possible cancellation of Winter Carnival???

[RLW]

Can someone tell me what I read on FB is true or not. I read that the winter carnival has been canceled with no reschedule date. Cause 5" of water under snow and forecast for Sunday.

[Slickcraft]

Town web site:
http://alton.nh.gov/CalendarDetail.asp?ID=7123

2/15/2015 - Parks & Recreation - W.Carnival Canceled:

Due to ice and weather conditions the Winter Carnival Event has been canceled.

Winter Carnival 2016 is scheduled for Sunday, February 14.

[DRH]

According to the Alton Parks & Rec. Dept. web page, as well as WMUR, the winter carnival has been cancelled due to ice and weather conditions.

[BroadHopper]

Is the Squam Lake festival still on? I had fun a few years ago.

I hike up Rattlesnake Mountain is overdue.

[barefootbay]

I was always under the impression that ice and snow are what you want and need for a winter carnival. Guess not in Alton.

[Slickcraft]

Forecast for Sunday a 2PM:

7 deg and 25 mph wind out of the NW, that is a minus 15 deg wind chill.

[RLW]

Originally Posted by barefootbay

I was always under the impression that ice and snow are what you want and need for a winter carnival. Guess not in Alton.

I guess the main reason is the water under the snow making fly in not operational as the runway can't be plow and then the bed race can't held either.

[bigdog]

Does anyone know the reschedule date for the Alton Winter Carnival ?

[upthesaukee]

Originally Posted by RLW

I guess the main reason is the water under the snow making fly in not operational as the runway can't be plow and then the bed race can't held either.

They expect the runway to be plowed and open before the weekend.

First of all, there is a good amount of water under the snow, making walking difficult due to all the fluffy snow we have had.

Second, as Slickcraft stated, the weather forecast calls for single digit numbers with winds in excess of 20-25. That can give wind chills of 10-15 below, certainly not conducive to have people out on the ice for the carnival, nor is it conducive to have the workers standing out there for 6-8 hours.

So, I hope that barefootbay just forgot to put a smiley after his statement.

[secondcurve]

Originally Posted by upthesaukee

They expect the runway to be plowed and open before the weekend.

First of all, there is a good amount of water under the snow, making walking difficult due to all the fluffy snow we have had.

Second, as Slickcraft stated, the weather forecast calls for single digit numbers with winds in excess of 20-25. That can give wind chills of 10-15 below, certainly not conducive to have people out on the ice for the carnival, nor is it conducive to have the workers standing out there for 6-8 hours.

So, I hope that barefootbay just forgot to put a smiley after his statement.

Man-up!!! If there ever was a year for a winter carnival this is the one. People are incredible. It's too, cold...not enough ice, too much snow, too windy.....enough is enough, stop the incessant whining. The show must go on folks!

[upthesaukee]

Here is a post that the crew has put out on FB due to all the water at the boat ramp next to Shibley's at the Pier.

Hi for those of you in the Alton Bay Area . It would be helpful not to try and drive out on the ice at the ramp . There was a lot of snow and water and we cleared off the snow but the water needs to re freeze for a few days or we will have a big mess. Thank you.

[Lakegeezer]

Center Harbor's Skatefest is still on for Saturday February 21'st.

[BroadHopper]

is still on! Check out the chili contest as well as the kids events.

http://www.squamlakes.org/events/2015-winterfest

Meet you at the Basshole Pub!

[barefootbay]

Originally Posted by secondcurve

Man-up!!! If there ever was a year for a winter carnival this is the one. People are incredible. It's too, cold...not enough ice, too much snow, too windy.....enough is enough, stop the incessant whining. The show must go on folks!

Come on folks where's your Yankee spirit? It's winter !

[GTO]

Originally Posted by barefootbay

Come on folks where's your Yankee spirit? It's winter !

If they can hold the pond hockey in Meredith on that first Saturday with the windchill that day, there is no excuse not To hold the winter carnival in Alton

[Mr. V]

Just wondering how / why there is so much water, given the snow and cold NE has been having recently?

[mcdude]

According to the Laconia Sun the Carnival will not be rescheduled "due to other events in the area". (whatever that means)

[Scott's Yott]

Snow acts as an insulating blanket on top of the ice....Insulation + ice = water

[mcdude]

insulation + ice = water ----> ice dam

I've been experiencing seasonal ice dam anxiety disorder!!

[upthesaukee]

Originally Posted by mcdude

According to the Laconia Sun the Carnival will not be rescheduled "due to other events in the area". (whatever that means)

I believe one of the reasons is because I think that Wolfeboro's Winter Carnival is next weekend. Not sure what else is going on.

I know a few years back when I was on Alton Parks and Rec, we were going to cancel and reschedule to the following Saturday, and got a lot of feedback that the 3 day weekend was good for those who were coming in from a great distance. They could leave on Saturday, do the carnival on Sunday, and go home on Mon. The comments were that it can be difficult to come up on Fri, do the carnival on Sat, and then go home on Sun.

Not sure I understood the reasoning totally.

[mcdude]

The Squam Lake Association Winterfest is still on for Saturday according to their website.
http://www.squamlakes.org/node/486

[SIKSUKR]

One reason for the water is from the stress cracks.Ice opens up and water is pushed up from the weight of the snow.Being under all that snow prevents it from freeziing as the water temp is just above the freezing point.

[ghfromaltonbay]

In today's Union Leader there is an article stating that a lot of traffic and drilling during last week's Fishing Derby caused deterioration of the ice on Alton Bay. I guess that explains the large puddles on the ice.

[ishoot308]

Originally Posted by ghfromaltonbay

In today's Union Leader there is an article stating that a lot of traffic and drilling during last week's Fishing Derby caused deterioration of the ice on Alton Bay. I guess that explains the large puddles on the ice.

The weight of the snow on the ice is forcing the ice down and pushing water up all those drilled holes. The same can be seen around any pressure ridges that formed before the big snow storms, lots of slush in and around them. Even my tracked Polaris Ranger, which is almost impossible to get stuck was working hard to get through some of them around Welch island last weekend.

It's hard to believe that even with these sub zero temps we have had, the slush is not freezing back up. The thickness of snow must really be insulating it!!

Dan

[barefootbay]

What's the real reason ?

[riverat]

Originally Posted by ishoot308

The weight of the snow on the ice is forcing the ice down and pushing water up all those drilled holes. The same can be seen around any pressure ridges that formed before the big snow storms, lots of slush in and around them. Even my tracked Polaris Ranger, which is almost impossible to get stuck was working hard to get through some of them around Welch island last weekend.

It's hard to believe that even with these sub zero temps we have had, the slush is not freezing back up. The thickness of snow must really be insulating it!!

Dan

Also where the snowbanks are placed there will be more water gathered under and around them because of the weight and insulating properties. if you stand at one end of the runway or runway parking area and look towards the other end you will see a quite noticeable crown to the ice. one year it was estimated to be 12" high.
Also one of the problems we have at the ramp every year is as vehicles drive down the ramp they carry road salt onto the ice via tires and it erodes the ice and softens it and it becomes a danger zone as the season progresses.

[dickiej]

Global warming......water now freezes at a higher temperature.....