ICE Committee members (International Committee of Exactness) visited the north shores of the lake where the ice had been lingering. At 7:45, ice was declared out because, while there were a few ice cubes along the shore in two places, no boat would have trouble passing through them. No icebergs were floating off shore (as there was a south wind blowing anything on shore) so the last vestiges of solid ice were gone. Everyone can launch their boats.
It should be noted that the winner of the competition is Julie Brown, our Executive Director. Obviously, she had a great grip on what happens on our lake and can foresee well into the future. (Guessing ended at the beginning of March.) She obviously has bragging rights for her guess! She also wants to donate her prize, this year’s new Wentworth Watershed Association hat, to the runner up, Debbie Bayne (whose guess was only off by one hour).
At 3 PM, there was still ice by the State Park that went out 50 yards or so and there was ice in the bay west of Wentworth Park that went out a similar distance. Yes, if you really wanted to, you could probably could have pushed yourself through that ice in a kayak but it was still there.
In the morning, the Wentworth Park Webcam was still showing ice. For awhile, it was a tiny bit to the left of the picture but then a kayaker paddled past followed by a large iceberg. The winds were up and the temperature is around 70 so the ice is on the way out but not then. Those people on the south side of the lake were probably wondering why ice out hasn’t been declared as that part of the lake has been free of ice since Tuesday. People also spent time on the islands so much of the lake was clear of ice but the definition of ice out includes “no ice bergs” and ice out on all shores. Bergs can float around and end up on someone’s shore…….
Below is picture looking toward the State Park from the road at around 2:45 PM, Saturday.
The first loon was spotted on the lake by Hugh Crawford on Tuesday. He lives on the west end of the lake and the strong winds blew that area free of ice before the rest of the lake. These winds have changed things overnight and we are getting a lot closer to Ice Out.
Below is a picture looking toward Stamp Act and Cate Islands in the calm evening light. Some open water existed and you could probably have paddled half the length of the lake. After dark, the wind cranked up and things changed dramatically.
Pan down to the bottom to see some newer images of the lake. Also, there are more reports of loons with some people enjoying their calls at night……
Below is a series of pictures taken at two different times Monday the 15th and then at two different times Tuesday the 16th. These are looking north to Stamp Act Island and the west wind has completely cleared the ice in that part of the lake. (photos Anne Blodget).
Around 9 AM, Tuesday, looking from Point Breeze, the bay formed by Point of Pines and the south shore was full of ice that had blown in on the northwest wind.
Around noon, from Townsend shore, there was still ice in the bay between Birchmont and Warren Sands.
The “leading edge” of that ice looked a bit fragile and wasn’t going the last very long in the wind.
Governor’s Rock was covered with the ice cubes. The wind pushed the ice floes around and some just ran up on the rock.
Looking from shore at Governor’s Rock you can see Birchmont is still iced in with lots of ice fragments in the foreground.
From the same spot, there are big chunks ice surrounded by the ice cubes. Brummitt Island is in the picture and has no ice on its shores. Presently, there are enough ice cubes for cold drinks for everyone on the lake for the whole summer. Get them while you can, they will be gone soon.
Later, around 3:00 PM, things had changed some more. The ice that was on Governor’s Rock had gone and the ice in the bay near Warren Sands had significantly retreated. However, there are piles of ice on the shore.
There are still chunks of ice and ice cubes bobbing along the shore near Point of Pines.
It seems that there is an ice floe up the west side of Jockey Cap and probably similar ice on Mink but it is not visible from this angle.
A closer view of West Jockey Cap.
The bay between Point Breeze and Point of Pines is still full of ice. Some of it is still solid and hasn’t broken up in the wind.
Not a day for kayaking… yet.
A drone’s view is sometimes quite nice to see things. The winds died down enough to allow mine to fly and here are some of the photos.
Below is Warren Sands with quite a bit of ice along the shore and an iceberg headed towards it to add a bit more.
A bit farther to the west, there is a larger berg headed that way, too.
Looking north toward Turtle Island and Wentworth State Park, that entire bay is still filled with ice as the wind didn’t move it. Now, with SW winds, it probably won’t move for awhile.
Brummitt Island still has some ice behind it but there seems to be no ice near Stamp Act (on the left) or Mink or Triggs.
There is a swamp behind Point of Pines that has some ice and it is protected from the wind so this ice probably won’t move much either.
Great pictures, Peter.
Looking good! Thanks, Peter, as always for your great pictures. One of the islanders was out yesterday…let the summer begin!!!
Great photos! Fortunate to be on the lake this week to watch the changes in ice to open water, to have the Mergansers return and hear the Loons last night.
Very nice report! Great pictures. Ice is gone from The north shore by Pirate Beach, but with a change in the wind, it can blow back from the state park. We will see!