Ice thickness ?

[raydoe1]

Does anyone know how thick the ice is on different areas of
Lake Winnipesaukee, such as Center Harbor,Moultonboro Bay,
Meredith Bay,Alton Bay, ETC.

[NHgirl]

Alton Bay is 12 inches. There are 6 Bob houses out on meredith bay but very close to shore by the Inn. And with the rain tomorrow who knows. Snow next Monday into Tuesday.

[ishoot308]

In front of Belknap Point, ice is 1 1/2" - 2" thick. Not safe enough yet for my fat arse!

Dan

[Resident 2B]

Currently the ice is very thin in all the areas that froze in mid-January. This is because it has not been real cold since that brief stretch of cold weather.

It is looking to be relatively warm the next several days. On Monday, it looks like a snow storm could hit the area. This is good news for some, but very bad news for the ice.

If the ice does not get much thicker in the next several days, and if we get the snow storm, the snow will blanket the ice and insulate it from whatever cold comes next week. It will look safe, but it will be very thin in too many areas. Add to that the derby with people coming it from all over seeing a snow covered lake and getting on it thinking it is safe and we could have a big mess.

We need to see what happens weather-wise, but I want to get a heads-up out there in case the 7 day forecast is accurate.

Be safe out there!

R2B

[donnamatrix]

Late breaking news: The town of Meredith will be turning off the acquatherms around the town docks (the devices that keep water moving to prevent ice-up) to help the buildup of ice at the ramp entrance to Lake Winnipesaukee located between the town docks and where the Rotary Derby HQ trailer will be located. With the cold weather here and the acquatherms disabled, the ice should continue to build and solidy as we approach Derby Weekend February 11-12. See you there!

[WINNOCTURN]

Originally Posted by donnamatrix

Late breaking news: The town of Meredith will be turning off the acquatherms around the town docks (the devices that keep water moving to prevent ice-up) to help the buildup of ice at the ramp entrance to Lake Winnipesaukee located between the town docks and where the Rotary Derby HQ trailer will be located. With the cold weather here and the acquatherms disabled, the ice should continue to build and solidy as we approach Derby Weekend February 11-12. See you there!

Are they going to shut the "FALLS" down? You can how the surge of that water flowing down has opened the water as it comes out from under the bridge. Sunday it looked looked like it was open half way to the island by the marina.

You need the ICE and we need the SNOW. Let,s hope we both get our wishes.

WINNOCTURN

[Lucky1]

If you are thinking of going out on the lake please be careful. The weather keeps having warm spells and this pattern is just not good for the ice formation.

[donnamatrix]

The water flow from Waukewan into Winni (in front of Lago) has already been slowed a bit . .. I believe the town intends to slow it further,

[NHgirl]

Hope the derby is still on for next weekend, and hoping for more SNOW.

[HomeWood]

My neighbor in Moult-Neck reported 10" the other day. We don't really venture far from home or places we aren't familiar with. I'm siked to be there on Monday!

[Lake Fan]

We hiked out to Whortleberry Island from 19 Mile Bay over the weekend. There are vehicles and bob houses all over the bay out to Chase Point and The Graveyard area. There's a long pressure ridge extending from Chase Point all the way over to Whortleberry with open water several feet across in many areas. We had to go up onto the island to get around it. Ice thickness in most areas was 8"-10", but along the shore and near shallow rocks the ice is very thin. We're heading up for the derby next weekend but caution will be in order. Have fun, be safe. Photo was taken Sunday 2/5/12 in 19 Mile Bay.

[SIKSUKR]

Is that plowed area to show where the safe route by truck would be?

[Lakewinn09]

Hi guys first time poster... Ive never ice fished on lake winn.. I usually just go there during the summer months.. Anyways we are heading up for the derby next week. We are trying to figure out the safest access points and safet places on the lake?? If i could get a little help would be great.. Our fat asses dont want to take a swim this weekend lol... We were thinking Alton bay was the safest?? any input would be great... thanks

[nightrider]

ice is 3 to 4 inches on winter harbor opposite the opening to the broads. Ice ridge from the Osseo dock all the way across the bay. don't usually see one in that location. thicker ice by Libby but 2 feet open water at the ramp (they never should have redirected the drainage outlet right next to the ramp). NO snow on the ice on Winter Harbor. Good for skating, not so much for sled lube/cooling. Ice was singing all day yesterday. You could actually watch the ice ridge building.

[Lakewinn09]

Thanks nightrider. Would you guys say alton bay is the thickest? Basically looking for the safest area. Thanks

[DRH]

There was still an area of open water near the Gilford shoreline today. I took this photo from Lincoln Park this morning, which is just west of Belknap Point:

[Mink Islander]

Well, I drove up this morning to check things out personally. Unfortunately, not only is the Cattle Landing dock area a complete mess thanks to Island Services' airboat (cmon guys how about just a little common courtesy - you greatly contributed to destroying an important access point to the lake and should have known better) and still impassable but that entire shoreline has lots of open water in both directions. In short, no easy access point. I checked Sheps and the usual access area around from the showroom is completely open water out 20 ft or more. I also ducked into the Y Landing marina but figured that was likely unpassable too. I saw zero activity between y landing and cattle landing.

Meredith was very quiet for the Friday of the Derby. A bit more activity further out in the bay, but we're talking a handful of people. This was around 8AM.

Oh well, add me to the list of those hoping for an early ice out.

[DueSouth]

Originally Posted by Mink Islander

... Unfortunately, not only is the Cattle Landing dock area a complete mess thanks to Island Services' airboat (cmon guys how about just a little common courtesy - you greatly contributed to destroying an important access point to the lake and should have known better) ....

while I appreciate the fact that the IS guys are a trying to make a living, I share the sentiment - they should know better.

[fatlazyless]

The first tip-off to me was that there's no cars or trailers or people or anything happening at the Cattle Landing town dock and parking lot. It was totally empty.

What was there was a nicely designed sign from the Ice Fishing Derby that warned people to be carefull about setting out on the ice, and gave a list of ten helpfull ice safety practices. So's apparently, what with the open water along the shoreline, thin ice, nearby water circulators, warm sun, and left-over shattered ice from possibly an air boat, nobody seems to be trusting the ice in the area of the Cattle Landing dock.

Just for my own curiosity, I set my 200-lb weight on the ice while bracing my hands down on the edge of the new concrete and lumber dock and jumping up and down to test the ice, and it started to crack up and looked to be maybe 1/2" thick immediately next to the dock. Determining the thickness and safety of the ice can be very challenging even when you are looking at it closely......probably just drilling a test hole is about the only way to inspect it.....and as already mentioned the parking lot and dock were both totally empty of any vehicles or people.....so's no one wanted to trust the unknown safety of the ice in that area. Most years they do, but not this year so far?

[Sully]

Just saw a low flying helicopter near the Long Island bridge. I hope the first tragedy hasn't happened. Unfortunately, there will be serious accidents on Lake Winni this weekend simply because the Meredith Rotary lacks the same common sense as that of Mr. Scott Crowder and the Pond Hockey Tournament.

[Jonas Pilot]

I just came off the ice in Wolfeboro Bay. It's a solid 8" with some pressure ridges to deal with. Only one car. Nice to see a lot of families enjoying this mild winter day. I saw quite a few rescue rings and throwable cushions. Lots of flags up but mostly salmon caught including one I was told was about 7 or so pounds. A tagged rainbow trout was caught yesterday out off the beach.

[Sully]

Rescue Rings? Throwable Cushions? Families enjoying a mind winter day? Ahh yes....this is the lack of common sense that leads to tragedy! The only questions are ...Where will it happen? How many times will it happen? and..... Will there be rescue rings or throwable cushions?

[Jonas Pilot]

I couldn't get the little rascal in the middle to smile no matter what I did.

[Jonas Pilot]

Family fun!

[codeman671]

Originally Posted by Sully

Rescue Rings? Throwable Cushions? Families enjoying a mind winter day? Ahh yes....this is the lack of common sense that leads to tragedy! The only questions are ...Where will it happen? How many times will it happen? and..... Will there be rescue rings or throwable cushions?

I have already heard a report of someone losing a jiffy auger through the ice on winnisquam today. They slammed it down to dig a hole and it went right through...1-2"...

[ishoot308]

Jonas Pilot;

Great, great photo's!! The first one where the one in middle won't smile is a keeper for sure!!

Thanks for sharing!!

Dan

[Jonas Pilot]

Dusk at the Derby 2012 Alton.

[SAMIAM]

Awwww,Jonas......so cute.Fast foward 10 years and that littlle guy will have a big ol' grin,hanging out with a couple of pretty girls.

[tis]

Thanks for posting the pics, Jonas. I loved them!

[Jonas Pilot]

The guy in this picture was the most adventurous person that I saw Saturday. He went out to at least half way between Clark and Sewall Points. I think he was scouting to check ice thickness. He was using some type of ice chisel to chip his way through the ice. An experienced chiseler can tell a lot about the ice just by the sound of the impact.

[Merrymeeting]

I posted a few photos of Alton Bay during the Derby yesterday. The ice there was solid, most reports in the 12" range.