Ice-in Watch 2007-2008
 

This is the Official Ice-in thread for the 2007-2008 season. Usually I start this thread much later in the season as ice-in has been quite late in recent years. This year the water temps in the last few weeks have been 4-5 degrees lower than last year on the same dates. Today's water temp (12-14-2007) is 36 degrees, last year it was 41. The broads usually ices over when the reported water temperature is 33-34 degrees.

I have been receiving emails predicting an early ice-in. Wouldn't that be really cool??

The Ice-In Watch page is up at www.rattlesnakecam.com/icein.htm. Come along with us and watch the lake freeze and see the winter fun out there!!!

For anyone willing to take a daily or frequent picture from the same place every day showing the lake conditions, I will put the picture on the ice-in page. You have to be willing to upload the picture to my website. In the past I have been emailed pictures but unable to post them in a timely manner. Soooo I hope you will do this part for our huge audience!! If you have a webcam I have not yet includes please send email (even if you have sent one before, I have had a busy time at work this fall)

Let the games begin!!!!

Island Girl, who is looking at 8 inches of fresh snow!!! :D

Looking forward to another year of ice in and more importantly, ICE OUT.

BT

Ice on the open lake SE of Black Cat
 

This morning's dawn revealed several small ice sheets drifting in the open lake southeast of Black Cat. This was most likely a result of the snow yesterday, as the ice sheets looked like snow-ice rather than black ice.

In the last couple days the water temp at Black Cat WeatherCam has dropped to 35.

This morning's ice will probably be short-lived as winds pick up later this afternoon and into tomorrow morning. Sunday's forecast storm is likely to have a lot of wind with it, so that should keep the lake open until it sits still again, but the snow and/or sleet should help to cool the surface water even more.

As usual, we'll need about 24 hours of clear, calm, and cold weather to bring ice-in. So far this year's ice-in looks to be 'right on time' -- between Christmas and New Years -- which will seem early after the extremely late ice cover we've seen in the last few years.

Ice In....
 

Watching the cove today vs. yesterday....there is a wonderful layer of thin ice covering more and more each day...can the rest of the lake be that far from doing the same?? Thanks for the "start" of the ice in guesses, IG....have a Wonderful Holiday Season!:)

Snow ice
 

Today's snow and sleet storm is chilling the water surface rapidly. The snow that fell earlier this morning did not melt in the water but formed bergs instead. Since 11 am, sleet (ice pellets) has taken over the job of chilling off the water surface.

At the Black Cat WeatherCam the water temperature this morning was 35 degrees at 2 feet down, and 36 at 10 feet down. In the last 4 hours the 2-foot probe has reached 33 degrees, with some fluctuation while the 10-foot probe has remained steady at 36.

However, the wind won't let the ice sit still. The storm has produced a peak gust of 44 mph so far.

ice forming by pine island...
 

from the web cam this morning, shouldn't be too long before it's frozen over, with a couple more cold nights -PIG

Ice In
 

The whole bay off Blamoral beach has been frozen for a couple of weeks. I hear that a snowmobile already went in. The driver was alright but lucky. It was only 2ft deep where he went in.

First Bob House
 

We drove by 19 Mile Bay today and saw the first bob house was out. After the rain and slush we got last night, I imagine it will be pretty well locked in when the ice refreezes.

Bobhouse out yesterday next to the bandstand in Alton Bay as well!

And then...
 

...there were two. Also saw a snowmobile on Friday that made the tour around the bay by the docks and the Mt Washington dock, and then went out and around Sandy Point heading outbound on the bay, all by himseldf.

http://www.winnipesaukee.com/photopo...m/IMG_8248.JPG
pretty soon those guys from the Christian Conference Center will be out there practicing their sled racing! (photo taken yesterday before all the snow last night)

Anyone been out around Weirs/Meredith bay yet? I'm thinking about trying it this weekend, but I hate being the first.

buoy 3 ice report
 

As of 5pm, Wednesday Jan 2, it's all open water from Horse-Dolly-Bear-Mark-Timber-Governors and back & forth. With the temp dropping down to 10, the surface close to shore has grown surface slush that may solidify into ice depending on the juxtapositon-of wind-waves-temp-exposure-planet spin & political affiliation of the local merganser duckies. Saw an eagle fly slowly along the shoreline as the sun was setting,, about just 30' up, and ya know, it looked just like an advertisement for your Internal Revenue Service.

(It had a big smile)

buoy 3 ice report
 

As of Thurs Jan 3 at 5pm, the area from horse-dolly-bear-mark-timber-governors, & back & forth is all very open water, depite the 5pm temp of 4 degrees.

Looking down between Mark & Timber Islands, to Mink Island, the ice coverage area in there between the three islands looks a little bigger than yesterday.

Ice up
 

If the wind drops, like it has 30 miles north of the lake, the temps should drop another several degrees. With no wind, there should be a pretty good ice up tonight of what is now open water. It should be good black ice, but not ready to support anyone. Give it time.

The warm up that is coming is not great news for ice build up.

R2B

buoy 3 ice report
 

As of Friday, Jan 4 at 5pm, the area from Horse-Dolly-Bear-Mark-Mink-Timber-Governors, and back and forth was all one big piece of smooth and glassy ice. Last night's cold snap must have did it. The ice is about 3/4" thick right out in front of my 'poor house' spot. Looking through binoculars to Timber, Gilford, and Governors, all I could see was ice with no open water. The only open water, I could see, was the nearby short space between the shoreline and tiny Horse Island.

buoy 3 ice report
 

:cool:Some changes going on with the ice sheet going from Horse-Dolly-Bear- Mark-Mink-Timber-Governors, and back & forth. As of 4pm, it had not started to break up, but was looking soft and dark grey with a couple of big puddles of about 5 acres in size out in the middle. Difficult to say if it will survive through the predicted warm-up?

Bummer!
 

This warm snap will almost certainly open up that whole area again but the water temp will still be only 34 degrees so it won't take much to freeze it up again. The views from Gunstock were really interesting on Saturday!

Had been hoping for an earlier trip to the cabin than most winters this year with the cold December. Not to be. Looks like it gets cold again beginning with the weekend. Assuming we see the predicted low to mid teens at night from there and no major snow events, then it's probably another two weeks until we have my requisite 8 inches of black ice for trekking over to Mink. In other words, the last weekend of January -- pretty much right on the typical schedule.

I attempted the ice at the Weirs yesterday, but the ice jams against the shore limited my travels. It looks to be pretty safe out about 10' from shore, but its got that grayish color that could spell trouble with a warm week ahead.

Ice Report?
 

What the latest on the ice-in?
The wab cams I look at all seem to still have some ice, I just can't tell if its just a top coating or what...
Alton Bay cam view looks like an ice rink and there is activity, yet the others show ice but I have not seen any activity (Weirs Cam, Bear Cam, Pine Island Cam, Black Cat Weather Cam) and DRH's Echo Shores Digi-cam pics show NO ice at all.

NHKathy, Weirs bay is loosing some ice to open water with the warm weather. The middle of the bay looked solid enough, just couldn't get out to check it due to ice conditions at the shore line. Hopefully this warm weather stops and we get a few wicked cold nights soon. I may try the ice again this weekend, but it doesn't look good. :emb:

Ice at Black Cat
 

There's ice in the Black Cat WeatherCam view... I mean, I wouldn't even put a dog on it (a mink maybe, because they can dive) but with temps falling and teens back in the forecast for next week, the lake ice will be solidifying. It's more than just a skim coating and survived yesterday's wind. However, it's all snow-ice, formed from December's storms, and is probably like 'flake board' as opposed to 'solid oak.' I was just looking at some archived images from the WxCam from last year and saw the lake completely ice free on January 22 - at this time last year, we were still waiting for the first ice!

Ice is nice
 

North of Moultonboro Bay, the ice is 8" thick. Four inches of black ice covered by 4 of white ice. There are folks ice fishing every day and depth is confirmed by the holes they are drilling. The last warm spell melted all the snow, and its a sheet of ice again. Not good news for snowmobiles, which shouldn't travel on bare ice, but no problem for those who want to venture out on it - except you have to watch out you don't slip.

All Water Again Here
 

The recent mild air temps and rain, and the gusty wind over the past 24 hours, have completely broken up the ice from our shoreline (between Minge Cove and the West Alton sandbar) to the opposite shore across the lake in Wolfeboro.

Here's my "Ice-In Watch" photo of today. The entire area shown in this picture had been frozen until yesterday morning, when it began to break up.

http://www.echoshores.com/ice-in/2008/011008.jpg

Thanks
 

Thanks for the info, WeirsGuy, CLA, Lakegeezer and DRH!

Is it Frozen Yet
 

Is the Lake frozen over yet, most of the cameras indicate so. How about the Broads?

Ice-In ? Safe
 

:look:Looking at the Alton Bay Cam it looks like snowmobile tracks in front of the public docks. Can anyone give me an update on the ice and the snowmobile trails in and around the Alton area. Thanks

A fair number of ice-fishermen today in Alton Bay. Saw a few snow machines go by but no clue about trail status, though snow cover looked pretty good throughout the area.

relay....message from Mitt
 

:)Can't wait to get just one day of r&r, out on the Wolfeboro ice, trying to hook a big pickerel. Alls I need is 'bout three inches ice and I'm good to go.....WOLFEBORO ICE...I'm psyched! .....hey there neighbors, what the lastest on that Springfield Point ice? :)

Anyone have a Meredith bay Ice report? I am wondering what it is by the docks and what it's like halfway down the bay between the docks and Weirs. I'll be out there in a few weeks and that is where I fish. Thanks.

Waiting for Photopost
 

I took pictures from Meredith Bay (formerly Akwavista) on Thursday and Friday. I will post them when Photopost is back up.. In a few weeks conditions will surely be different than now..

Rotary Derby, Meredith Ice ?????
 

Another Derby entrant here. Doesn't sound like there is much ice in Meredith yet. If it gets thick enough to drive on, could some kind soul please make an entry.

Thanks in advance :)

Dozens of vehicles driving on alton bay today, 10-13' of ice. 8" by sandy point

less than two weeks until the beginning of the ice out contest

Meredith Bay is all iced it... probably not too thick though and perhaps too thin at the edges... (as of Friday afternoon)

IG

Friday Janyary 18, 2008 Pictures
 

Go to www.rattlesnakecam.com/ice08/ice08.htm for pictures of the lake from atop of the Meredith Bay development.

The page will take time to open if you are on a slow connection.

Enjoy
IG

Great pics IG, thanks for posting.

Meredith looking good
 

There was good ice in meredith this weekend, with 9" by the No Wake line on Saturday. Saw lots of snowmobiles and a good number of bobhouses. Still waiting for the main lake to get safe!!!

DRH Picture
 

I think there is someone frozen in at the end of DRH's deck.;) Is the the ABDOMINAL SNOWMAN?

Frozen Solid!
 

Yep, looks like he was sneaking around in our yard, got stuck, and his belly froze to the end of our deck! :laugh:

http://www.echoshores.com/ice-in/2008/012108.jpg

Pretty good article w/ photos in today's www.citizen.com about someone breaking a suv (a Ford?) thru the Gilford-Winnipesaukee ice, and getting out alive. See, if it had been a Mercedes suv, this would not have been a problem....those Mercedes can just walk on water...:D
..............

Supposedly, automobile insurance on a suv will pay on this 'accident', while automobile insurance on a non-suv will not pay, based on the reason that suv's are designed to go off-road, and regular cars are not.

"Hello Progressive Insurance, yes, that's correct, it fell through the cracked ice about 400' from shore. Gosh, was I ever surprised! So's what you say Progressive, am I covered or whatever? Hey, they sure don't make ice like they used to make ice!"

Looks like we have an early candidate for 2008's Darwin Awards...:rolleye1:

Wow, he used a new SUV to check the ice. Hope his insurance company has a sense of humor.

FLL, the guy in Stratham was 25 years old and lives in Hampton, the guy in the SUV is from Andover and judging by his picture, he is well older than 25.

They could be related, who knows. But it's unfair to tar this guy with unsubstaniated wrongdoings.

Hey, the guy isn't fat, he must be a Democrat.:laugh:

What was this guy thinking, drive onto the lake to check the ice thickness, oh the shame.......

As I posted on another thread, "It's like using a match to test for a gas leak."

Between Black Cat and Three-Mile yesterday I measured about 4 inches of "snow ice." Very low quality ice. Very fluffy composition. Took only 10 or 12 chops from the mountaineering ax to get through it.

The zero-degree nights have brought a lot less cracking and booming than there would usually be on zero-degree nights, which I presume is a result of the ice composition not being as solid as it could be (i.e. "black ice".) It's all white ice formed from December's 42 inches of snow, melted and re-frozen during that warm spell we had earlier this month.

This white translucent ice holds lake heat much better than clear ice and therefore doesn't thicken as readily. We need an extended period of extremely cold weather - longer than just a few days. Until we get it, continue to distrust this year's ice.

broads Ice
 

Anyone have an idea how the ice on the broads is coming along, mainly around rattlesnake??

Weather seems to have been OK for "growing" ice over the past week

Thanks

Broads
 

I drove from Alton to Gilford yesterday afternoon. I looks like the entire Broads has iced over.
I don't know anything about the ice thickness.. but didn't see any open water.

Ice-in declared
 

Today's www.citizen.com has an article, 'Ice-in Declared', that quotes Island Girl and has links to this website and to the Rattlesnake Island Cam, and airplane aerial views and, interviews, and all sorts of good stuff.

At least one Inquiring mind wants to know; How thick was the ice where the Ford Explorer broke through?:coolsm:

Not Safe Yet
 

I got a report from an airboat owner who went out to Rattlesnake from Minge Cove yesterday. The ice around Rattlesnake is only 2" - 3" thick and although the air boat didn't break through the ice, the ice sheets were cracking and shifting under the weight of the boat. In his opinion, the ice out there is not yet safe for snowmobile travel.

The cold weather we're having here now (it's 14 degs as I am writing this) will hopefully let the ice grow so it will be safe for travel soon.

The print edition of that same article in today's Citizen omits the entire section about winnipesaukee.com and Island Girl that appears in the online edition. :confused:

Where are the aerial views? I assume in the print edition. Bummer.

For those who care. My brother is currently out on Meredith bay halfway down on the North side checking the ice to put our house out. He said his first hole was about 8" of ice. He was going to drill some more to be safe before heading out with the sleds and house. Decent amount of activity out there too.

Thanks Bronco, anyone else with Ice updates ??

looks like were getting close !!

Snowman or Al ?
 

Seem to be a lot of red and plaid there. Are you sure it's isn't Al from "Tool Time" ? :D

Lot's of Lake activity
 

Looks like the lake is frozen solid. Lots of lake activity now!!

I want to drive on for the Rotary Derby !!
 

Finally, a winter like we used to have! Years ago I had to buy a 1 foot extension for my Jiffy ice auger, there was so much ice on Winni. I wonder if we'll ever see that again? Or did Al Gore really give us Global Warming, just like he invented the internet :D :)

Plenty of Ice
 

Plenty of Ice and gas price is down to $2.87 in Meredith!! Get out and play!!

Ah, you lucky people!
 

I am terribly jealous. Down here in Jersey everything is brown. Brown, brown, brown and boring! I put away all my snow and snowman decorations in the hope that this will break the jinx!

We need a little snow, right this very minute!

nj2nh

DRH

Any further updates from the lucky airboat owner?

Thanks

More Ice Updates
 

I took my first hike out to Mink Island on Saturday morning bright and early. I cut holes every couple hundred yards until I was well over towards Mark Island and then tested again about half way between Mark and Mink Islands (when I encountered some slush and wanted to be sure what was under me) Very consistent ice thickness of 8-9" including 2-3 inches of weaker "snow ice" between Cattle Landing and through and around the channel between Mark and Bear Islands and then across to Mink. Overnight, an additional 1-2" formed in front of my place, so conditions are improving quickly. Saw several groups of sleds on Saturday including at least one coming through from the Broads side of Jolly Island from the north -- a bit aggressive given that general area only locked in during the past week. Saw almost zero sled activity today. With the couple of inches of fluff that fell this morning and the additional ice thickness, lake conditions are now quite good in the area I travelled.

Highlight of the morning was a coyote that came bounding over from Bear Island and passed about 50 yards away from me at a full run heading south. Saw him later way off by Mark Island.

On my hike out, I encountered a much expanded ice rift running a bit East of Dolly Island across to the mainland. Pretty consistent 12-18 inch ridge running the whole way across today. Much more pronounced than the day before. Easy enough to cross, but I wouldn't want to hit it at night going fast on a sled....

Channel Ice
 

Notice that the Channel Cam stil does not show ice. Does that area usually freeze up?

Channel
 

The Channel never freezes

or could it be?
 

It may be Norm from the Yankee Work Shop or perhaps it is a LUMBER JACK! Can you hear "I'm a lumber jack and I'm OK"?

The original Mount used to be docked in the channel during the winter as it never freezes. And if it did the I'd have no place to watch people skimming. :D

I am please to announce that I did manage to get out onto Weirs Bay on Saturday, and didn't manage to drown myself. I neglected to tag along the auger, but there is at least 6" of snow ice on what sounds to be several inches of black ice underneath. I will drill some holes this week/weekend and give a better ice depth. Lots of sled activity and at least one bob house.

FISHING DERBY TIME!

It's illegal now right? My father, brother and I watched a guy drown there probably about ten years ago. Not good. I forget what happened but he was running from Paugus to Meredith bay side. There were a bunch of people just watching from Weirs beach. All of a sudden he fell off out by the last pilons. It was funny for the first five seconds until we realized he was really screwed. Obviously his clothes being soaked and the feezing water got to him. Took about 10-15 minutes for a rescue boat to show up. I think they revived him in the ambulance but I heard later that he died at the hospital. Not to put a damper on things I just thought I would share a story of skimming.
I'll be there for the Derby. Bring on the cold and then snow just before derby weekend.

Heck, all you have to do is watch the WCYC cam on any given winter day, and you'll see guys skimming across the open water in front of the dock.

BoulderBronco, your right it, skimming was outlawed several years ago I believe in part due to the incident you remember and a few others.

From the Baysider

Snow Mobiles??
 

I have been looking at a few of the area webcams, but haven't seen a single snowmobile. Has anyone been out and about.

I remember that my mom told me that the children of one of our neighbors on Echo Point used to ride the snowmobile to school in Wolfeboro. I bet that took less time than driving all the way around, huh?

nj2nh

I saw one parked in front of the Pine Island cam one day last weekend or week.

There's been many snowmobiles, maybe 5-20 everyday, going past buoy 3. The ice looks hard and white with lots of traction.

A neighbor has an ice eater that runs probably way too much, and keeps a lot of water ice-free, like maybe 100' extending out, at a point on Meredith Neck, and it attracts skimmers. Sledders see it, or know about it, and speed up in advance and skim the 50' or so of water. Most avoid it, but a few are attracted to skim it.

It also attracts merganser duckies for a flying drop-in, and they do a terrific tail skimming performance.....natural skimmers..

Seems like a good spot for practicing eskimo rolls, Any eskimo ladies looking for a terrific winter practice spot? Send me a pm. I have an old 16' Aquaterra Chinook w/ a spray skirt and skinny bladed paddle that I stumbled across in October for $250. and I'm look'n to learn eskimo rolls, plus a hot, outdoor, 104 degree hot tub is a big plus! How difficult to do eskimo rolls?:banana:

Broads Ice
 

Anyone with ice reports from the Broads, weather permitting I was thinking of making my way out to Rattlesnake on Satuarday if today and tonight don't make it unreasonable.

Any input is appriciated !!

Formula,

I have a few contacts that say the ice is solid in most parts, we are going to try and get out to Rattlesnake tomorrow as well. They said the ice ridges are not completely solid and that the access road is open to snowmobiles. If you want, send me an email and I can send you the entire update, we can also exchange cell numbers and who ever gets there 1st can give the other a live update.

I have my ice safety picks ready! Good luck.

Slush and ice
 

If you are not experienced I would make sure others have gone before you after all this nasty weather..

My sources say that there is water on top of one side of some of the ridges, and some of the shoreline is not thick.

The construction road has been used this week when the snow was good...

I am not going out to Rattlesnake this weekend as planned because I anticipate slush... and that will bog down a snowmobile. Getting stuck is not fun.

If you just can't help yourself and venture out.. wear ice picks, take a cell phone and make sure someone knows your whereabouts.

Island Girl

Great advice, we are going to be real cautious and if we are even a slight bit uncomfortable, turn back.

And yes, the ice picks will be on at all times.

Webbsatwinni:

Please post about your trip when you return. Thanks.

Secondcurve,

I will update this thread when we get back, I take a few pictures. Right now we are not looking to take the sleds over, we plan on walking, but who knows.

Webbsat,

Not sure if I'm going to head over today, if I do it won't be until later. If I do I'll post a report, if not I'll look forward to hearing yours. I have the same thoughts, leave the sleds unless......

Be Safe

Snow & Ice Weekend "Bucket List"
 

Hi fellow posters. Hockeypuck feels the need to head north from CT for a busy day at the lake. I'm trying to hit a quadruple, weather permitting, on Saturday Feb.9th. I guess it's kinda like the "Bucket List".

(1) Ice Fishing Derby - Just as a spectator, but you just got to love that winter carnival atmosphere.

(2) Dog Sled races - Never been to one before.

(3) Car Ice Races on Berry Pond - Never been here either, so I need some help here. I saw on their web site that they were postponed from Late January but to when???

(4) Wine'ing Butcher - Stock up on steak tips. This may be the real reason for the 450 mile round trip !!!

I would like to do this all in one day, so any advice or help would be appreciated.

Carry a big stick
 

If you are walking... carry a big stick... this is used to poke the slush, snow, etc in front of you before you step. You never know what lies ahead. If you fall in, the stick can be used across the hole onto the ice to give something to hold onto. Also do not walk to close to the people you are with. I am pretty sure the ice is solid... but one never knows where there will be a weak spot. The sleet covering can mask a lot of trecherous ice.

Good luck and Be Careful Out There!!

IG

Thanks IG,

We are sitting here deciding now, we will take all of the advice and be careful.

Another Day
 

Having been out there in all kinds of conditions... I would not go today. The problem is how difficult it is to walk in slush and the lack of others out there for a rescue.

The great late Island Guy and I walked to the broadside of Rattlesnake several years ago. We left from Rattlesnake landing going around the northern side. There was plenty of ice and packed powder to walk on. It took us 2.5 hours... in perfect conditions.

If you don't have slush, you have very slippery ice... you need spikes for your boots... there are lots of brands that slip over the shoe.

Here are some pictures of our trip back then.. I never did upload the first ones... but you will get the idea.

Pray for Snow for next weekend..
IG

http://www.winnipesaukee.com/photopo....php?cat=15005

IG

I will take the advice, hope for snow and go next weekend. Thanks for the persistence to overcome my desire to be on the island.

Webbsatwinni:

That is probably a wise choice. Congratulations on your restraint! I almost said in my earlier post that if Island Girl is staying put you should too. However, I refrained. There is something to be said for experience and she clearly has some. Maybe next weekend will be more accommodating. Stay safe.

And my wife is happier, we have someone to watch the kids and we are going to dinner instead.

Everybody wins

Ice in the Broads
 

Went out to Rattlesnake yesterday and came back today via snowmobiles.
Major warning out there, actually broke through on the northern end of Rattlesnake, luckily moving fast enough to get out, lots of new pressure ridges today, the ice at the ridges are only a few inches thick, chopped a hole in the ice in front of the camp, only 5 inches thick (Broad side)
If you plan to walk out around the northern end to get to the Broad side of Rattlesnake, have your affairs in order, you'll never make it.
If you want to get to the interior of the island, the ice on the west side, (opposite Broad side), is about 7 inches, you can enter there and walk over the island, stay off the Broad's side and between Diamond and Rattlesnake!!!
With the warmer weather coming this week, I'm afraid to say that many unfortunate souls may break through during next weeks fishing derby. Was going to make a big event at the camp next week but I'm going to call this one off.
Be careful out there!

P & MA,

Thanks for the update, we wish it was different, but better safe than sorry. Glad to hear you are safe and that your snowmobile did not suffer the same demise as the Explorer in Gilford.

when will the 2008 ice out contest begin

Ice Out
 

Read todays article In the Concord Monitors sunday news

:D

I don't get the Monitor and I can't find it online. I'm not quite sure what I'm looking for. What is the article you're referring to about?

concord monitor
 

It was an article about the Ice out contest.for 2008

:D

Looking for ice cond. near Bear Island
 

I am very interested in using the ice to get to Bear Island with my scouts on the weekend of the 23rd. Are there direct reports of ice around the Mail Dock?

I had a report last week from Dave Hamblet at Y landing)that the ice was safe between y-landing browns and bear. Someone else reported they went from cattle landing to bear no problem. However, you will not be able to reach the mail dock. Ice eaters keep the shore line open till almost across from Browns on the West side. You have to go down about 10 houses then there is an area where there are no permanent docks and you can access the island. You also can not get on the ice at Browns or Y for the same reason. In the past we got on at the gray house on the point south of y-landing, but those people moved up year round now and I do not know if they are allowing access. You may also be able to get on at the barge landing north of the public lot at Browns. That is if Mason Marine did not leave their barge there this winter. Good luck and be safe! I'm going to make the trip over next week for the weekend at the cottage in the winter.

Hiking over to Bear Island
 

You can probably get on the ice at Browns where the Mason Barge ties up. If you call Brown's, I'm sure Sue will be able to tell you. It was available last year. Even if the barge is there, youll be able to get around it on sleds or on foot. With Scouts, I'm assuming you're on foot. Between Bear and Pine, just be wary of the ice closer to Pine Island. It's probably fine, but that's always a late area for locking in. An ATV went through the ice around there some years back.

Some years ago now, I used to hike across the the carry on Bear -- the narrow pinch point between the two halves of the island. You'll come out in the cove just south of Camp Nokomis. Could be a good test for your scouts with a map to see if they can find it! Again, depending on where you're going, that could save you time.

Also, depending on where you are heading on Bear (like towards Camp Lawrence), Cattle Landing may be a better entry point. There too, so long as your mindful of the aggressive use of ice eaters along there -- wouldn't want those electric bills -- it was safe through there two weeks ago with 10 inches of ice. I'm heading over tomorrow by sled and probably from Browns so I'll send you a private message if there are any challenges to getting on the ice there.

Glad to hear Scouts are getting out there! I'm the Scoutmaster of a Troop down in Mass. The first weekend in March I'm bringing a dozen of my Scouts over to Mink for some ice fishing.

With what looks to be different weather conditions compared to what was predicted last week, does anyone have a rattlesnake ice safety update?

Thursday Ice Report
 

Friends were on the ice today. Feb 7, 2008:

Conditions on the ice are very poor. There is several inches of standing water at the bottom of the marina's boat ramp. We went out to the peninsula and gunned it to avoid bogging down. We went about 50 mph out of the cove and conditions out on the main lake were just as bad as in the cove. We have about 6 " - 8" of new snow on top of about 3" - 4" of pure slush. The machines bogged down very badly. We started to go down to Alton Bay but we turned around and came back because the machines were straining so badly in the slush. We brought them home and put them back on the trailer. Very disappointing.

Honestly, it doesn't look at all good for riding around Meredith Bay. Even if we towed the machines to Meredith, the conditions there would be just as bad as they are here.
So, that's the bad, but honest, news.

Temps for the next 36 hours... 25 - 32 degs. And with the 8" layer of insulating snow on top of the slush, it's not going to freeze solid anytime soon. Bummer!!

Thanks Island Girl,

I'm still going to find a way to get out on to the ice at Meredith, as I believe it's where the NH F&G stocks the majority of tagged trout in the lake. Like I mentioned earlier, if we can't drive on, by the Rotary trailer, it'll be the 3rd year in a row that vehicles could not access at Meredith. That really sucks when you don't have a sled, and the bones are growing older.........

I may call my contact at the F&G today, to see if they actually stocked Meredith this year. If I find out anything, I'll come back to post it.

Good luck everyone, lets keep it safe tomorrow.