Ice-in Watch 2006

[Island Girl]

It is time to begin the Ice-in watch. Unlike ice-out there is no set date that ice-in occurs or that the ice is safe. It will be fun to watch as the ice forms in the bays and out in the broads. There are lots of webcams in the area from which to view the changing conditions. I have created an Ice-in page on which there are several of these cams.

If you would like me to put other webcams on this page, just post the request in this thread.

You can also post your observations and comments in this thread.

DRH and upthesaukee will be taking still shots of the lake periodically and posting them as well. You can find then on the Ice-in page. These pictures will begin after the ice starts forming.

If you would like to take periodic or daily pictures from a part of the lake not covered we will give you a place to post them. If you take an occassional picture put it on photopost and let me know it is there and I will link to it from the Ice-in page.

As always, thanks to Don Z. for giving the space to do all this. Make sure you visit the sponsors on all of our pages... they help support these free sites.

Enjoy!

http://www.rattlesnakecam.com/icein.htm

[Orion]

Thank You IG!

Makes it easy to get all the info in one place. Good for quick checks from WORK (spoken like Maynard G. Krebs ....if anyone remembers)

[Pepper]

Terrific! I was hoping you would do this!

Thank you!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[gtxrider]

Cool , no pun intended.

Yes I remember Maynard G. Krebs. I think he was later lost on an island during a three hour cruise, a three hour cruise.

[Gilligan]

Originally Posted by Orion

Thank You IG!
Makes it easy to get all the info in one place. Good for quick checks from WORK (spoken like Maynard G. Krebs ....if anyone remembers)

Shhhh, that was a secret identity. Maynard G. Krebbs (yes, it's spelled with 2, b's) was like the nations original Hippie. They called it a "beatnik" back then but Maynard was a "Hippie" before that word existed. Many still blame Maynard for popularizing what became the Hippie culture so I don't talk about that too much. It was almost like a different life!

I tried to work (WORK!) on a boat but that did not last too long. A bit more than 3 hours. The most work (WORK!) I do now is checking out this forum, watching IG's lake cam page and playing my old Maynard bongo drums. Has anyone seen Zelda Gilroy around the Lake? I had a thing for her and that nose wrinkle. Ahh good buddy Dobie Gillis or, as beatnik Maynard called him clandestinely, Doobie .

BTW, Not working is my way to avoid paying Mass State income tax

[Kevin C]

Gilligan,
Here's Zelda !......

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sheila_Kuehl

[trfour]

After ice in,
I think that ice safety for winter sports here on the Lake could be Incorporated into this as well.
Kind of a, one stop shopping, if you will.

Links, or other ice safety reporting for the Lake.

Just an idea

T.

[19MileBaylover]

Hey Island Girl,
Nice touch
I'm always curious about ice out, so this is a great site.
p.s., is it really Central MA or western MA? Western MA starts west of Worcester.

[xstrapolator]

on the ice in page apparently is case sensitive.

It should be this for the Smith Cove Cam, the other one returns an error page:

http://www.bearisland.org/smithcovecam.htm

Great idea on the page by the way.

[KBoater]

I'm a little late on this but if you look at the Lake Wentworth web cam for Dec. 9 and 10 you will notice the overnight difference of the ice-in on the "Wentworth Boards". Try the slide show.

Winnie can not be far behind. I imagine most of the small lakes are frozen.

[Pepper]

Originally Posted by FLboater

{snip} ... Winnie can not be far behind. I imagine most of the small lakes are frozen.

We drove past Opeechee Park today and were surprised to see mostly open water. There is ice at the beachline and for a few yards into the water, but it was extremely thin in appearance.

Tonights temperatures might make a huge difference in the ice conditions everywhere, though. WOW is it gonna be COLD .

[gtxrider]

Pepper, when you feel a chill just think back on the summer and working behind the counter at Waldo Peppers.

It is cold down here in Central New Jersey. We may even have a white Christmas.

[Pepper]

Great idea, GTXRider! It certainly is hot there!

[trfour]

We all need some more Hot Pepper out here, Pepper!

From a very old fan, Happy Holidays Sweetheart!!

This website Warms us, year round, Yes... Very Cool!!

Year Round Winni is all that we need!

Love you all,
trfour.

[mcdude]

FLboater: Look what some little elf added to the Wentworth cam!! IG: Can we get one for Snake Eyes too? (when the BIG lake freezes?)

[Island Girl]

Sure.. we can do that. It might not be until January sometime. Perhaps you would like to come and decorate it!

[Islander2]

Wonder is anyone has been to the Barbers Pole area, and if that section of the lake is frozen, or if there is open water still between it and Cow Is. Also, has anyone driven by Nineteen Mile Bay area that could give me an ice report?

Thanks...

[Zee]

As of last weekend, both 19 Mile and 20 Mile Bays were completely socked in. Looking out beyond, there is solid ice (unsafe) all the way to the graveyard and around Chases Island. I am unsure as to the status beyond that. Moultonborough Bay in Melvin Village was open with ice forming in the bays. If Moultonborough Bay is open then I would guess that the area beyond Chases to Cow Island may be open as well.

[Islander2]

Thanks ZEE. I appreciate the info, and the quick response.

Have a good one.

[JTA]

Sounds like it's almost time to start looking for the couple of ice fishing holes I left last February. They were in the Barber's Pole area ... round, about 12" diameter. if you see them, let me know ... thanks.

[Resident 2B]

I think I might of hit one of them passing through the area at dusk in late July.

I hit a hole and it looked about that size. I did not report it to the MP. No damage seen.

[Pepper]

Originally Posted by JTA

Sounds like it's almost time to start looking for the couple of ice fishing holes I left last February. They were in the Barber's Pole area ... round, about 12" diameter. if you see them, let me know ... thanks.

and ...

Originally Posted by RESIDENT2B

I think I might of hit one of them passing through the area at dusk in late July.

I hit a hole and it looked about that size. I did not report it to the MP. No damage seen.

... caused me to nearly spray my keyboard with coffee!

[gtxrider]

Originally Posted by JTA

Sounds like it's almost time to start looking for the couple of ice fishing holes I left last February. They were in the Barber's Pole area ... round, about 12" diameter. if you see them, let me know ... thanks.

This time of year the ice holes will float to the surface so just keep looking. I wish you ice fishermen would fill in the holes when finished. The only reason I fall when water sking has to be the darned ice holes. Ya that's the story.


If you ever saw the movie "Johnny Dangerously" with Michael Keaton, the bad guy Roman Maroni used the term "Ice Hole".

[mcdude]

Originally Posted by Island Girl

Sure.. we can do that. It might not be until January sometime. Perhaps you would like to come and decorate it!

IG: Apparently there will be no need for us to decorate it ourselves. I've just recently learned of the Tree Gnome whose responsibility it is to decorate web cam Christmas trees!!! (See link below)

http://www.lwa.org/index.php?option=...&Itemid=30#363

It's kind of too bad because I was thinking I'd have to hitch a ride with one of the "Babes on Sleds" to get out there!!!

[Lakegeezer]

The Castle Springs Cam http://soot.sr.unh.edu/airmap/CSprings.jpg shows lots of ice on the lake. I had a conversation today with someone up north of Moultonboro bay, who said the ice has been there for over a week, and it is now solid the whole way across. That area always ices up early, but this is very early! Last two years, it did not ice-in there till after Jan 1. We're looking at a cold week leading up to Christmas, so is looking good for a good ice year.

[Mink Islander]

Yeah, those sub zeros last week were big help. Be nice to have safe ice early for a change.

[Merrymeeting]

Large sheet showing on the Wolfecam for the first time. Barring a warm stretch, should be solid by New Years....

[Island Girl]

Check out the Pine Island cam... the ice is coming... Do the "no wind" ice dance!!!

http://www.rattlesnakecam.com/icein.htm

IG

[FLAG!]

I noticed that ice formed during the course of the day today. When I got to work this morning I checked out the rattlesnake cam and it showed nothing but open water. This afternoon it was snow covered ice as far as I could see. A quick look at the other cams showed snow covered ice almost everywhere. Now, we just need it to stay cold long enough to form enough ice to withstand the thaw headed our way next week!!! Go Pats!

[Resident 2B]

Originally Posted by FLAG!

Now, we just need it to stay cold long enough to form enough ice to withstand the thaw headed our way next week!!!

It looks to me like it will be normal or a bit below normal through Thursday, which at this time of year is below freezing most of the time. Thursday and Friday should give us get two days of above normal, but the ice should be set up by then. Then it looks real cold, near zero at night for several nights.

If the wind stays down, and it looks like it will, I think the ice is here to stay.

It is almost time to start the "Ice-Out" Contest, one of the first signs of spring!

[Locke's Islander]

I was at the Glendale Docks today and all was iced in. Some
was tooo weak to support the snow and looked a bit soggy!
However Lilly Pond had snomobile tracks last week!

[nj2nh]

It's been quite warm down here in North Jersey and I was wondering if it was the same up there and if it has effected the ice-in? I love seeing all those webcams. What a wonderful idea. Keeps me in touch with my favorite place on earth. I especially appreciate whoever it is who takes the still pics on Alton Bay. We could just make out our house on Echo Point in one of them.

Thanks!

Jersey Girl (missing the lake tremendously)

[Island Girl]

I just can't look anymore... It looks like ice-out not ice-in.

[DRH]

Originally Posted by Island Girl

I just can't look anymore... It looks like ice-out not ice-in.

Yes, the high winds of last night and the above-freezing temps. have done a job on the ice, especially in the Broads (as Snake Eyes readily shows).

We still have ice between Minge Cove and Sleepers/Cub/Treasure Islands, but it's open water again from a line between Treasure Island and Rum Point all the way over to Barndoor Island.

[spotsink]

Someone should save the images from "Snake Eyes" and the weather pattern too and then just replay them in the spring... If we start in March maybe by April the ice will be out again...

[Island Girl]

I do save a picture almost every day...sometimes more. This is copywrited material, so others should not be.... I allow a little leeway if asked by someone who wants to put that together...

If I had time, I could show a year and a half of that view!!!

IG

[upthesaukee]

Originally Posted by Jersey Girl

I especially appreciate whoever it is who takes the still pics on Alton Bay. We could just make out our house on Echo Point in one of them.

Thanks!

Jersey Girl (missing the lake tremendously)

What side of Echo Point are you on, JG? Peggy Cove Side, on on the point itself, or the "broads" side? I can try to get a better picture of the general area of your property.

I've been doing most of the "Baywatch" pictures and DRH has been doing the West Alton Pics.

Cheer up, the days are getting longer!!!!!! Take a run up over Presidents Day Weekend. Alton Bay Winter Carnival that weekend!!!!!

[KBoater]

I'm surprised that you are having a mini "Ice Out". I sent all my cold Florida weather north yesterday so I could do some sunbathing today.

[Mee-n-Mac]

Originally Posted by FLboater

I'm surprised that you are having a mini "Ice Out". I sent all my cold Florida weather north yesterday so I could do some sunbathing today.

So now we know who to "thank" That's exactly what we've got, FLORIDA style "cold" weather

[pparisi133]

Good evening.....

I've been following this discussion group for a while now, and watching the web cams. But not being a native, I'm curious....what do the senior members think about ice-in? Will the derby be in jeopardy, or can the lake lock-up quickly if we get the cold weather? Thanks for your thoughts......

A "southern NH flat-lander".

[Mink Islander]

there are a number of variables. Generally, all we really need at this point is a good weeklong coldsnap -- not in the forecast over the next 10 days unfortunately -- and avoid a deep blanket of snow that would insulate the ice and slow it down. In my experience, it's typically the third week of January before the area near my island home is safe (for me that means 7" of ice and plenty of evidence of sled activity in the area) so while we thought we'd have ice early this year with the December cold snap, we're really looking about average or a little worse right now. Got over 3 weeks til the Derby. Lots of time....

[FLAG!]

I would have to say from my experience and this would be the 20th year I've been up there for the derby, there have been numerous years in which we were concerned that the lake would not freeze up solid enough for derby weekend. However It seems to me that the average ice in must be some time in late January. And we'll still have 18" inches of ice in time for the derby (an optimistic thought I know). I only recall one derby in the last 20 years that was postponed a week. So basically, my view is: It's not time to panic... yet.

[JTA]

I would agree ... don't panic yet. I have a week booked for Feb 19th and I expect to be on the lake (and safe). Funny ... I thought Island Girl was playing with my mind as I was patiently watching the Snakeyes cam for ice on the Broads and then one day, there it was! The next day ... open water!

[FLAG!]

Well here we are again, the temps are there for ice, but the wind wont let it happen. Can anyone tell me if anyone is fishing on Wolfeboro Bay yet?

[upthesaukee]

here's a shot of wolfeboro of the wolfe cam on 011606 late afternoon:

[Pepper]

EI YI YI it's getting harder and harder to see any "real" ice on the lake! Between the temps, the pouring rain, and this incredible wind the situation is getting worse by the hour!

Those of you who've watched the winter weather for years have any prognostications on whether or not we're actually going to have a true "ice in" this year? Any comments on whether or not it will have a chance to knit properly in time for the Alton Bay Winter Festival, the Ice Fishing Derby and the Sled Dog Races? I must admit I'm getting very nervous about this ice situation.

[FLAG!]

Yes, I too am a bit concerned about ice by feb. It's not looking good right now. Long range forcast is no good either. I had planed to do some ice fishing this weekend in Wolfboro, but that doesn't look good. The only thing to keep in mind is that it only takes one dead calm and very cold night to set things up and then a few days of cold weather. If conditions were perfect the lake could theoretically lock in over the course of a couple days. But that's counting on a change in the weather trend...

[Island Girl]

Get those boats ready... Cruising the lake in February... what a concept!

Ugh!

[hockeypuck]

I am also a little nervous about ice for the fishing derby and sled dog races. Have planned to bring five couples up from Connecticut for the derby weekend. We don't need to fish, but it would be fun, and would keep the ladies out of the stores. Well there's always Patricks Pub Hope the dogsleds have wheels. I really appreciate the updates on ice in. Down here in CT it's been very warm, windy and wet. Global warming?

[fatlazyless]

It's perfectly legal to fish, rigged for smallies, all year round except for their two week spawning in June. Don't know, but it's most likely too early to put the dock-boatlift-boat back in. Could be the right time of year to try out fly fishing for smallmouth bass and other sunfish from a kayak. ...can't go skiing....and could be that battery operated tip-up jigger, www.naturevisioninc.com, will not be seeing any action any time soon.

[jaybat]

Hi Folks, Hope the weather in the lakes region is better than it's down here. Sitting in my office down here in Attleboro MA looking out the window and it's pouring and the temp is 55 degrees. I'm thinking about going home and uncovering the bass boat and heading down to Cape Cod to do some pond fishing. No ice at all down there. Only problem is cleaning the boat after traveling down the highway. Lets all pray mother nauture sends us a nice long cold spell to freeze up the lakes up in your region. I'm truly looking forward to spending a few weekend up there doing some fishing. Enjoy the up comming weekend and the Big Game.

[FLAG!]

18 of us were on Winnipesaukee this Firday, Saturday and Sunday ice fishing in the wolfeboro area. We have a little "mini-derby" of our own. We fished in the rain on friday, Saturday was very nice but warm, and yesterday it rained until about 10:00 then it cleared up for the last 2 hours of fishing. I have to be honest, if we had planned to fish today we would have had a big challenge getting on to the ice. As it was we had to assemble a makeshift "bridge" consisting of planks, boards & plywood just to get on to the ice. However once on the ice there was a solid 6 inches of black ice. Then we headed out to set up a tent over about 22 feet of water and we had 8 inches of black ice. The ice around the shore was poor. All of the incoming run off has been melting ice and preventing it from freezing up at night. Unfortunately I think all of that run off may be adversely effecting the fishing. We only managed two lakers, one perch, two rainbows and I think three salmon (which of course were all very nice fish because we can't keep them). The two rainbows were very nice also. The first was 1.9 pounds and the second was 2.2 pounds. Full of smelt. The lakers were both over 2 pounds. I will post some pictures from the weekend in the next day or so.

[Grant]

Looks like this week will help the ice a bit, and the long-range forecast for the next week (leading up to the re-scheduled Derby) will be quite frigid. I'm heading up for the 10-11-12 weekend, but won't do much fishing...

[jaybat]

Hi Flag, You must really enjoy ice fishing to go through all the work getting on the ice and then dealing with the rain. I'm sure the tent helped. Did you folks have much wind yesterday?

[FLAG!]

other than a gust or two the wind was a non-issue. The challenge was staying dry. With up to 4 inches of slush & water on top of the ice at times the waterproof-ness of your boots was a big factor.

[Weirs guy]

Looks like we made some progress last night!

[DRH]

Originally Posted by Weirs guy

Looks like we made some progress last night!

Yes, it's 7 degs here in West Alton this morning.

[Merrymeeting]

With temps the way they have been for the past few days/nights, why does it seem that the open water on the Broadview camera is getting bigger?

[Island Girl]

I suspect it is the wind.. we need some calm.

[Alsobig]

Remember "The Year with out Santa Claus..." Well this is "The Year With Out ICE!"

[Rick]

Wind certainly is a big factor. Many wonder why ice doesn't form right away when it hits 0 degrees (C). It is all chemistry and thermal energy. Once the water reaches 0 degrees (C) it takes a very large loss of energy in order for the molecules of water to change to a solid. This is known as Heat of Fusion. For example it takes the loss of 1 calorie to drop the temperature of 1 gram of water 1 degree (C). This is true until water reaches 0 degrees(C). Water must now change from a liquid to solid and this takes an additional loss of nearly 80 calories per gram of water. If you placed a thermometer in the water and watched as it cooled you would see a steady decline in temperature until it reached 0 degrees (C) then the temperature would remain at 0 degrees until all of the liquid had changed to a solid (ice).
If you have trouble understanding this don't worry my chemistry students had trouble also!

[Quilt Lady]

Originally Posted by Rick

If you have trouble understanding this don't worry my chemistry students had trouble also!

Very well stated and understandable. It's a much better answer than . . . "it gets very cold and then a miracle happens"!

[FLAG!]

so here's how we prepared ourselves for fishing last weekend when the ice was questionable...

Rope, life jackets, and UV protection sunglasses...

[pparisi133]

Does anyone know how Minge Cove looks as far as snowmoblile access from the marina off 11D out to Rattlesnake Island? We were going to come up today and take a look but mother nature changed our plans. I'm worried we're not going to get a good picture of what's going on now that there going to be 6"+ of snow on the lake.....Thanks!

[DRH]

Originally Posted by pparisi133

Does anyone know how Minge Cove looks as far as snowmoblile access from the marina off 11D out to Rattlesnake Island? We were going to come up today and take a look but mother nature changed our plans. I'm worried we're not going to get a good picture of what's going on now that there going to be 6"+ of snow on the lake.....Thanks!

When you refer to the "marina off 11D", are you referring to the Minge Cove Marina? That's actually off Minge Cove Rd., not 11D.

We saw several snowmobiles going between Minge Cove and Treasure Island yesterday. The ice thickness in that area is reportedly about 6" on average, but the thickness varies widely.

HOWEVER, there are still some large areas of open water along the Gilford shoreline between Ellacoya State Park and the Belknap Point Motel. As of yesterday, the largest area of open water stretched from the shoreline near the Belknap Point Motel more than 3/4 of the way out to Welch Island. That large area of open water is visible in the following photo, taken yesterday from Lincoln Park:




Further up the lake, yesterday there was a large area of open water between Meredith Bay and Governor's Island, and extending over toward The Weirs, which is visible in the following shot:



Moral of the story ... while certain sections of the lake may be safe for snowmobiling, many areas are not safe at this point. If you decide to venture out, make absolutely sure the ice you will be travelling over is safe. Today's snowfall will make that determination more difficult, so be VERY careful out there.

[ghfromaltonbay]

The Babes on Sleds and the rest of us snowdancers finally got the right steps. We have over a foot of snow here in northern NJ, heading toward the 18" mark. Hope this much makes it all the way to the lake. Looks like it is supposed to stop here in the late afternoon, although the snowfall has tapered off a bit. We even had thunder + lightning overnight. According to the newscast the storm is following Rte. 95 up the coast toward New England. Can't wait to get to Alton Bay next Saturday and see the Babes on Sleds in action!

[upthesaukee]

Forecast for the lakes region is approx 3-6 inches. Long range has temps on Wed Thurs Fri in the 40's with rain on Friday .

DRH, here's a similar pic taken from just west of the Condo's.


DRH, we must have travelled the same road at different times

[Weirs guy]

Originally Posted by Merrymeeting

With temps the way they have been for the past few days/nights, why does it seem that the open water on the Broadview camera is getting bigger?

Yeah, that hole is disheartening. It keeps freezing over at night only to open back up durring the day. All the bubblers along the shore aren't helping either, the ice out there seems to move around a lot.

[Roche]

Hello,

Anyone know if it's safe to walk across the lake from the Rattlesnake Island Asso. parking area to Copland's Cove on the Island? We'd like to do our usual winter cabin check. Any info would be much appreciated! Thanks much.

The "Roche"s

[Island Girl]

Ice is melting off Rattlesnake, broadside.. See photopost picture I just put up.. more later

[Diamond Isle]

Island Girl,
How did it look for a crossing from Ames to Diamond?
Thanks for running this string - it's a great way to check the island without actually being there!!