Alton Bay Fly-in

[vtpilot]

Any updates on the runway status? Excited to fly down from Vermont after the bad winter last year

[riverat]

Ice is gaining, about 8" near gazebo and 6" at sandy point. very thin beyond sandy point and also thin (3-4") where the airport parking area is. Smooth surface so far with the exception of fishing holes here and there, but runway is somewhat marked and staked out. if weather cooperates we should be fine by time the fly-in gets here. Stop in to riverats shanty for a hot coffee

[mcdude]

Keep track of what's going on with these Alton Bay Webcams

http://www.spencerhughes.com/altoncam/?justshowme=true

and

http://downingslanding.com/

[vtpilot]

my computer never lets me view the spencer hughes one but thank you for the downings landing cam

[ghfromaltonbay]

Originally Posted by vtpilot

my computer never lets me view the spencer hughes one but thank you for the downings landing cam

Funny, but I have the opposite problem. I can view the Spencer Hughes cam but not the Downings Landing one.

[Phantom]

Just a thought --

As I was looking at the Spencer Cam just now and noticed snowmobile tracks layed down in what appears to be slush.

Has anyone considered "orange coning" off the general area of the landing strip to preserve the area ?

Maybe there are other tricks used that I am not aware of 9or can't see from the cam view)

[upthesaukee]

...even with the runway open, plowed, taxiways and parking areas in place, we still have those who feel they are entitled and will run up and down the runway after snow and rain, leaving those indelible tracks.

There are some signs out, including one over by the gazebo along with cones defining the runway area. Of course, about a thousand feet out the runway, there is a tent type bobhouse sitting in what looks to be right on the runway.

[mcdude]

Good News!
this obviously doesn't apply to the fly-in....

Winter Carnival set for Feb. 19

ALTON — Mark your calendars
for Sunday,Feb. 19, for
the Alton Winter Carnival.
The Alton Business Association
Chair Paul LaRochelle
states, “the ABA is in high
gear organizing this year’s
carnival.”
“This year’s carnival will
happen,” states Carnival
Chairperson Steve Bell. Bell
acknowledges the disappointment
with not having
the carnival last year due to
poor ice condition, as safety
comes first. This year Bell
states there is a “plan B,”
thanks to the town giving approval
of using the town’s
parking lot in the Bay for the
event if it cannot be on the
ice.
Tradition holds this event
as a fun-filled family day
with great food, family
games, Ice Princess, crazy
hat contest and rides. More
information will be forthcoming
and check out the flyers

available in local businesses

[ghfromaltonbay]

I'm hoping that there will be some Forum Fest members attending this year's Winter Carnival. Maybe we can plan a mini Forum Fest for those who will be in the area. Will be travelling up from NJ on Friday and staying thru the weekend. Any one else planning on being there, please PM me and maybe we can meet.

[riverat]

Originally Posted by ghfromaltonbay

I'm hoping that there will be some Forum Fest members attending this year's Winter Carnival. Maybe we can plan a mini Forum Fest for those who will be in the area. Will be travelling up from NJ on Friday and staying thru the weekend. Any one else planning on being there, please PM me and maybe we can meet.

Well i'll be there for sure, as always first bobhouse on the right, after the entrance to the airport. Tan with table and flying the Red, White and Blue. Stop in for a chat and a cup of hot beverage.

[RLW]

Guess the first plane has landed today. Great to see things have started towards a nice winter carnival happening.

[barefootbay]

What a picture perfect winter day for it !!!!!!!!

[RLW]

Originally Posted by RLW

Guess the first plane has landed today. Great to see things have started towards a nice winter carnival happening.

I'm sorry for not mentioning that the person standing beside the plane is a friend and not the pilot of the plane. My apologies to the real pilot.

[riverat]

and also that great looking bobhouse behind the plane is mine!
Runway is officially open and marked off. 12" of ice and growing.

[ackbard]

Lake Waukewan was plenty thick this past weekend. Hopefully Alton will be the same later this month for all who are attending the fly-in..

[riverat]

nice picture!

[mcdude]

Alton Bay Winter Carnival

Alton gearing up for Winter Carnival Feb. 19
ALTON — Punxsutawney Phil declared six more weeks of winter, setting the stage
for winter carnival in Alton Sunday, Feb. 19, at the bay. Alton Business Association
Chair Paul LaRochelle and Winter Carnival Committee Chair Steve Bell state current
ice conditions are favorable for the carnival to be on the ice. Should ice conditions
deteriorate in the next week, Bell is ready to execute Plan B, which is utilizing the
town's parking lot down at the Bay. Bell and his committee are in the final stages of
preparations. Bell states next week's Baysider will have a complete schedule of events and flyers are located in local businesses and there's something for everyone to enjoy.

The day begins at 8 a.m. with a breakfast at the community center.The bobhouse
decorating contest is open from 8 a.m. to noon, with the winner being announced at 12:45 p.m. (VOTE for RIVER RAT!!!) Enjoy a fun filled family day with entertainment at the bandstand with the DJ, visit with the Ice Princess, (portrayed by Argie's Wife?) create your crazy hat for the crazy hat contest, enter the scavenger hunt at 1:30 p.m., from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., kids young and old can
make caricatures, enter all the games, enter the kids’ fishing derby, watch the Alton
K9 demonstration, enjoy sleigh rides or for those more daring, helicopter rides. At
2:45 p.m., line up and watch the traditional bed race parade with the race taking
place at 3 p.m., ice conditions permitting. Throughout the day enjoy free hot dogs, hamburgers, chili, fries, sausage with onions and peppers, coffee, hot chocolate, soda and water. Bell and LaRochelle take this opportunity to thank the ABA members for their support as well as local businesses and organizations who have supported this event.Thank you to the town of Alton representatives, Alton
Police Department and Fire Department and most importantly the residents of
the community. The ABA invites everyone to come out and enjoy community spirit
with family, friends and neighbors.

[QUOTE]

Great Alton Bay Bed Race returns Feb. 19

ALTON — Meredith Village Savings Bank and the Alton Parks and Recreation
Department are sponsoring the exciting Great Alton Bay Bed Race during the annual
Winter Carnival on Sunday, Feb. 19. Get outside and join in the fun. Great prizes will be awarded. The bed race is scheduled to start at 3 p.m. near the Alton Bay ice bandstand on Lake Winnipesaukee. In the event of poor ice conditions, the race will not be held. To participate in the bed race, participants create a bed, put skis on the bottom and a push bar across the head and foot of the bed. A five-person team, four people pushing and one person riding, race the bed from the start to the finish line. Themed beds are always a hit. Cleats or spikes are not permitted and the bed rider is advised to wear a helmet. Pre-registration is required by Feb. 15. Call 875-0109 or e-mail parksrec@alton. nh.gov to sign up. The Great Alton Bay Bed Race is a great tradition for any family or organization to participate in, either by entering a bed or by watching this exciting race. For more information contact the Alton Parks and Recreation Department at 875-0109. Alton Bay Winter Carnival Join in the fun at the annual Winter Carnival scheduled for Sunday, Feb. 19, in
Alton Bay. Please note the public boat ramp access to the lake/ice will be closed to motorized traffic from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., please find an alternate route.

[Slickcraft]

Yes nice photo of the plane ackbard. However I am just wondering if you are hedging you bet as to ice thickness. Those items above the wheels look a lot like pontoons.

[Sal]

Must be about 7 aircraft on the ice, right now (10:45AM). The weather
couldn't be better. The ice seems to be cooperative too.

[RLW]

It sure is a great beginning of a perfect day for the winter carnival starting off with a fantastic breakfast at the Masonic Lodge (Thanks guys). Kids, adults and grand parents all appear to be having fun. The helicopter has set up for giving rides and there are a few planes that appear to be doing there practice landings and takeoffs. There are many kids and parents out doing their ice fishing and a couple of guys going around and drilling the holes for them which is a great gesture. The biggest problem I see is parking as they have taken a good portion of the parking area for vendors and I being handicapped could not find a handicap spot in the whole bay area including the one beside Amilyne's store. We had hoped to stop and see the bed race, but I'm sure one will not be able to park unless you chose to walk a mile. I believe this day surely will give the local businesses the shot in the arm that they need this winter.
Thanks to all that have contributed to putting on this fine fun filled day and the good lord for the perfect weather for it.

[Lakegeezer]

Neat Youtube video of a plane landing on the Alton ice runway.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kUOfu749mfI

[Slickcraft]

And it was Olympic Zamboni by a full bed length!

Nice to have met you riverat.