The roller coaster weather continues. The lake got a inch or so of snow and then it got a bit warm and then froze at night. Since then, it has been warm and/or rainy and windy.
The strong northeaster passed us by for the most part and winds only got to 30 mph or so and all we got was rain, no snow.
When the inch or so of snow fell and then turned to crust, it was wonderful for people to get around on the ice. There was enough “purchase” to walk easily and a few people enjoyed skate skiing around on the lake. One report indicated a round trip of the lake in less than an hour.
Along the shores, there is some melting in the stronger rays of the sun.
This is a picture of the Stamp Act sand bar and beach. Presently, there is open water (where it typically forms) going out a third of the way to Cate Island.
On the morning of the 28th of February, it was delightful skiing and a tour around the lake was glorious. Goose rock was surrounded by ice that was pushed up onto it during the winter. The warming and cooling of the ice makes the ice expand and contract. When it expands, it pushes ice onto the shores and islands.
When it contracts, the cracks that form fill with water and freeze. Then, when it warms and expands, it pushes ice onto the shores and islands again.
Gull Rock has similar ice formations around it although they aren’t quite as symmetrical. Realize that these rocks look different because they seem to be “quite a bit out of water” compared to their summer “look”, The lake is drawn down in the Fall so that the ice doesn’t cause problems with the docks along the shore and the shoreline so the waterline is quite a bit lower.
This picture looks toward Albee Beach across the outflow to Tyler Brook. While the brook doesn’t have a lot of water flow, it still causes changes in the amount of ice. This is why whenever you venture out on the ice, you have to be careful. In this case, it isn’t hard to see where the water is and you can literally go within 10 yards of the open water and still be safe but you have to be careful!
In the afternoon of the 28th, the temperature rose to the high 50s. There was lots of melting and this picture shows old ATV tread marks rising above the watery surface. The surface changed from looking white in the morning because of the snow layer to basically melted in the course of an hour. The Sun’s rays are really getting stronger.
Around the shores and rocks, the melting is on-going. The ice on the lake is still a foot thick or more but where the sun can heat up the rocks or shore, it melts the ice. This picture is of the rocks off the east end of Brummitt Island. Easy to get into the water but it is still probably a bit chilly.
On the 2nd of March, the northeaster came by but only gave half an inch of rain and the temperature only rose to around 38. Not much melting occurred but it was sort of a dreary day.