Quote:
Originally Posted by upthesaukee
"...You can also have some very slushy snow next to the ice, which can soak into boots and cause some very wet, cold feet..."
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That's something I experienced in more recent years.
Even a hundred feet from circulators, the ice will flex downwards under one's weight. Water will creep out on top of the ice—unnoticed below the snow cover—and soak your boots. I hadn't noticed my feet were getting even more cold and even more numb until a crowd of friends joined me at the same spot!
Quote:
Originally Posted by nvmbr9
"...Can I walk out onto the broads without worrying...?"
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Worries?
Absolutely no worries!
As a young teen, I ventured alone from Wolfeboro's Brewster Academy, across The Broads, around to Winter Harbor and back: a distance of 16 miles round-trip. Most memorable was the windless, sunny morning weather.
Without any wind, what impacted me most was the Big Lake's
absolute silence. Except for the occasional thunder echoing off Rattlesnake Island from ice expansion, all I could hear was that crazy ringing in my own inner-ears!
As a footnote, I'd heard that Lake Winnipesaukee was unsuitable for ice boating and, with that trip, I realized why.
Quote:
Originally Posted by fatlazyless
"...Best bet is to walk on the paths left by snowmobile tracks..."
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At that time, there were no snowmobiles! I never saw nor heard another soul all day, even around the handful of bobhouses that were out.
Quote:
Originally Posted by upthesaukee
"...With snow shoes or cross country skis, you can go along ok, but distances can be deceiving...It almost had the appearance of us being on a treadmill..."
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I only had downhill skis which, of course, worked the ankles too hard. Sixteen miles was too much of a hike on the ice, even for this youngster.
Worse though, was the weather: Although that winter had seen many days of sub-zero weather (including three consecutive days of -30°), I started my venture in bright sun and deep blue skies. When it came time to return, the sun disappeared—heavy clouds moved in—and the sweat I'd built up in the warm sun now started to over-chill me.
Quote:
Originally Posted by nvmbr9
"...When I think about the lack of judgment I had as a teenager...We are fearless, and rather stupid..."
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Maybe I should have told someone
how I intended to travel...and
where I was going?
