Queer,after that good travel all the way home.
Tomorrow I will go back and place Pine trees at the 2 bad ridges and attempt to flatten them out so they will freeze.
Quad travel is great-not enough snow for sliders yet-not enough ice for vehicles yet!!
If anyone is venturing out check the pressure ridges on both sides as ice is not very thick and is soft.
Stay away from Copper Island as this was one of the last areas I know of to freeze and will have only 1-2" ice??

Flew into Bare Point after lunch today. We have 8" of good blue ice @ our landing and ice at Bare Point is also good-just have to tighten up that stretch in between!!! I did not see any open water in my travels today.It will be a few more days before we snowmobile into Town.
The pressure ridge in middle of the picture is At Allan's reef,your looking towards Strawberry Portage.

Lack of Ice

Flew around today checking ice conditions, There is no possible way to snowmobile from French Narrows to Bare Point. There is lots of good ice between here and there BUT there is also lots of open water. A lot of this open water is were the roads normally go. The whole area around Rocky Narrows is wide open-could boat from Lunny's to Scotties. There are now pressure ridges forming between us and Queer Isl.
Was already airborne when I realized I didn't have my camera. Will get a picture next time up.

Checked ice this morning and its now 6" at our landing,can still see open water to the South of us and it extends to Crescent Isl. Parts of the Manitou are still open as well as Andrew Bay and Bigstone.
2 days ago we saw a lone wolf walk off the ice and onto East Allie(opposite the flag pole) Last night around 22:00 they were howling in our back yard.
Because there is still no snow on the ice to insulate it as it expands it makes the same sound as holding a hand saw and flexing the blade. I have also been standing on ice and you can hear the wave coming and it sounds just like a jet passing by. This is the most noise from the ice in our 6 freeze ups.

We have had these beautiful sunsets all fall,even the sunrises are colorful. If you look At the streak below the tree line-that is still open water.On a map this is the area around the Red Bouy South of French Narrows on the alternate track. Have heard that the Manitou is still open in areas ,have not heard about Bigstone Bay-she is always last to freeze. This morning we have 3" ice at our landing.With yesterdays 40km winds gusting to 60 the ice around the docks was creaking,we only have a dusting of snow in the bush and none on the ice.

Lake Froze Overnight

Took this picture standing in same spot as last one.
What was water yesterday is now a sea of "white". Temp was -13c,calm winds, made 3/8" ice overnight.This coming week has some good ice making temperatures.Last year we froze on Dec. 03rd.