Ice-Out Watch 2006
 

Amazing that it is time to start an ice-out thread... but it is happening. The Ice-Out 2006 page is up at www.rattlesnakecam.com/iceout.htm. View the webcams around the lake to watch it happen.

The Ice-Out Reports for Rattlesnake Island are that the ice rifts are showing areas of open water, The open water by Diamond Island is going much further across the broads, the Weirs open hole is extending further and further... all eroded by high winds. The wind is blowing the water under the ice creating storm surges against the breakwaters on the North west side of Rattlesnake.

A snowmobile hit open water last night at the end of Minge Cove... pictures of the rescue later. The driver swam to safety.

Yesterday was the first time I went snowmobiling and today will probably the the last for this year... It is getting unsafe in a lot of places around this end of the lake.

Please add your observations here link to pictures... It could be an early early ice out.

IG :)

Rapidly changing conditions
 

I hiked out to Mink Island on Saturday Morning. Cattle Landing was easily passable on foot but you had to navigate away from the areas where there's been frequent open water. Surprised I didn't see any activity related to the Snowmobile tragedy. Site further around the point of Meredith NecK? Plenty of ice from Cattle Landing through to Mark and then Mink Island. Returning Sunday, the open water at Cattle Landing had expanded significantly and large plates of ice were moving around a bit. I had to pick my route more carefully and almost resorted to the portage around the sketchy area over the corner of Bear Island that I used in prior weeks, but ultimately found a passable route. Even over by Mark Island, there were a few patches of open water developing. Once the wind gets to work, small areas seem to open up very quickly and expand. While 9-12 Inches of ice in the area I pass is more than enough to support even a truck, it is not nearly as strong as the 2+ ft we normally see and the wind and warm weather breaks it down much more quickly. With the warming trends generally, I suspect we're heading towards an earlier than usual ice-out.

Hey IG,
Over 26000 views of the Ice-In thread! Is that some kind of a record of thread hits? How many additional hits did you get outside of Winnipesaukee.com? That just seems amazing to me.

Blue Thunder

Hits
 

Don will have to tell us if that is a record. Last year's ice-out thread had 14,225 views... so you all certainly exceeded that. Let's go for a new record!

IG

Ice Out in Central Mass
 

Hi All,

Not sure how long the Ice will last or be safe after this weeks weather in NH but, it's going fast here in Central Mass. I went swimming on sunday afternoon :eek: trying to get off the ice from a small ice fishing derby we had . Luckley I was only eight to ten feet from shore and only in about 2&1/2 - 3 feet of water. Still kinda scary. First time in more than 20 years for me. Anyway, I believe our ice activities down here in parts of central mass are just about done or, after this weeks weather they'll certainly be done.

All who use the ice on the lakes for the next few weeks be extra carefull and don't go out alone!!! No need to jeopardize good things ahead with Spring right around the corner just for a few more trips out this winter.

Baywatch has started (the smallest of open water under the rte11 bridge at the end of the bay, plus a picture of the bay from yesterday from the bridge.

IG has the link for ice out on Rattlesnake cam in post #1 if this thread.

Baywatch is linked off of snake eyes cam, and can be reached here as well: http://knitpurlandbeyond.com/alton_bay_icein_2006.htm

Hmmmmm, a little typo when I set up the page...it really is alton bay ice out for 2006:emb: . So much for proofreading!

amazing how flexible we are at the lake when we can go from wishing for ice in to ice out over night. Looking forward to getting to the lake the end of April. Need a pepper lobster roll fix!!!!!!!!

New Additon to Ice-out page
 

This year we have a new contributor to the ice out page at www.rattlesnakecam.com/iceout.htm. It is Rattlesnake Watch and new forum member DBA will be taking the pictures and updating the page.

Just click on Rattlesnake Watch from the ice out page or go to www.rattlesnakecam.com/ice

The pictures are wonderful!

I must have just missed Mink Islander on Saturday, I was at cattle landing around 1 PM.

On Friday I skied from Shep's to Bear, then skied around the island pulling a sled with 80 pounds of sand. The ice was great all the way with no open water. The wind was very strong, I dropped a glove and watched it head for Moultonboro at about 20 mph.

Spent the night on Bear then had a hard time getting off the island Saturday noon. What a difference a day makes! The temp was up and the ice had moved, pulling away from the island. I had to go around to the east side to get on the ice.

I then found the the ice ridges had pushed together forcing much of the ice down underwater. I was planning to go around Mark Island but by cattle landing I didn't like the ice so I called it a day.

From your post and a few others, it sounds as if folks are calling it a season because of weakening ice. That sounds good to me, as I can't wait for spring! It is just around the corner and there is no better time of year. I realized just today, that I have numerous things to do to get the boat ready for May 1st. Let's all start doing the ice out dance!!!! Open water, rainbow trout and lobster rolls......it doesn't get much better!

Welcome to the Forum, DBA. And IG, you're right, DBA has given us some great pictures , with a whole new perspective of where the ice is and is not, and it will be interesting to watch the ice out progress from Rattlesnake Watch's point of view.

How soon?
 

Any predictions yet when Alton or Paugus Bay will be open? Sounds like the ice is going fast. I'm one of those crazy jetskiers......can't wait to hit the water. Last year it was April 18th for the firstr ride......any bets it will be sooner this year? March?:D

Moving north
 

FWIW, I've noticed over the years that the lakes and ponds here in central MA lose their ice about 2-3 weeks ahead of the lakes region. Over the past 2 weeks of cold weather, there has been a lot of reforming/melting between night and day. But despite the below freezing temperatures in the daytime, melting still occurs since the solar rays are becoming stronger.

Given the 10-day forecast, it would not surprise me if the lakes and ponds around here have no ice within a week.

But...we've had cold and snowy April's before. It is New England!

noticed that the water temperature is up 2 degrees over last few days. It won't be long

I noticed what looks to be a major pressure ridge between perchwood and govenors islands last night. not sure how big it is, but you can see it from the top of tower hill. Whats strange is the big spot of open water looked like it was still frozen over with a skimming of ice from the morning (this was about 5:00 pm). What a crazy winter, and maybe a very hard ice out to predict once the big chunks start floating freely.

Hey emailmannh, was that you out on Weir bay last spring breaking up the ice with a jetski? Seems to me it was around mid April on a Saturday afternoon. :confused:

Silver Sands?
 

Silver Sands Marina had a cam for a few years. The great thing about that site was that they showed the same view on comparative days to the one that was current. (They GOT me on April Fools Day a couple of years ago by showing a "no ice" pic when there really was ice). Anyone know what happened to that cam?

It's still there
 

It's still there at:

http://www.nhboat.com/daily_update06.htm

They already have some great shots and comparisons with previous years.

Won't be long now

Link added
 

I have added the Silver Sands ice out page to my ice out page at www.rattlesnakecam.com/iceout.htm

Thanks Steveo, I was looking for that link. ;)

Thanks for the Welcome
 

I do appreciate the kind words from Upthesauke and DRH and the super help and encouragement that Island Girl has given me. It has enabled my pictures to be shared and I count myself among the very excited about the proximity of Ice Out!:D

Thanks!
 

Welcome to the forum DBA and thanks for the wonderful photos! :D
I am exceedingly anxious to get back to the island. Hopefully it will be very soon.
As always IG, thanks for your organization for these important lake events! :D

Indeed another wonderful addition to the "views of change!" :D Thanks to each of you who make contributions to the Ice-in-and-out page!

The past few days the changes are incredible, and I imagine the warm temps will make their mark even more dramatically in the next two or three days!

Any day now I expect to see the crew from Thurston's and Channel out there doing their part to drive the ice down-bay! :laugh:

Anyone else keep watching that ice crack on the Bear Cam? Looks wider every day. Saw ice fishermen out in front the other day. Just checked Mt. Washington and they were talking about how fast the temp had jumped upwards last night from 15 degrees to 38 degrees melting the 2 1/2" of snow they had received.

conditions? winter harbor or 19 mile bay
 

Howdy all :coolsm: Pulling the shanty off the ice tomorrow....:emb:

Can anybody give me an "on the ground" report for aprox. how much water is currently on top of the ice in winter harbor or 19 mile bay or what the surface is like?

Most thanks! ;)

Safe Crossing to Diamond??
 

DBA, Can you see if the ice looks safe from the Gilford side to get onto Diamond - or do I wait a week and take a boat?? Thanks for the pics showing Diamond - that's the side we are on!

Still cars on the ice
 

We went by Center Harbor today and there are still cars, and even a camping trailer, on the ice. In M'boro bay, the ice pushed up on the rocks is solid and about 1 foot thick. Where there are cracks, its about 6" thick. So still safe in many spots - we have a ways to go before ice-out.

Wait a week....
 

The north, north east side of Diamond is completely open water. I just went for a walk with DBA to look.

Amazing as it may seem... we are watching the ice melt. The big open area off Diamond has large white caps which are beating against the ice line and coming this way (Rattlesnake Island).

There are lots of very wet gray areas that we expect to see open up today or tomorrow.

Coming out on the ice boat.. it broke throught the ice a few times. The ice was quite thin in some areas...and getting punky.

It's coming folks!!! Get those boats ready.

IG ;)

The last few years the magic water temp seems to be about 38 degrees. It's rising fast and the weather over the next few days won't slow it down any.

I hope folks plan on getting those vehicles and bob houses off the ice this weekend.

It amazes me how much ice has melted this week. I wish I had taken a picture on Tuesday looking up the Merrymeeting River from the Rte 11 bridge. The river was solid ice at that point.

Here is a shot from 3-10-06:

http://www.winnipesaukee.com/photopo...1006_river.jpg

And here it is on 03-11.

http://www.winnipesaukee.com/photopo...1106-river.jpg

And the ice is out to the end of Downing's and Gillan's docks already!!!

Thanks, Upthesaukee
 

Great shots showing what a difference 24 hours can make. You're making me homesick. Hopefully I can make the forum fest in 2 weeks for my NH and lobster roll fix. Save one for me, Pepper. It's a long way from Joisey, but worth the trip.

If I remember correctly, you were one of the many that was doing the snow dance just a few weeks ago so we could have a bed race. Gee, what a few warm days do to some people more especially when the ice shows signs of melting like yesterday and today.:laugh: :D :laugh:

Ice boat picture
 

Island Girl ... how about a picture of this ice boat that you are traveling around in?
I'm curious (and jealous?).

Hovercraft pic
 

Attachment 697Is this one of the hovercraft gang? Four or five went by today.

Airboat
 

I usually ride in a different boat, but here is today's ride. Somewhere in photopost, Lakegirl has a picture of the other one.

http://www.winnipesaukee.com/photopo...livery_WEB.jpg

Check it out
 

Hi to all the Ice Out Fans out there.... :D
Just a reminder that the http://www.Rattlesnakecam.com/iceout.htm has updated pictures and webcams daily. Thanks to Upthesaukee for the latest pictures on the ice status there. The temps today were instrumental in changing the color, quality and "wetness" of today's ice. One of my late afternoon pictures today shows how much water has been absorbed by the ice. The next two days with their warmer temps and possible rain will help to further dissolve that ice barrier.
Here's to the earliest ice out ever!
DBA:eek:

That ice looks like it's ready to melt away anytime now! Thanks for the great shots from the northwest part of Rattlesnake, DBA.

03-12-06 before the rain
 

Here's a few pics besides what was posted on ice out today.

First is a shot from the town docks looking at the gazebo. Notice the debris left behind by bobhouses in the middle right and also just in front of the gazebo. Today's on-ice debris = tomorrow's boating hazard :( .

http://www.winnipesaukee.com/photopo...cks-to-gaz.jpg

And here's a shot of the boat ramp. Notice the water coming right up to where vehicle go on and off, and notice the open water on the Shibley side. (truck did not go on the ice).

http://www.winnipesaukee.com/photopo..._boat_ramp.jpg

And a bob house off Sandy Point. Looks like open water around it!

http://www.winnipesaukee.com/photopo...dy_point_2.jpg

and finally, more bobhouse out by Echo Point and also over on the Loon Cove side. The dot to the left of the bob house at Echo point is actually a snowmobile crossing the bay very slowly.

http://www.winnipesaukee.com/photopo...of-sandy-p.jpg

In those immortal words..."Th-th-th-tha-tha-that's all, folks!!!!";)

Wolfeboro Ice
 

Can anyone get a picture of the Wolfeboro town docks ice conditions? I miss the WolfeCam.

It's Melttttttiiiinnnnggggg!
 

The ice around Rattlesnake, Sleeper's, Cub and Treasure Islands has deteriorated much in the last 24 hours. It is very pourous and weak in most places. The airboat broke through the ice around the tip of Rattlesnake and was breaking the ice in others. That grey color that indicated punky ice is everywhere with a lot of very very wet places.

As you can see from DBA and Upthesaukee's ice out pictures there is a lot more open water.

We could literally watch the ice melt!

Stay tuned...
www.rattlesnakecam.com/iceout.htm

:D :laugh: :D :laugh: :D :laugh:

Message for Wiers Guy
 

The jetski you saw in Weirs Bay last year was not me. I generally put in on Alton Bay because ice out is earlier there. It looks like ice out will be in other parts of the lake this year. Some of these pictures are unbelievable for this time in March. Should be on the water on or before April 1st!

man, at this rate you may be on the lake tomorrow. we lost an awful lot of ice this weekend, and now the flows are starting. I'd guess its 2 or 3 weeks ahead of last year.