Good article from today's Citizen regarding ice-out...
Big Lake Ice-Out at hand; Observer thinks it could occur within 2 weeks
By RICH BERGERON
Staff Writer
GILFORD — Ice-Out on Lake Winnipesaukee is two weeks away, maybe less, according to a local observer.
"We use Lily Pond as a gauge," said Dave Emerson, owner of Emerson Aviation. "When the ice is out on the pond, usually the lake has ice out about 10 days afterward." Lily Pond was less than half covered with ice Wednesday afternoon. Emerson tries to get up in the air for an ice check once a day when conditions don’t keep him grounded.
Wednesday, the ice was still solid in many places, and huge sheets covered the lake off Ellacoya and in Alton Bay. Swirl patterns, some open water channels, and a network of cracks could be seen from the air in the surface of the ice. The thickest ice in The Broads could still be up to a foot thick, Emerson claims.
"I know right now the ice isn’t really going anywhere," Emerson said, "When there’s more open water it’s like a blender. Ice chunks blow all over the lake."
"It all depends on the wind. It usually comes out of the northwest, but storms can make it come out of the east."
The wind-chill factor keeps the ice solid and is the most extreme at the widest part of the lake. "The ice usually backs up into Alton Bay," said Emerson.
Emerson Aviation has been calling Ice-Out for 15 years. Before Dave started his daily checks and making the call, his father, Alan, and Ice-Out expert Bob Aldrich were the authorities on the annual rite of spring. Alan Emerson died in September 2002 and Aldrich died last fall. The elder Emerson helped Aldrich determine Ice-Out after Aldrich’s medical condition made it impossible to fly. Aldrich had been recording ice conditions for about 50 years before he died.
Dave Emerson has been recording Ice-Out status reports for about six years.
Ice-Out is officially declared when the route of the excursion vessel M/S Mount Washington is free of ice.
Rich Bergeron can be reached by calling 524-3800 ext. 5932 or by e-mail at
rbergeron@citizen.com