Winnipesaukee Ice Report

[Massasauga]

I just blasted out to the south side of Rattlesnake (from the Landing) by snowmobile. Although I had no problem I am known to push it a bit... , Bottom line is the ice is still very marginal. Even a small spot of open water just 100 yards out from shore near my camp on Rattlesnake (very unusual...).

For perspective... the ice just locked up from Ames to Diamond to South side of Rattlesnake last Wed (1/5). The Broads locked up on Thu (1/6). Further, there is still a fairly large open spot between Welch and Ellecoya (odd that this has not frozen given how cold it has been the last few nights). While many of the bays are likely safe, I would not yet spend time out on the main body of the lake.

[ishoot308]

Great report!! Thanks!!

Leave tomorrow for a sunny vacation for a week. Good cold weather happening here all next week so it looks like the ice will be perfect when I return!!

Dan

[ArborTech]

Talked to a kid who rode from Ellacoya to Glendale yesterday. He said the same thing, kind of sketchy. I also walked out about 400yds from Glendale and had 6-8in of ice the whole way.

[texas chopper]

I drilled a few holes this past Saturday and had 5-6" of clear ice 75' from shore. This was inbetween Grouse Point and Weirs Beach on the west shore. There were a few sleds out there but only a few. I think after this weeks cold nights you will see alot of activity on the lake next weekend. Also be careful on trail #15 from Weirs to Ashland as there are alot of exposed RR tracks.

[Irrigation Guy]

Originally Posted by texas chopper

Also be careful on trail #15 from Weirs to Ashland as there are alot of exposed RR tracks.

Corridor 15 and 8 go north on the tracks from the Weirs to Meredith where Corridor 15 goes east toward Center Harbor/Moultonboro at Lake Waukewan and Corridor 8 continues North to Ashland/Lincoln.

I saw a lot of exposed rails along side Waukewan when driving by on Thursday Morning I'm sure it hasn't improved from there.

[BoulderBronco]

5-6" of ice out there is pretty good for this time of year. That would make me think there is a solid 10" down in town. Maybe? Hopefully the snow is blowing off and/or compacting a bit so it is not so insluated with these cold temps and the ice can really build. Should make for a great and safe derby this year.
I'm suprised the trails on the tracks are that beat down considering all the snow you guys got the other day. More to come it sounds like. Wish I was there.

[hilltopper]

We haven't gotten any snow with that had a decent moisture content. It takes a lot of snow to make railroad tracks rideable. It takes at least a foot of PACKED snow (~2 feet of "real" snow) before the tracks are any good, and we're just not there yet. Trails that use railroad tracks are my least favorite type of snowmobile trail...

If WMUR is correct for tomorrow's storm (5" to 10" of heavy, wet snow) and with the weather getting cold following the storm we should have some pretty good riding in the area.

[Irrigation Guy]

The snow was soo light it was blown right off the tracks in the windy areas.

[Webbsatwinni]

Its fun this time of year to sit and watch the ice grow on the webcams. But once the lake is all locked in, we wait for people to post 1st hand how the ice is as it all looks the same on the cams.

That said, any news flashes? Thickness reports, Open water sightings, etc?

[Lake Fan]

We walked from 19 Mile Bay out to Whortleberry Island on Sunday 1/16. There were cars and trucks all over the bay and several had ventured out past the Graveyard as well. The holes we drillled out at the camp all had about 12" of solid ice in them, but no fish.

[SunsetPointWentworth]

I was over at the Groundhog Camp last night and Mrs. Groundhog said that the old mans eyesight was getting pretty bad and to put your $$$ on an early ice out.

[hazelnut]

Originally Posted by SunsetPointWentworth

I was over at the Groundhog Camp last night and Mrs. Groundhog said that the old mans eyesight was getting pretty bad and to put your $$$ on an early ice out.

All other signs point in the exact opposite direction!

I like my winters cold and snowy and my summers hot and dry. If it were up to me we'd have 6 months of 80's and sunshine 6 months of 20's and snow.

[robmac]

I'd vote for that forecast Hazelnut.

[JB Long Island]

Originally Posted by hazelnut

All other signs point in the exact opposite direction!

I like my winters cold and snowy and my summers hot and dry. If it were up to me we'd have 6 months of 80's and sunshine 6 months of 20's and snow.

I'm assuming the 12 inches of slushy conditions we had over the weekend are now a thing of the past with the cold blast, but can anyone confirm the surface has now hardended up ? The shack is still on land !

[Jonas Pilot]

It all depends on where you're heading as far as the ice thickness. Shallower water like coves will have thicker ice than waters that are deeper and more effected by the wind. I was surprised the other day when someone said they came across slush. It's been below freezing for quite awhile.

[Lakegeezer]

In general, the problem is not having a safe thickness of ice. It is a foot or more thick in many areas and mostly safe everywhere. The problem is slush. It was created by the sleet storm we had last week. Think of it as a lasagna with 6-8" or so of snow on top of a thin ice crust, then 3" of water, then a foot of ice. When you snowmobile or walk on it, you frequently break through the thin crust and get wet. Snowmobiles bog down. The snow is insulating the water from freezing. On Sunday, it was really bad - after the -16F temperatures last night (in M'boro bay), and the wind, the crust is thicker, but the water is still there (as of Monday at noon). The snowmobile slush tracks are frozen all the way through the slush layer and have a thin layer of blown snow, so are pretty passable. If the water layer does not freeze before this week's storm, it may never.

[JB Long Island]

Thanks for the update LG -
I'm just hoping we get the top surface firmed up hard enough to move the bob houses around- this weekend was a disaster.
JB

[FLAG!]

If we can get all forum users to get out on the lake with a plow, perhaps we can scrape off the crap and save the rest of the winter's ice season!

[JB Long Island]

I'm guessing there was good progress on solidifying that slush and water over the past 2 days - any first hand reports on the surface conditions for bob house dragging before we get any more snow ? I think plowing 44K acres may be the ticket ! Many thanks ! JB

[magicrobotmonkey]

Winnisquam had nearly identical conditions as described above before this cold snap. I went out on it this afternoon and found 3-6 inches of solid slush, then another 3-6 inches of slush before I got down to the solid original ice. The crust on top is definitely solid enough for walking and snowmobiling. Not sure about bobhouses, though!

[Lakegeezer]

On Tuesday (1/25), the slush had frozen enough so that snowmobiles did not break through. Where they had, it is very solid and rutty.

[RLW]

Has anyone seen any of this in Wolfeboro Bay????

[Jonas Pilot]

There looks to be about a half dozen bob houses in Wolfeboro Bay including a few out in the middle of the bay.

[HomeWood]

Originally Posted by Lakegeezer

On Tuesday (1/25), the slush had frozen enough so that snowmobiles did not break through. Where they had, it is very solid and rutty.

That's good to hear. I hope it keeps freezing. It was like that two years ago and it made for miserable ice fishing. At least I know I'll get to put some miles on my new to me Arctic Cat.

[Webbsatwinni]

Any ice thickness updates, thinking of a lake ride this weekend and looking for updates?

Send updates please?

[Formula260SS]

Originally Posted by Webbsatwinni

Any ice thickness updates, thinking of a lake ride this weekend and looking for updates?

Send updates please?

I'm hearing the slush has firmed up from a few, no idea on Ice thickness Broads side though.

[magicrobotmonkey]

Just came in from a run up Winnisquam. Now there's not enough snow, if you can believe that! It's pretty thin on top of the frozen ice, makes for a rough ride. And if you're in high traffic areas, all that slush is chewed up and frozen into speed bumps! The trails on land are still gorgeous, though!

[BoulderBronco]

Any updates for ice/snow conditions on the lake in Meredith? Heading up there in a couple days and trying to formulate a plan based on conditions.

[SPT13]

Just came in from riding today. The hockey tourney was going on in Meredith and plenty of activity on the ice with spectators and vendors. There are some well worn paths. Outside of the bay it is still a little tough going with the new snow this week & it is snowing now. There are still some slush spots that bog you down. If you plan on staying right in Meredith you should have no problem

[lakefr]

I plan on going from Browns to Bear Island this week. Looking forward to it!

[ITD]

I was on the lake today on snowmobile, Center Harbor. There is about a 5 inch layer of crusty snow with about 6 to 8 inches of watery slush below then ice. Not much fun riding over but manageable.

[LivingtheHL]

Any info on the ice conditions out to Rattlesnake from the launch?

[lakefr]

Any info on conditions from browns to bear? I'm planning on walking across this weekend and want to make sure its safe

[Bear Island South]

you should be fine
my wife walked with the dogs from Cattle to Bear (south near camp lawrence) last weekend, took her about 25 minutes.
Find a snowmobile track it should be easy walking

[Nauti Crew]

This past Sunday my daughter and I snowshoed to Rattlesnake Island from the launch. We followed the snowmobile tracks out and we only ran into a little slush on the side of the Island before the access Road. It was very beautiful out there. I will try to attach a picture I took walking from the Broads side heading back by the access road, enjoy.

[trfour]

Look'in GOOD! Picture is a little large for the forums, however, I get your drift!
Thanks for posting this one!
Terry

[cappy56]

10" between gov s and pendelton nic snow pak for riding good luck at the derby