Not much has changed in the way of ice making with these mild temperatures.There is now 2.5" of snow on the ice.Reports of 8 to 10" ice in Welcome Channel area,even Kaputsky Island has good ice so when the boys start plowing through Holmstrom's Marsh should be okay.Only 4" ice in Clearwater Bay area as well as Rocky Narrows. We are over 8" French Narrows.We have a lone grey wolf with white boots prowling around our Island,he has set off the motion lights several times.I keep moving the game camera to catch a glimpse of him but its like he knows its there and keeps avoiding it?The long range is promising sun and cooler nights to help build up our ice.If that's the case then the boys will probably start plowing around New Years. This will be our last posting for a while as we are heading to Arizona on 23rd-so the only ice I will be worried about is to keep my beer chilled!Hopefully as you come out to your camps you could leave a comment on conditions so others can be kept informed?Stay to the trails and if not check ice thickness often!

Dec.13th we traveled from our Island to BarePoint by snowmobile.From our place traveling North to Strawberry Portage there are 1/2 dozen pressure ridges ranging from little bumps to 18" high. On North side of Strawberry to BarePoint there are no ridges. Still only 1" snow on ice,more in forecast this weekend.Saw a truck on ice in Matheson Bay,and a friend used his truck to plow a road from his house in Welcome Channel to 10 Mile Island.Still a little early for trucks!

It was a beautiful day out here today,sunny,-19c,light N breeze. We went by snowmobile to visit friends @ Moore Bay Lodge. There are 6 pressure ridges to navigate around between our place and there's,following the same route the ice roads would take. We were only gone 2.5 hrs and in that time wolves took down a deer at French Narrows Portage.Talked with Lunny's last night and they were going to walk out to Scotties Island from BarePoint today,the least amount of ice they found was 3.5". Our supplies (beer/rum)are holding strong still no need to head to town.Its 3 weeks today since we were last in town by boat.This freeze up seemed to drag on this year,blaming the lack of sun shine? If anyone reading this is planning on going to there camps soon please check your ice conditions on your route,As of yesterday I found 9" to be thickest and 3" @ least.

Yesterday I ventured to the narrows by quad,from our Island I crossed channel to East Allie and followed the shoreline around the point. Have to keep at least 2 tires on shore as there are open patches and ice is thin.When the Red and Green Bouys froze in they were on a 45 degree angle from the North wind,last mild spell they opened up and are now floating. I have seen snowmobile tracks through this area but I would never travel there! The rest of the area freezes early because we are sheltered and shallow. It also stays open in front of the old Lodge till later in season.Last night 22:00 we had freezing rain again! Everything coated in ice again.Rec,d a report from BarePoint area and sounds like more open water than ice!

Sun was out for a few hours today,first time in a long time. The 6" block of ice I cut from North side of Island-it froze up Nov 24th. The 4.25" block was from South side of Island-this area froze Nov 28th.A friend from Welcome Channel area called this morning to say the Manitou froze overnight-he could not see any open water! Bigstone is still open water.Hard to tell but could still be open around Bunn Island. There is no snow on the ice,The rain over the weekend melted the little bit we had,since then we have had a dusting but winds have blown this to shorelines.

Well here we are on Dec.03 with a temp. of plus 5c !! Its raining,all snow has melted off the ice and grass is showing. On Nov 24th the North side of Island froze we have 4.5" ice. On Nov.29th The South side froze and we now have 3" there.Reports that Manitou and Bigstone are still open. In fact we heard you could launch a boat at Bare Point Marina,only ice is around the docks!!Also had a picture sent to us showing open water between Bare Point and Lunny,s Island.I had expected to make a trip to town this week but with all these mild temps will be lucky if its next week!Have not seen the sun since Nov.21 and not much in the way of wind power.

Winds dropped during the night and the last of the open water froze.There was a dusting of snow on the fresh ice so its a sea of white.

At 8:00 am this morning we could have boated over to East Allie Island,by 9:00 am she started to skim over. The overnight low was -16c and the winds dropped to West @5kms.It is now noon with a light dusting of snow on the fresh ice. The Bay between our Island and East Allie towards the Narrows is ice covered as well as from our Island South to the next Island. The large area South of us is still open water with lots of steam, zero visibility.The next 2 nights have lows of -18c good for making ice,but this weekend's forecast is for plus temps with chance of rain! This has been a very cloudy fall with lighter than normal winds so we have been running the generator on a regular basis.

Yesterdays strong North winds dropped overnight and switched to South,When this happened the bay to our North froze. Still open South , The next time the winds drop is Nov. 28th and I expect the rest will freeze at that time. Moore Bay,Welcome Channel also froze during night

2012 /2013 Freeze Up

Welcome back for another "freeze up". On October 28th Laurenson Creek was froze from shore to shore,on 29th the boat traffic and broken it up down the center. The following are lake temp,dates of previous freeze ups. 2006--Date of reading Oct 31,Lake temp 4.5C,Lake froze Nov 23. 2007--Date of reading Nov 09,Lake temp 6 C,Lake froze Nov 27. 2008--Date of reading Oct 29,Lake temp 8 C,Lake froze Dec 05. 2009--Date of reading Nov 03,Lake temp 6 C,Lake froze Dec 08 2010--Date of reading Nov 07,Lake temp 6 C,Lake froze Dec 03 2011--Date of reading Nov 04,Lake temp 8 C,Lake froze Dec 04 2012--Date of reading Oct 27,Lake temp 5 C,Lake froze ?? With the cooler days and nights this season I am guessing an earlier freeze up.

Coney Island Bridge

The bridge to Coney is supposed to come out today-weather permitting???

On my way home this morning it looks like there may still be some ice in Manitou.

For everyone else boating East and South of there no ice.

Yesterday morning the lake was glass-temp was -3c and we made 1/4" ice. I had to boat over to Shammis Narrows travelling on the South side of the Barrier Islands and 50% of the water was covered in ice.That ice was gone later in the day. With today's East wind and rain in forecast that should take care of the last remaining ice in Manitou.

Boating Season

Made it all the way to Bare Point this morning and did not see any ice!!!!
However on the way home in the stretch between Bare Point and Hades we spotted a fox walking on the water?? as we got closer he was actually on a piece of ice the size of a football field,this had broken off from the Manitou.
There is still ice in the Manitou, but the rest of the lake is open!!!We heard there were 35 boats fishing in Keewatin Channel on 8th.
Turkey Vulchers are back but still no sign of the Loons yet.
The lake level has risen slightly-still a chore getting in and out of the boat from stationary dock.
Will be back for Fall Freeze up!!!

1st boat ride

This afternoon we launched boat to see how far we could get!!
Pushed through black/mushy/candled ice about 5" thick. The 2 Islands in picture are in a straight line between Bald Island and the Red/Green Bouys @ Square Island with a depth of 15' That is the NE tip of Queer at left corner of picture-had to turn around at the 2 Islands as ice was white and thicker-could not push through it-rode up on top.
We have -7c in forecast for a couple nights this week as well as cooler days but still think Bare Point by 14th.

Laurensons Lake

Ice is now gone on Laurensons Lake(This is 7 days earlier than the earliest recorded by our friend), Usually when this happens we can boat to Bald Island,Not so this year as the only open water around here is at our dock and across to East Allie Island,otherwise Black Ice all around.
The rule of thumb is we can boat to Bare Point within 7 days.But with no current this Spring,and cooler nights(made ice again last night and we were only-1c but calm).
Should make Bare Point by 14th. No pictures as not enough water for floats yet.

Spring Thaw

This picture was taken on March 22nd, It's French Narrows looking North @ Dorian Isl.Since then the open water has quadrupled in size.Not as many Geese hanging around as in past Springs.Took the truck off the ice on 17th,plane is still on ski's but not enough ice @ shoreline to support her on and off the dollie.Took quad off on 23rd and as of the 25th I will not walk on ice.On the surface it appears melting has stalled,but is eroding from underneath. Killed 1st mosquito on 23rd.When I get the call that ice is out on Laurensons Lake I will do another post as we open 1 week later.The Prop Shop is going to do a good business this year with low levels!!

Ice

Made our trip to Bare Point in Sidekick on 19th with no problems.Then 24hrs later covered the same area by quad and there were 8-12" diameter holes in the road. This morning will be our last quad trip to Bare Point as we have to build a bridge to get from shore to ice.The ice has lifted and eroding fast from underneath at Landings.
We fished(slow and only small ones) the Elbow with 16" ice,French Narrows had 14" and Andrew Bay only had 10". The surface is honeycomb and some areas of old ice road it is like driving on cobblestone.
In Moore Bay you could troll from the quad along ice road in places.
I'm with Peter-boating by April 7th.
There is a pair of Snow Geese hanging around French Narrows, and a bumble bee was buzzing around us while fishing.Also seen a butterfly.

End of Winter

With past weeks warm weather and heavy rain on 12th all the snow has melted off the ice and sunny all week the ice has turned black and getting mushy. Eroding both from underside and top side.
I took the truck off 16:00 on 17th,This is the earliest for us. Will travel with Sidekick today and tomorrow and then quad after that??
Geese arrived on 16th as well as black flys, Seagulls,Golden eye ducks and Grackles on 16th .
Coming through Dorian Marsh at dusk last night I counted 5 beavers on the ice-first time seeing that.
The coons have been here every night cleaning up the birdseed underneath the feeders,making lots of noise and giving the cat a hard time.
At the rate we are going should be boating in April.
This picture was taken on 13th North side of Dorian Marsh from the truck-showing ice road.

Ridges

Just a quick note to say not much has changed over the ridges-they are in good shape and dry-- even with the mild temps.
Leonard has been sanding Treaty and Strawberry Portages and both are in great shape

Ridges

Beautiful day today,sunny,calm High of-14c. logged close to 2.5Hrs airtime this afternoon--no destination-just wandered around. Lots of camp owners,snowmobilers and fishermen out enjoying the day.
The picture was taken @ 600ft. above ground level-looking North towards Strawberry-that is Allan's reef ridge running East to West in middle of picture.
The road lower right runs to Railroad and angles back to the Moore Bay road-then to the Main road South of Strawberry-I traveled this route by vehicle after flying this afternoon-a little blown in in places but still good.
They have cut another pass over ridge on the Main road @ Allan's Reef-from the air it also looks good--dry.
Flew as far South as French Portage from the Keewatin Channel--several ridges along this route as well. We are not the only area effected with ridges!! Seems the whole lake is cut up with them.

Update of Allan's Reef

On morning of 25th Sharon sent out an e-mail saying Leonard had been out the previous evening making a new crossing over the ridge-just West of the old one-I crossed it at noon today and it was level and dry.
On 24th Bill Holm(he plows from Queer to Andrew Bay) plowed a bypass from North of Queer towards Railroad Island,here it crosses the ridge which is hardly noticeable and connects to the Moore Bay road-less than 1 km East of the Pine tree on main road South of Strawberry. I checked the ice every 100 yards on this route and could not get water from my 16" chain saw,The road is only 30' wide--a good alternative if the new crossing Leonard made pushes up again.
The ridge at NE tip of Queer has been stable for a couple weeks now.
Check conditions before crossing.

Alternate Route

This afternoon I plowed from 12 Mile Portage to French Narrows. So anyone wanting to access their camps on Queer Island/French Narrows / Andrew Bay can do so using this route:

Leave Ministry Landing and travel over Strawberry Portage-turn right on the 1st road and follow this to 12 Mile Portage. Take the trail to the left once over 12 Mile-- It's 35 km's from Ministry to French Narrows--I have also plowed up to the ridge at tip of Queer.

There is good ice from 12 mile to French Narrows( 6 miles) with no ridges-this is the route we used in years past before coming through Dorian Marsh.