Ice roads

 The boys have been out plowing ice roads, we have a trail to our landing. BUT it comes with a warning! Bob said there is not much ice  at the start of Dorian Marsh, he said we would have no problem bringing The Honda CRV home but too early for truck yet. We have 10” ice at our landing but that is not the case everywhere.  As a warning just because you see a plowed trail/road does not mean it is safe. Check for yourself and be safe.

Snowmobile to Ministry Landing today

 

Made my first trip into town today by snowmobile. The 8” block ice is from my landing.  Met a friend who came in from south side of Barrier islands he said checked ice all way in least amount was 6” he was driving a Jeep back down the lake. Saw a couple 3/4 ton trucks heading south from Strawberry Portage.There were 2 pressure ridges from my place to tip of Queer isl. from there to Town 3 more. With worst in Matheson Bay but you run parallel to that one. For most part 1” snow on the ice and in places wind blown so bare ice. There is not enough snow for boys to plow yet. My truck is still in Lockdown at Barepoint Marina. We need snow to fill in the rocks at Tip of Queer if it wasn’t for that I could bring CRV down to island. Safe travels and check ice often in your travels.

The 4” ice

 Was at our south side landing yesterday morning, we have 2” snow in Bush  but none on ice making it hard to walk on it’s so slippery. It’s more of a shuffle. The ice is crystal clear and walking the shore line you can see bottom easily in 8’ water ( but no fish) . Our coldest night by our thermometer was back Nov 22 got to -11 c with most nights hanging around-6  warming to -2 since the lake froze not much wind but leading up to the freeze was very windy. Because Rat Portage is in lockdown ( our truck/trailer are sitting at Barepoint) no one in or out the iceboat are staging from Anichinabe park. Bob  Boucha stopped here in his iceboat yesterday and said still open water patches about the size of our house by Eagle Island, Rope Island, and Kennedy point. He said it would be hard to snowmobile down there because of the holes. Starting Nov. 17 the lake tried to freeze was a bright sunny day at only -7 standing on the dock looking out over water it appeared to be turning to jello with ice forming. Next morning  the Sw winds broke it up sounding like glass breaking as it got pushed up on shore was about 1/8” thick. Then on Nov. 23 the bay from our place froze north to Narrows froze and never did re open. Then on Nov. 30 during night we made 1” ice and could not see any open water from our shoreline.  This tied the early freeze up with 2006 and 2013. The latest it froze was Dec. 08 2009. Will be a few days yet before I venture too far on quad or snowmobile as I don’t know where the last of the open areas to freeze are ? Bob also said because there is no snow to protect the ice pressure ridges are forming.

 

 Rick Jackson , November 30 2020 Cannot see any open water ! Made 1" ice during the night  

 

yellow girl bay Nov 28th 2020 looking northwest . 

Making Ice

 The Lake has been trying to freeze for the past week but each time it does the winds break it up. Last night was our coldest night at -11 c  clear and calm and we made 3/8” ice around our docks. There is still open water south of us but frozen solid towards narrows and beyond. This is earliest since I’ve been recording. In 2012 she froze November 24 but winds broke it all up and didn’t freeze again till 29 th. The latest she froze was on Dec 08 2009 .  I forgot to measure but guessing today’s level is 32” lower that the height she froze last year. With the outflow over winter I may have a hard time lowering my boat as bow will be high/dry ? My first prediction was snowmobile to Barepoint Dec 05 but with a mild long range forecast may not happen?

Devils Gap and Barepoint Marinas

Friends were told by Devil’s Gap Marina that they may open June 01 ? Told they were having another meeting.
That is same story I’ve been told since lake opened - they keep saying we are having a meeting and possibly open 2 weeks.
Our truck is still sitting at Barepoint , on Tuesday I tried to land at the dock to make repairs to trailer lights and was told I could not get out of my boat. We have to be in Wpg June 02 for a specialist appointment, I was told if they are still closed they would allow us to tie up boat in our spot, they would escort me through the reservation going out the Matheson Bay Rd route, then when we return find a spot to Park truck in Town and get a boat ride around to our boat . We have had to do our shopping by boat.
It’s same story on the Mackenzie Portage Road no travel through Reserve.

Ice out

 I boated through Eagles pass this morning and could not see any ice on lake, there was mush ice pushed up about 6’ on the rocks West of Minisabic Island. Friends had contacted Devils Gap Marina today and were told another 2 weeks. Will let you know when it’s lifted

Bigstone Bay

Made it to Safeway docks

Yesterday was day 43 of Isolation, in a normal spring  after I take vehicles off the ice I would go to Barepoint marina by quad or snowmobile. With the Reservation in a lockdown we could not access our vehicle so we made due with supplies on hand. We left home and never saw any ice till Cat Island in this area was a piece about size football field. The next piece was a huge chunk that broke free in Bigstone and blocked the are from Finches point to Mazies Island. We were going to turn around and go through Manitou when we saw 2 boats pushing  there way through Ice along Mazies island, Thanks for opening that route Rob and Tracy. As we approach Allen’s Island Matheson Bay looked like ice shore to shore so we turned and headed West Between Leach Island and Town Island, the last piece of ice we saw was just North of Galt Island. We couldn’t have made Barepoint even if we wanted to because the SE wind during the night moved the ice in Bigstone right up to shore blocking the 40’ path that was there yesterday. I’m heading to Moore Bay this morning so will check out ice at Eagles pass. Bob was flying yesterday says still ice between us and TeePee Island, can see ice around Red buoy EJ10 south of us and you can only get 1 mile past us towards Yellow girl. Surface temperature is 2.5 C , water has come up About 4-5” with run off but still a little lower than normal.
On Sunday I was texting with Tim Skead manager at Barepoint Marina and he thought they would be closed for another 2 weeks. He said if things change he will call me , if and when he does I’ll post opening.

Made it to Barepoint Marina today

The wind in past 30 hours has moved a lot of ice around.  I made it from our place to Cat Island before I saw any ice, and it was only size football field. Had to travel West side Lunny’s Island to get around ice in Bigstone, it’s white and solid, heard Al Smith says another week before his bay ice free.
The route into Bald Indian Bay is only 40’ wide from shore to ice, looked weird building boarded up no boats, no people working eerie! Matheson Bay also plugged with ice, when we go shopping tomorrow will have to go through Manitou to reach gap. Our truck is still sitting in quarantine at Barepoint so tomorrow we have to do everything by boat. I was told to contact Barepoint once we are boating and they will advise if I can get my truck out. Still no word on when they will open. Will post when Bigstone open and or Marina

Spring update

Got the call Laurenson Lake will be ice free by this afternoon, Yesterday I made it as far as Railroad Island. Pushing a lot of  black 10” thick candled ice but at Railroad it’s  White and solid, Ron said they boated from Town to Scotties Beach yesterday so I’m guessing we should make Town by Monday May 04. Loons and Cormorants arrived yesterday.

Spring melt

Today I could canoe from our point to East Allie Island. In past years when this opens up we have been able to boat to Barepoint anywhere from 9 to 19 days. That would mean Marina by April 30 th. But this year we still have -9 in forecast till 15 th.  Should be boating before May 05 th
To venture onto ice around our island you have to choose your footing holes everywhere.
Next post will be when I can lower boat to see how far I can travel around April 21 or so ?

Rat Portage Closures

I did take my truck off the ice as planned, parked her in her spot at Barepoint Marina. Over the week end signs went up advising the road at boat ramp will be closing Saturday March 28 @ 12 noon, no public access. Then yesterday the band  dropped a tree across the road leading out to Jones Rd as a barricade. And they have set up a barricade in there village restrictions on traffic. According to OPP they have the right to do this. Devils Gap Marina is the same Band so can only imagine it is shut down as well.
Every other spring after I take the vehicles off the ice I snowmobile to Barepoint get in my truck and shop for fresh produce, veggies. This season looks like we will be going without! Debbie says we have enough frozen food to make boating season, worst case is we can drive up to Safeway dock.
That Partridge I see walking around pecking the ground may be looking pretty tasty in the coming weeks. Snowmobile and Quad travel is still good down this way but no where to go. They are still driving vehicles on the main ice roads with landings getting soft and water getting deeper on the road.
On a happier note the  flock CDN Geese at narrows is growing larger everyday, saw 3 snow geese fly over, crows, seagulls are back As well as black flys and moths. Lots Eagles soaring on air currents. working on dock off ice the past 2 days in a T Shirt sunny, calm and 11 c. The skirting damaged on one of our docks, still too much ice /snow on the others to tell yet ? I will try to attach a picture of our dock, shows how high the lake froze and how much is has gone down as of last week. With the 12 plus inches of ice hanging up. If the picture does not attach text me at 807-466-1891 and I can forward to you.

Ice road update

I will be taking our truck off the ice either today or tomorrow as we have one bad spot just South West of our place.. Our road came in from 12 mile this year. The road from Queer dead ended on our side of the French Narrows Portage due to only 6” ice on this side. Got a call from our neighbor who docks at Northern Harbour advising customers they have been Mandated by Government to shut down deemed non essential.
I’m sure this is the first of many closures that will effect lake travel in these uncertain times.
We have our supplies in should be good till 2 Nd week May when lake opens.

Ministry Landing

I must apologize for the last posting. I did not have all the facts, we do not use Facebook and that is where the information was relayed to me about the Coney Island ice road closing.
Turns out it’s only the Coney Island ice road closing and not the ice road to Treaty.
Very sorry if I caused any concerns, this is how rumours get started !
I will be more diligent in future

Ministry Landing

We have heard a rumour-it’s on Facebook that Coney Island residents have been advised to remove there vehicles from ice roads by March 09. Apparently there are a couple posts in place and they plan to string a chain across blocking ice road access. I cannot confirm this as we have not travelled that route,  but have sent out feelers, will post anything I hear.

Frozen Dock

Here’s a picture of our dock all frozen in.

The ice has dropped but still all frozen under the dock.