Ice-In 2012-13

Mink Islander · 01-28-2013, 09:40 PM

You have a couple choices that are better than Glendale. 1). Cattle Landing. Easy access for sleds and atvs down the embankment next to the stairs to the dock. The town removes the guardrail to make that access possible. Can be tough to get up if icy though. Better and more parking is available at Shep Brown's Boat Basin but roughy two more miles to travel. Access is up past the showroom to the left of the main parking lot.

Two areas for some caution: 1) thru cattle landing be sure to stay in the middle and be aware of any ice eater action from the mainland side. There's usually some ice eater action from the boathouse on Dolly Island too. Never understood why people aim those things out. Also, there usually is an ice reef as you exit the narrows of cattle landing. No worries if on a sled or atv usually. If we get another long freeze it will be less an issue. 2). Be cautious if you're walking near the channel (beyond the channel markers) between Mark and Bear. The Bear side near that channel can be surprisingly thin. I've seen open water there in years when we don't get a foot or more of ice.

Seventeen years experience walking/snowmobiling that area.

If you see guys on the ice on the north side of Mink, drop in to say hello. I'll be out for sure this weekend and beginning Thursday before the Derby.

01-28-2013, 09:40 PM	#11
Mink Islander Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 753 Thanks: 59 Thanked 271 Times in 129 Posts	Lake access You have a couple choices that are better than Glendale. 1). Cattle Landing. Easy access for sleds and atvs down the embankment next to the stairs to the dock. The town removes the guardrail to make that access possible. Can be tough to get up if icy though. Better and more parking is available at Shep Brown's Boat Basin but roughy two more miles to travel. Access is up past the showroom to the left of the main parking lot. Two areas for some caution: 1) thru cattle landing be sure to stay in the middle and be aware of any ice eater action from the mainland side. There's usually some ice eater action from the boathouse on Dolly Island too. Never understood why people aim those things out. Also, there usually is an ice reef as you exit the narrows of cattle landing. No worries if on a sled or atv usually. If we get another long freeze it will be less an issue. 2). Be cautious if you're walking near the channel (beyond the channel markers) between Mark and Bear. The Bear side near that channel can be surprisingly thin. I've seen open water there in years when we don't get a foot or more of ice. Seventeen years experience walking/snowmobiling that area. If you see guys on the ice on the north side of Mink, drop in to say hello. I'll be out for sure this weekend and beginning Thursday before the Derby.