We had power earlier this morning on Mark as I checked my cams, it is out now.

I guess I spoke too soon, I am back online up there.

Ice conditions from Minge Cove to Sleepers?
 

The Echo Shores Web cam appears to be showing a combination of ice and possibly water or slick ice. With no activity on the cam, it's difficult to assess if the ice is safe for foot travel. Anyone have any info on this? Does Sleepers have power? Thanks.

Ice report from Cattle Landing to Mink Island
 

My wife and I made the trek out on foot this morning.

Looked a little tricky getting on the ice at the Cattle Landing docks so we went about 100 yds to the left where there is easier access just beyond the parking lot and cross street. A good 9 inches straight out from Cattle Landing BUT as you head into the channel (heading east) it gets very treacherous. The ice thins out to 3-4 inches or less and you will ultimately find open water and 3 inch thick plates of ice floating around spanning the entire distance between Dolly Island and the mainland. The effects of the recent high winds and warm weather very evident in this traditionally tricky area. We cut in behind Dolly Island and the other one there near Bear to avoid the channel area altogether and the ice was much better on the other side. Consistent 7-9 inches all the way to the north side of Mink from there.

Safe travels and hope to see some of you next week at the Derby!

Gorgeous photo, Steve!

What you are seeing is ice all the way out to Sleepers Island. The thickness is unknown, unfortunately, and except for one ice fisherman at the mouth of Minge Cove this afternoon we haven't seen anyone out on the ice between Minge Cove and the islands.

Rattlesnake and Sleepers now have separate power feeds, so Sleepers may have power even when Rattlesnake doesn't.

Just got back from hours of skating from Pick Point near Barber Pole through the isthmus on Cow Island over to Harrila Landing. The ice skating was fantastic. It is about 6 inches thick of very hard black ice most of which is like glass. It was a great day on the Lake!

I've been watching the Minge Cove (Echo Shores) WebCam for a few days. The "White plates" don't seem to move relative to each other. My guess is there is good black ice between the plates. 4 inches of black ice between them should be fine for walking. Look at the "verticle cracks" to make that judgement. You don't need a drill to tell how thick the ice is. :look: NB

BTW: A little rain and warm air will help "Relax" the ice. Good. :)

Today at Cattle Landing
 

So I hoofed it out once again to Bear this time leaving from Cattle Landing. I however was not quite as adventurous as Mink Islander and after taking careful look at that ice just to the south of the dock I said nah I'll pass on that. Just looked a wee bit to punky for me. These shots were taken BTW this afternoon aorund 4:00 PM.

I decided to hop on the ice near the side of cattle landing road right where the shore line starts to peel off from the side of the road and into that cove. Right there in the corner the ice was good and solid and if you head straight out from there good thick ice under foot. So I took the truck over there unloaded everything on the ice then parked in the cattle landing parking lot. I also checked behind the Shep's showroom, the excavator was moved out of the way but the ice there didn't look so safe either. I ended up talking to somebody that did get on there, again a little to adventuresome for me. With continued cold temps that may be firmed up more to my satisfaction by next weekend.

A word of caution, I did walk out as far as between the red and black top markers just off the BI post office thinking of walking through between Bear and Pine. I could not determine just how thick the ice was few cracks, black enough to see the bottom and a couple times it cracked under foot so I decided to back away and not do it. There was evidence that somebody took a sled through there but that's a little different as I'm sure who ever rode through there wasn't going slow or at least I hope not. The rest of the ice looked to be a good 6-8 inches or more and very solid. Watch out for the ice rifts out there, one really nice one is running the whole NE side of Bear right along shore, very active and very loud. All in all a great day to be out there. Just play it safe if you venture out!

First 4 pics from cattle landing in all directions, last is the ice rift right in front of my camp. Pretty cool, but was a little uneasy getting that close to snap that pic!

The Broads are iced in! 2-3-13
 

Stopped down for some sunrise pictures. From big pier, as far as I could see the Broads are completely frozen. Photo here looking from Big Pier at LSP towards Diamond.

Attachment 7446

I stopped by Lincoln Park and Glendale, (didn't take any pictures) and it's locked up in those area also. Glare ice, I have no idea how thick.

Ice In Finally??
 

From my deck I have a view of the lake from Lockes island to Diamond island. There does not appear to be any open water anywhere. Everything that was open yesterday froze overnight. Unfortunately my web cams are down on Welch but based on what I see that whole area looks frozen as well.

Dan

Beautiful, Steve. Thanks.

Must have froze last night because my sister is at our cottage and it was wide open yesterday at noon in the pic she sent me from the flag pole.

Attachment 7449Attachment 7450
From Broadview this am. No open water and bob houses near Round Island.

The open lead from Rum point to Sleepers froze over last night. Give it a few days...with hopefully minimal wind...and i think it will be permanent. At least as permanent as ice gets.:cool:

It will get solid just in time for warmer temps and ice-out to begin.
Over all worst winter I can remember from an ex-snowboarder, snowmobiler perspective.

Belknap Point today
 

I agree it looks like ice all the way out to Welch and down to Ellacoya.

Three bob houses south of Round but north of recent open water.

I recall about ten years ago taking the sleds from Moultonboro all the way to Alton. We traveled the middle of the lake right through the Broads and everything was quite solid. Can anyone remember the last time the ice was this safe?

2011
 

Two years ago (2011) the entire lake was frozen solid and safe. Made many trips across the broads from Welch Island to Alton bay.

Dan

Today's pixs 2/3/2013
 

These are some shots I took today. Pond Hockey at Meredith Bay, then Ctr. Hrb., Leavitt and Ahern.
Attachment 7465

Attachment 7466

Attachment 7467

Attachment 7468

Here's a panoramic I took at the PHC Saturday

https://plus.google.com/photos/10577...CL6hjLz0-ofAIQ

As I said, there's plenty of ice if you head over towards Bear and then go behind Dolly Island (7-9 inches thoughout) - and I bring an ice auger to actually cut holes and check along the way. Not quite as adventuresome as you may think Maxum! It was helpful to have no snow on the ice last weekend so you really could see the quality of the ice as well.

I still would not advise passing directly through Cattle Landing proper for another week or so unless you're on a sled and moving along quickly (snow pending!). That area is always tricky and this winter's weird weather has accentuated that. Won't be surprised to see someone splashdown there if we get snow on Friday as predicted that will hide the risks there just before the Derby. I expect access at the Cattle Landng docks will be possible later this week.

Also, I swear by my Kahtoola micro-spikes. (REI, Backcountry.com, etc.) They are absolutely fanatastic on glare ice. Essentially a set of mini crampons. Very well designed, durable and very easy slip on/off as well. Way better than Yaktrax and similar IMO. A must have for current conditions.

[QUOTE=Mink Islander;198432]I didn't have an auger with me and that ice right along the shore there was just to sketchy. Once out away from the dock yeah that looked good, but you're right on areas where there are narrow channels of lake between the islands and/or islands and shore. I love to go swimming, just not this time of year! Glad you made it out to your place safe, can't be to cautious.

I gotta get some of those spike things for my boots, dragging heavy stuff across glare ice with none is a whole lot of work! Just walking alone is bad enough, especially when you get a little snow on the bottom of your soles!

Cattle Landing/Shep Browns
 

As of Sunday Cattle Landing is merely "skimmed" with ice and the landing in back of Shep Browns has taken but only about an inch of ice. Went from Levitt Beach through the inside of Pine and main land. The channel was about 6 inches. A reef has formed between Bear and Pine around the no wake zone.. Spoke with some fellow ice fisherman and said they ran into Fish & Game where they had been patrolling around bear, including the area between Cattle and Bear....safe enough for those guys safe enough for me.

Am going to launch my bob house this Thursday, will try Shep Browns first if not will make the voyage from Levitt Beach to Bear. Will post if I am able to get on at Shep's.

Agree on the Kahtoola Microspikes:
http://www.kahtoola.com/microspikes.php

A few pics from this past weekend
 

From the North side of Mink Island. We had a visit by a local Bald Eagle Sunday morning who noticed I'd left a shiner on the ice after I pulled in my cusk lines on Sunday morning. Came swooping in to enjoy an easy snack.

pic are only iPhone quality so I couldn't get a decent shot of the eagle given the distance was a couple of yards.

Still open water?
 

Does anyone know if the spots around Welch's, Ellacoya and LSP are still open water? It was hard to tell from Erika's cam, but it looked like it might have opened up again?

Has anyone been around to the broads side of Rattlesnake, with the snow (fingers crossed) I would love to go over but based on reports, not sure if that is wise.

Good Info
 

Yes it did! Excellent info here with aerial pictures from today still showing a large open water section in front of Welch Island!

http://www.wildnh.com/Newsroom/2013/...ty_020613.html

Dan

Wow great shot!
 

Thanks! I wish we had that view all of the time!

Ouch.
 

Thanks for the (slightly depressing) info, Dan. That's certainly a much bigger patch of open water than I thought.

My friends and I hike from Glendale to the west side of Welch every year, but looks like we got hosed with no ice again this year. Brutal :rolleye1:

I am going to attempt a walking trip to Welch this weekend to reset my web cameras. There is safe ice (Please check for yourself) from the Gilford town Beach all the way out to the back / North side of Lockes island with 10+ inches as of last weekend. I am hoping the ice is safe enough beyond that to access the northern section of Welch. Of course I will be checking all the way... as soon as I see 6" I will be retreating quickly as my fat arse and thin ice don't go good together! ;)

Be Safe!

Dan

WMUR ( Channel 9 ) just showed a picture of open water near Welch Island. They wanted to warn ice fishermen of the danger since the derby is this weekend.

I have stressed that you should NOT venture out on the ice ALONE.

TWO People on a Snow machine IS ALONE. :eek: DON"T Do It...No matter how confident you feel about the ice. NB

Snake Eyes is back
 

Woo Hoo... We are back. It was the phone/ DSL.

I called FairPoint today and they send a signal to see if my phone was live, and it was. I was back to thinking the power was out.... I just looked and voila! Snake Eyes is back. I have no clue whether they recycled the DSL to the island or if a gremlin turned it back on.... But I am a happy camper

Oops.. Pics have stopped.
 

It looks like only one pic was sent.. Time to investigate further.

Ellacoya
 

Does anybody know the conditions out on Ellacoya?

Ice Conditions
 

Any word on ice conditions heading from Harilla, and between Long Island and Cow Island?

From WMUR
 

CONCORD, N.H. —The New Hampshire Fish and Game Department is warning that some lakes and ponds that traditionally have been safe for ice fishing and other outdoor recreation are not safe this year.

Officials are advising people to use extreme caution and check the ice thickness for themselves before going onto any frozen body of water. Participants in this weekend's fishing derby have been warned to avoid shorelines and inlets where ice can be particularly dangerous.

The department says warm temperatures and high winds have affected ice formation, particularly on the state's bigger lakes.

Officials say aerial photographs show ice conditions on some parts of Lake Winnipesaukee are unsafe, including an area of open water near Welch Island.

Fish and Game Lt. James Goss says people are advised not to drive vehicles onto the ice because of the unpredictable conditions.



Read more: http://www.wmur.com/news/nh-news/Uns...#ixzz2KDc5DOtq

Today's MODIS pic
 

This is today's view from space....form your own opinion....
BT