Ice-Out 2012

Merrymeeting · 03-14-2012, 12:46 PM

Despite the speed at which the ice cubes melt in my drink on a 60 degree day, I'm always surprised at how long it takes the ice pack to disappear.

While the ice may look weak and much darker on the webcams, it is still surprisingly strong. I threw a softball-sized bolder high into the air and onto the ice in front of my property today. It bounced and barely made a dent. While I wouldn't walk on it, I estimate that the ice pack is still ~3" in many areas.

Yes it is erroding each hour, and no freezing temps in sight. But there is still a lot of hard, dense, ice out there, and it will be awhile before it goes away.

SAB1 · 03-14-2012, 01:59 PM

Need wind. If there are some good size holes and cracks in it nothing gets rid of it faster than a good 2 day blow.

pontoonbarge · 03-14-2012, 07:11 PM

Think about: Hot peppers.. Arizona in July... Coffee... Lava... Fireworks... S'mores!

Very soon now..... the ice will wave the white flag....

What a fun time! I need to go give the old boat it's spring pep talk!

Chaos · 03-14-2012, 08:07 PM

notice the sheet of ice moving around on the Minge Cove time lapse? Mostly from the morning shots. It's good when they start moving around.

JMR · 03-15-2012, 11:33 AM

Photo of Rattlesnake Landing taken this morning, if I did it right

Barney Bear · 03-15-2012, 11:51 AM

We always hope for calm days as the ice yields to the springtime sun. Windy days have pushed piles of ice floes against our dock [which is located on a very exposed point on East Bear Island] causing extensive damage, especially last year. If windy, we hope the wind is blowing from the north thus pushing the ice against our breakwater.

AC2717 · 03-15-2012, 01:58 PM

I am with you Barney Bear
last year we had to replace a piling and two posts at the end of the perminant section of our docks.

plus I have March 30th for ice out!

Quilt Lady · 03-15-2012, 02:13 PM

As I drove by Lily Pond this morning, the ice was gone and a flock of geese had taken up residence.

LET THE COUNTDOWN BEGIN!!!!

Bear Island South · 03-16-2012, 08:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Quilt Lady

As I drove by Lily Pond this morning, the ice was gone and a flock of geese had taken up residence.

LET THE COUNTDOWN BEGIN!!!!

So if history holds true, ice-out is less than two weeks away?

CateP · 03-16-2012, 09:34 AM

Mergansers are back. (species most responsible for duck itch) South Wolfeboro Bay is thinning out. Looking transparent like the Rattlesnake Island shot. Sorry no pix this morning.

Puffin · 03-16-2012, 12:28 PM

I guessed March 28th @ 3:01 for ice out this year. Based on what I'm seeing on the cams over the last couple of days, and with the full sunshine and warm temps going into next week, I'm afraid I guessed to late.

O well, always next year.

SteveA · 03-16-2012, 02:22 PM

I was trying to fool the "Bad Luck" day and picked Friday 4/13 at 4.13PM.. I'm going to be way off!

Rattlesnake Gal · 03-16-2012, 03:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bear Island South

So if history holds true, ice-out is less than two weeks away?

I believe it will be sooner than two weeks, but that is my opinion.

Silver Lake here in Hollis has been one week prior to Lake Winnipesaukee since I have been paying attention, but this year doesn't follow suit. It is coming up on three weeks since ice-out here on Silver Lake.

Hopefully Mother Nature cooperates with my plan. I booked our boat for next Saturday, the 24th. If ice-out doesn't officially happen I hope we can get from Minge Cove to our boat slip in Alton Bay and out to the island. We've only been on the lake once so far before ice-out. I will be very happy if this isn't the second time!

Slickcraft · 03-16-2012, 04:02 PM

Much more water visible off the point than 4 days ago. There is still ice off the Glendale docks.

Very nice lunch today at the Lyons' Den today for my wife's birthday, excellent food and service as always.

Bear Island South · 03-18-2012, 07:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rattlesnake Gal

I believe it will be sooner than two weeks, but that is my opinion.

Silver Lake here in Hollis has been one week prior to Lake Winnipesaukee since I have been paying attention, but this year doesn't follow suit. It is coming up on three weeks since ice-out here on Silver Lake.

Hopefully Mother Nature cooperates with my plan. I booked our boat for next Saturday, the 24th. If ice-out doesn't officially happen I hope we can get from Minge Cove to our boat slip in Alton Bay and out to the island. We've only been on the lake once so far before ice-out. I will be very happy if this isn't the second time!

I just finished finished the tuneup on our 15' Princecraft, batter charged, fresh gas and 2012 registration stickers are on, all ready for a Friday 3/23 voyage to the lake...at least I hope.

It may not be ice-out but I'm hoping to get from Sheps to Bear.

Merrymeeting · 03-18-2012, 09:03 PM

I broke this piece of ice off of a larger section near shore at about noon today. While the ice was still thick and relatively strong, as soon as I pulled it out of the water and onto the rock, all the water drained out. It was very porous.

About an hour later, I lightly hit the chunk with a stick and it easily broke into these crystals. The ice became darker during the afternoon, and I expect it is approaching the point where the crystals will start to break apart.

A windy day would do it, but there don't seem to be any in the near forecast.

Just Wonderin · 03-19-2012, 04:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Quilt Lady

As I drove by Lily Pond this morning, the ice was gone and a flock of geese had taken up residence.

If I remember correctly, Ice out usually occurs on Winnipesaukee about a week after Lily Pond. Quilt Lady posted on March 15th....if this holds true, we could see ice out by the 22nd! YAHOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!

Formula260SS · 03-15-2012, 02:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Barney Bear

We always hope for calm days as the ice yields to the springtime sun. Windy days have pushed piles of ice floes against our dock [which is located on a very exposed point on East Bear Island] causing extensive damage, especially last year. If windy, we hope the wind is blowing from the north thus pushing the ice against our breakwater.

Wind is never a good thing at Ice Out.......

SAB1 · 03-15-2012, 03:14 PM

Shoot the darn geese! Last thing we need on Winni.

NoBozo · 03-15-2012, 03:59 PM

I saw a Loon today:... fishing in Narragansett Bay, RI. I've never seen one down here before. He was alone, no mate, and I'm guessing he's heading north.

NB

03-14-2012, 07:11 PM	#3
pontoonbarge Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Windham, NH Posts: 42 Thanks: 89 Thanked 18 Times in 9 Posts	Everyone think Ice Melting Thoughts! Think about: Hot peppers.. Arizona in July... Coffee... Lava... Fireworks... S'mores! Very soon now..... the ice will wave the white flag.... What a fun time! I need to go give the old boat it's spring pep talk!

03-14-2012, 08:07 PM	#4
Chaos Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Danville, NH and West Alton Marina Posts: 134 Thanks: 111 Thanked 32 Times in 20 Posts	Did anyone notice the sheet of ice moving around on the Minge Cove time lapse? Mostly from the morning shots. It's good when they start moving around.

03-15-2012, 11:33 AM	#5
JMR Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Hampton & Rattlesnake Island Posts: 175 Thanks: 33 Thanked 70 Times in 32 Posts	Rattlesnake Landing today Photo of Rattlesnake Landing taken this morning, if I did it right Attached Images

03-15-2012, 11:51 AM	#6
Barney Bear Senior Member Join Date: May 2004 Posts: 962 Thanks: 498 Thanked 274 Times in 175 Posts	Ice-Out We always hope for calm days as the ice yields to the springtime sun. Windy days have pushed piles of ice floes against our dock [which is located on a very exposed point on East Bear Island] causing extensive damage, especially last year. If windy, we hope the wind is blowing from the north thus pushing the ice against our breakwater.

03-15-2012, 01:58 PM	#7
AC2717 Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Maynard, MA & Paugus Bay Posts: 2,587 Thanks: 756 Thanked 356 Times in 268 Posts	I am with you Barney Bear last year we had to replace a piling and two posts at the end of the perminant section of our docks. plus I have March 30th for ice out! __________________ Capt. of the "No Worries"

03-14-2012, 12:46 PM	#1
Merrymeeting Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Merrymeeting Lake, New Durham Posts: 2,228 Thanks: 305 Thanked 802 Times in 369 Posts	Despite the speed at which the ice cubes melt in my drink on a 60 degree day, I'm always surprised at how long it takes the ice pack to disappear. While the ice may look weak and much darker on the webcams, it is still surprisingly strong. I threw a softball-sized bolder high into the air and onto the ice in front of my property today. It bounced and barely made a dent. While I wouldn't walk on it, I estimate that the ice pack is still ~3" in many areas. Yes it is erroding each hour, and no freezing temps in sight. But there is still a lot of hard, dense, ice out there, and it will be awhile before it goes away.

03-14-2012, 01:59 PM	#2
SAB1 Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Tuftonboro Posts: 1,253 Thanks: 193 Thanked 334 Times in 242 Posts	Need wind. If there are some good size holes and cracks in it nothing gets rid of it faster than a good 2 day blow.

The Following User Says Thank You to Chaos For This Useful Post:
pontoonbarge (03-14-2012)

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pontoonbarge (03-15-2012), Webbsatwinni (03-15-2012)

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03-15-2012, 02:13 PM	#8
Quilt Lady Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: West Alton, NH Posts: 169 Thanks: 0 Thanked 25 Times in 11 Posts	Lily Pond As I drove by Lily Pond this morning, the ice was gone and a flock of geese had taken up residence. LET THE COUNTDOWN BEGIN!!!! __________________ QL (Doing my best to encourage Global Warming ... one quilt at a time!)

03-16-2012, 09:34 AM	#10
CateP Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Wolfeboro Posts: 868 Thanks: 584 Thanked 540 Times in 210 Posts	Mergansers are back. (species most responsible for duck itch) South Wolfeboro Bay is thinning out. Looking transparent like the Rattlesnake Island shot. Sorry no pix this morning.

03-16-2012, 12:28 PM	#11
Puffin Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 43 Thanks: 10 Thanked 7 Times in 7 Posts	I'm afraid I'm going to be late with My guess I guessed March 28th @ 3:01 for ice out this year. Based on what I'm seeing on the cams over the last couple of days, and with the full sunshine and warm temps going into next week, I'm afraid I guessed to late. O well, always next year.

03-16-2012, 02:22 PM	#12
SteveA Deceased Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Gilford, NH Posts: 2,311 Thanks: 1,070 Thanked 2,054 Times in 497 Posts	So much for my guess of Friday the 13th (4/13) I was trying to fool the "Bad Luck" day and picked Friday 4/13 at 4.13PM.. I'm going to be way off! __________________ "Before you criticize someone, walk a mile in his shoes. That way, if he gets angry he'll be a mile away and barefoot!" unknown

03-16-2012, 04:02 PM	#14
Slickcraft Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Welch Island and The Taylor Community Posts: 3,343 Thanks: 1,249 Thanked 2,121 Times in 970 Posts	Belknap Point Much more water visible off the point than 4 days ago. There is still ice off the Glendale docks. Very nice lunch today at the Lyons' Den today for my wife's birthday, excellent food and service as always. Attached Images

The Following User Says Thank You to Slickcraft For This Useful Post:
ishoot308 (03-16-2012)

03-18-2012, 09:03 PM	#16
Merrymeeting Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Merrymeeting Lake, New Durham Posts: 2,228 Thanks: 305 Thanked 802 Times in 369 Posts	I broke this piece of ice off of a larger section near shore at about noon today. While the ice was still thick and relatively strong, as soon as I pulled it out of the water and onto the rock, all the water drained out. It was very porous. About an hour later, I lightly hit the chunk with a stick and it easily broke into these crystals. The ice became darker during the afternoon, and I expect it is approaching the point where the crystals will start to break apart. A windy day would do it, but there don't seem to be any in the near forecast.

The Following 2 Users Say Thank You to Merrymeeting For This Useful Post:
LadyoftheLake (03-19-2012), Orion (03-19-2012)

03-15-2012, 03:14 PM	#19
SAB1 Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Tuftonboro Posts: 1,253 Thanks: 193 Thanked 334 Times in 242 Posts	Shoot the darn geese! Last thing we need on Winni.

The Following User Says Thank You to SAB1 For This Useful Post:
AC2717 (03-15-2012)

03-15-2012, 03:59 PM	#20
NoBozo Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Portsmouth. RI Posts: 2,231 Thanks: 400 Thanked 460 Times in 308 Posts	Loon I saw a Loon today:... fishing in Narragansett Bay, RI. I've never seen one down here before. He was alone, no mate, and I'm guessing he's heading north. NB