Ice in 2017/2018
 

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...9e45895f32.jpg

It's hard to see, but there's a little ice on Salmon Meadow cove this morning.

I guess it's almost time to fire up the sled and tow two barefoot waterskiers through the channel !


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Can't wait for Santa to take his annual plunge into the lake and post the video. It's going to be a little colder than the past few years :eek:

One thing about being out here so late is you don't have to worry about boat traffic...or Glendale dock space!

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Did you pull out this weekend? We are still in the water. Time to wrap it up unfortunately.

Nope...that was the plan, but it looks like wed. These morning commutes are getting pretty dicey...https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...cd79d99230.jpg

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I keep wondering if you don't worry about a frozen engine?

Outboards are no concern as long as they are in the water. Looks like ours is getting pulled next Monday. One more boat ride on Sunday for me :cheers:

It is not quite cold enough to damage an I/O yet, but its time to get them out.

During the real cold temps i left the i/o at home so i could keep a droplight in the engine compartment turned on...just in case. Those early morning pontoon boat commutes leave a little to be desired!

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OK. I wondered when I saw the I/O. You might freeze in the pontoon but at least the outboard won't.:laugh:

One morning was so bad...winds were coming from the northwest...3 foot swells...I was kneeling in the middle of the boat trying to avoid getting wet, but the water splashing off the right pontoon was being blown back onto the boat...it was like watching a Hawaiian surf movie. I couldn't have gotten any wetter walking through a car wash. That coupled with the 22 degree temps turned the deck and myself into a frozen mess!

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OMG, you are a hardy soul! I could never do that!

Mark Islanders are a special kinda crazy :D

Hopefully I’ll be out their duck hunting soon. [emoji4]


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https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...728246cbe4.jpg then there was this morning commute...

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...and gluttons for punishment!😉

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Can’t imagine a better commute. Beautiful scenery and no traffic. [emoji4]


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Yes, it is beautiful, there is nothing prettier than Winni in any season, but I am a wimp. I can't take the cold!!

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...e213eb028f.jpgnothing beats the views of summer commutes!

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Carpool, it's Beer:30pm commute to the store for provisions with designated driver. https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...62e6e6dbdf.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...df3a8469a4.jpg


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But where's the beer? All I see is a picture of bad tasting water! ;)

And the Coors Light is not even cold. If it was, the mountains on the can would be colored blue. 😞

Dave

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I like to put wine in my coffee travel cup for my ride home....shhhhh...

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https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...f5035c992c.jpg Hate putting up the thin ice sign...

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Skim coat of ice at Fay's and Gilford Yacht Club, but smooth sailing otherwise..pic is from yesterday.https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...9a86d3300f.jpg

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https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...3c4573c25f.jpg and that is all!

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What is the status of the ice around the lake now, with all the recent cold weather? Any reports.

Any predictions on when the lake might have (safe / traditional) solid ice.

Skim of ice on Alton Bay was all the way out to Sandy Point yesterday.

Dave

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I have ice forming around my docks and in the coves around Christmas Island. The water is at the majic number of 39 degrees. The 'flip' or 'lake turnover' occurs at this temperature and allows ice to form, albeit dependent on wind and other conditions. The ice I see on the bay has broken up each morning just after sunrise. It won't be long before weather conditions, decreased wind and frigid temps, support ice formation that lasts.
For anyone who wants to read more about 'the flip' this article provides good information on what's happening to the lake water on these last days of autumn.
http://onthelake.net/fishing/turnover.htm

It's nice that we seem to be in a more "seasonable" weather pattern thus far this year, let's hope it stays that way.

Iced in
 

19 & 20 Mile Bay iced in. I walked on the ice around my dock today.

I have to dispute a small part of that article, where it says:
"....The water that cools below that temperature, to 32 degrees, freezes and stays on the top, effectively capping the lake. It also stops further energy loss from the lake. Everything beneath the surface of the ice never gets any colder than 39 degrees Fahrenheit."

Energy loss from the lake does not stop with the formation of an ice layer on top. The idea that it does is actually refuted further down in the article:
"As winter approaches, the water that has now reached 39 degrees sinks to the bottom, allowing colder and less dense, buoyant water to remain at the surface to freeze. The ice thickens because it is not a good insulator; water in contact with the underside of the ice cools further and freezes, adding to the surface layer."

More ice cannot form without heat loss; the heat of fusion of water to ice is approximately 144 BTU/lb. As long as the ambient air is colder than the surface of the ice, there will be heat loss to the air by conduction, resulting in further ice formation for a while. However, while ice is not a good insulator, it does have limited thermal conductivity, as do all things. In terms of insulation value, the "R" value of the ice layer increases with thickness. With slow heat loss, both the water in contact with the lower surface of ice and that ice surface itself are in equilibrium, at 32 F. Thus there would be a temperature gradient, from 32 F at the lower surface down to whatever the upper surface exposed to the air is, except that the air temperature keeps changing up and down. Still, as ice thickens, so does the layer's insulation value, slowing down the rate of heat loss and retarding the rate of formation of more ice. Ultimately, the rate of further heat loss approaches the rate of heat gained by conduction from warmer water below, and the ice cannot get thicker without the air temperature getting even colder. With sufficiently cold air for a long enough time, a very shallow body of water can freeze entirely to the bottom. As spring approaches, the process reverses, and conduction of heat from below the ice melts from the bottom up, in addition to surface melting from warmer air.

As to that part about water below the ice never getting colder than 39 F, while the most dense water, at at about that 39 F, settles to the bottom, water between that and the bottom surface of the ice can be progressively cooler and thus less dense, and in the vicinity of that bottom surface it must decrease to precisely 32 F, the freezing point, where liquid and solid forms of water are in thermal equilibrium.

BTW, the area between Long Island and the end of Moultonborough Neck mostly froze over toward daybreak today and consolidated to a mostly unbroken sheet of ice wall to wall. The very thin coating of snow flurries confirmed that late today.

Supposedly, one can survive for up to 90-minutes in 34-degree water, deep over their head, as long as you have a pfd or flotation like a home made foam noodle belt to keep their head above water and remain relatively not-in-a-panic. You know .... just chill in place, while you float in the icy cold water and gather up your strength to ice pick your way up onto safety, and be happy you actually have a loud whistle with you to use.

I've also read that in the first ten minutes, your hands and arms start to freeze up, and you lose your ability to use your hands effectively.

Supposedly, the key to surviving icy cold water is to not panic and to maintain a positive attitude ........ like, if you think you can do it ..... then you can survive.

Wasn't there a song all about this named 'I will survive!' by Diana Ross?

Thanks all for the meaningful and informative replies about the status of the ice.



1978 Gloria Gaynor ‎– I Will Survive

Let's test your theory go jump in the lake with a $2.00 noodle belt made from junk bought at Walmart on in 35 degree water, I'll be more than happy to stand on shore and provide moral support to keep your attitude positive as you freeze to death. Where would you like your personalized Darwin award sent?

we would miss FLL

Well.....not all foam noodles are equally well made .....it's pretty easy to examine the density and strength of the foam.....and do some comparison shopping. The local Walmart stores seem to have very good quality foam noodles, $3-4-6, in three different diameters, and are totally out of stock now, for the winter. For a wearable swimmer's belt, the thinnest $3 noodle probably is best because it is most pliable, and fits tight around the waist.

What really makes the noodle work so well, is threading a 3/8 or 1/2" diameter, strong line, down thru the center hole which makes it into a noodle belt that can be trimmed to an individual's waist size. Tie it off with square knot, and it should fit snug around the waist, under a winter coat.

These work good for swimming positioned at the waist, or for treading water, with the noodle belt easily re-positioned up under the armpits without having to untie the knot. Probably want to experiment with different line to find one that makes a secure and easy to tie square knot.

Frozen north
 

Moultonboro Bay Inlet is frozen across and people are walking near the shoreline in spots. If it lasts, a record early ice-in for many years.

Good call! Spend 10 on gas riding around to save $2 on a noodle. Please post pictures of you doing the flotation and density tests in front of your Meredith estate in February.

I'm more than willing to sponsor the test. Just tell me where to send the monies and or gift cards.

Thanks for the info. Would really love to see an early "ice in" this year too.

FLL caught on camera preparing to test his belt!
 

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:emb:

(thanks button) ...click! ...... except I would be wearing a Speedo

Picture of the broads today.

Starting Christmas night, we are going into the deep freeze for the rest of the week, -7 Wednesday night and continuing very cold through Saturday at least.

That ought to to build a bit of ice! :cool:

I don't see one posted on Youtube yet for 2017 but it would probably look a lot like past years :):

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/zXexBlbra4M" frameborder="0" gesture="media" allow="encrypted-media" allowfullscreen></iframe>

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/W--3PMKSArg" frameborder="0" gesture="media" allow="encrypted-media" allowfullscreen></iframe>

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/N79ls09iYvM" frameborder="0" gesture="media" allow="encrypted-media" allowfullscreen></iframe>

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/YBbx4GnwLjA" frameborder="0" gesture="media" allow="encrypted-media" allowfullscreen></iframe>

the commute in this morning...
 

got back to the mainland in the "ice-breaker"... it was clear water out by the island but a solid inch+ of ice through the Y-Landing channel... wasn't a problem staying within the "no wake" speed limit... photo and video below

if the weather predictions hold up, should be walking out soon!!

Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, Beautiful Kwanzaa, Grand Festivus, and a Spectacular New Year!!! -PIG

https://youtu.be/WG0SWh3dsWU

Geeze...ya think it’s time to put the boat away!???:rolleye2:

Is that a boat???????? Can we see a better picture?

Bill Engvall says "Nope Tis, P.I.G. strapped a Mercury on his back and went barefoot skiing. Here's your sign! " (sorry, Tis, couldn't help myself [emoji16]).
And I would love to see the icebreaker vessel too.

Dave

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AWESOME. Glad you made it back safe, maybe in 3-4 weeks trade the boat for sled/quad. May have to nix my plans to head out tomorrow to Bear.

Merry Christmas!!!!!!

Wise guy "up" on patrol! :laugh: I really do want to see it!

The small but mighty ice breaker!
 

After the Eastern gets pulled for the season we can squeak out a few more weeks with our trusty 14’ Alumacraft... hoisted it out yesterday... next trip will be on foot... then hopefully we get enough ice this year to launch the quad for the winter...

The days are getting longer!! -PIG

Won’t be long now. Taken from cow island.

Early Ice In?
 

With the upcoming 10 days of well below zero weather at night, there is a good possibility of having a very early ice in! Sure would be nice to have a normal, good, safe, ice year for a change!

Dan

OMG, I hate to admit it but I thought the black was some kind of special type ice breaking boat. Now I can see it is the motor! :laugh::laugh: Guess I will have to look more closely next time. Thanks for the picture, PIG!!!!

Island Girl's Ice In page??
 

I would think that IG's annual Ice in page would be up and running soon at www.rattlesnakecam.com soon.......

BT

Regarding using an aluminum boat as an ice breaker...

My friend and I went fishing in my 12’ aluminum boat one March right after an early ice out. We encountered ice blocking our accees to a cove where the fish were congregating. A gentle push with the bow broke the ice so we headed in with increasing speed. When the boat climbed up on thicker ice a bit of rocking broke it and we continued.

The fishing was great.

A week later we tried again but with three in the boat. With cold weather the ice had reformed rather than decreasing. The previous trip had taught me how to break it so we continued.

My brisk approach to the first ice sheet came to an abrupt stop. The guy in the bow started yelling. With the extra weight the boat was sitting lower in the water. The bow hit the ice edge straight on instead of climbing up on it. Water as pouring in.

So what do three guys in their twenties do to save themselves from a sinking boat in ice water? Well, we moved the front two guys aft to keep the bow up and attacked the ice again. It worked and we caught plenty of fish.

Lake Effect
 

Zero degrees and calm in Gilford this morning and 12 below just few miles south in Loudon! The lake effect is really throwing some heat! Once it's capped with ice that will be the end of that! Brutally cold weather for the next 10 days or so should lock the lake in nicely.

Keeping my fingers crossed!!

Dan

North side of Mink Island
 

This part of the lake was already skimmed over last year before the warm weather ruined the winter. This year we’re still a bit behind “normal” but the arctic blast this week will catch things up in a hurry.

..... surface water temp - 32
 

Since i finally got my dock out last week, just in time before the first snowstorm; this morning, I used a long handled garden tool to position my incredibly accurate $2.49 Intex JPAO4 water thermometer along the shoreline, about 200-yds from FL-3 ........ and ......drum roll here ......the water temp after being submerged for five minutes was exactly 32-degrees.

Weather; bright sunshine with winds about 10-mph

All the water, all around here, is all open water, but it seems like that may change very soon because there's all sorts of small ice floating about, small padiddles, and shoreline icy build-up.

Just up the road, at the Cattle Landing town dock, there's lots of solid ice all across to Bear Island, and it looks like it has attracted a number of smaller, young black crows who have never seen or walked on ice before. So, what did one crow say to the other crow? So, what is this stuff called "ice"..... I dunno .....but where can I find a dead chipmunk out here on this "ice"and who cares about this new hard water if there's no food out here?

Did you know that a crow has more intelligence than some voters! At least they know enough to get the heck over to the other side of the white line while working a road-kill, large grey squirrel for lunch.

Coming soon...
 

I just chatted offline with Island Girl. She has been very busy with other things.... Her Ice-in page is up at:

http://www.rattlesnakecam.com/watch.htm

I'm sure it will get posted here on the forum soon.

BT

Paugus Bay
 

Hi all,

We drove up this afternoon. About 1/2 of Winnisquam is iced over and Paugus Bay is iced over. It was 5 degrees and it is going to be very cold for the next week....not long till ice in.

Jetskier:cool:

......oh......what a difference a day makes.....la-tee-da!

Yesterday: Dec 28, 2017; It was all open water with small ice padiddles float'n about.

Today: Dec 29, 2017; It's all frozen solid for every direction. From Horse Island to Dolly Island to Penny Island to Bear Island to Mark Island to Mink Island(?) to Timber Island to Governor's Island to Meredith Neck. It's all frozen in with smooth, mostly white colored ice.

If you is soak'n up that Florida sunshine down in Palm Beach and reading this, it's time to call someone to make sure the ice eater at your Governor's Island, mega million dollar mcmansion is working correctly ..... capiche!

The ice is in on Meredith Bay this morning:

From my vantage point in Gilford it appears everything north of Welch is locked in. There is a lot of ice forming in the broads but nothing locked in just big thin sheets of ice all over.

Dan

that's the Weir's pier, no??

Yes, the WeirsCAM is located at Weirs Beach.

Been running my aerator for pretty much five days straight and it's barely keeping up with the ice horseshoe I formed around my docks.

It's so cold we had to chop up our piano for firewood..but we only got two chords.

Thanks for the chuckle PaugusBay :D

Gilford this morning
 

This was taken at 7:30 this morning. I am 1,600 miles south but it is nice to look at.

View today from Belknap Point. As ishoot308 reported yesterday, ice north of Welch. However open water out to Welch and the Broads.

Plenty of snowmobiles on the northern end. One ice shack out in 19mile. Friend drilled holes out at mouth of twenty and had ten inches

A screen capture from the RattlesnakeCam today, 12-31-2017. Love the sea smoke. The lake is losing warmth rapidly. The Smile of the Great Spirit must be ashivering and aquivering!https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...85e48eb30b.jpg

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How's Alton Bay looking? I got to believe the lower end below sandy point is getting close to being safe enough to venture out on.

First bob house on Alton Bay

Progress
 

Today's MODIS image tells the story so far.

Image of exactly, what, may I ask? Looks like the moon...

I believe that bobhouse is what the airport manager uses. He was out determining ice depth of and at least in that area was around 7 or 8 inches. It's getting there.

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If that's true sounds like by next weekend getting out there to do some ice fishing can be done safely as it's going to remain pretty darn cold!

Here it's what was said on the Alton Bay Ice Runway FB page:

Good Saturday Morning! It’s over cast and 3 degrees below 0 in Alton Bay . I checked the ice we have approximately 71/2” to 8” in the bay it’s coming along!!

I'm sure Paul would also say be careful out there because ice thickness can vary widely. Check it out as you go.

Dave

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Assuming you are serious, that is the Big Lake in the center of the picture as seen from outah space today. The dark blue is open water. Assuming you aren't serious....never mind nothing to see here....

I was serious :D
Just didn’t look like the shape of Winni to me...although if it is, that must be Sebago to the East. It’s a very grainy picture when zoomed...looks like there’s a bridge over it too. I’ve seen better satellite pictures but thanks anyway!

Well, BT, I was glad that he asked. It was not really clear to me either and I live here.

Go to the MODIS website and play around...it's fun.

http://ge.ssec.wisc.edu/modis-today/

Clear View
 

Check again! You need to get a better computer. In that picture I think I can see the hat I lost in the broads last August!:look:

Why yes, the hat is the clue as to where Winni is. Don't see how I missed that.:rolleye2:

Sorry, I've been posting these satellite photos here for years. I assumed that everyone would know what they were.....my bad

BT

Front or back?
 

Aha!! Satellite photos. Hillcounrty was right.
Are these the front or back of the moon? It looks like Rattlesnake Island in the middle of the picture. What a coincidence. I was unable to zoom in for confirmation. Is that me? Or my computer?

From what I can see this morning, other than a few small open pockets of water in the “hot tub” area and one large one about the size of a footbal field just West of Welch Island, the lake looks locked in, or at least the area of the lake I can see. I see no reason with the extreme cold and mild winds these open areas should be frozen over by tomorrow morning....

Dan

Great News. I am sure that will make the Meredith Rotary Club and New England Pond Hockey people very happy. Also hopefully long term the snow will stay around for the Laconia Dog Sled Race which has been a tough go the past few years.

On the way to Planet Fitness this morning stopped at Belknap Point, sunrise over skim ice looking toward to Broads. Looked like a strip of open water by FL26.

On the way home took a 2nd look. A strip of open water from FL26 area into Glendale Cove. A larger strip of water south of Timber and a patch off SW Welch. Otherwise mostly unbroken skim ice looking toward the Broads.

Looking out from Ames Farm solid skim to Diamond, Rattlesnake and beyond.

I took the following photo from the Scenic View in Alton this morning around 10:30am. The lake appears to be frozen from Alton Bay across to Wolfeboro.

http://echoshores.com/Photos/DSC_0104_1024.jpg

I saw two guys ice fishing on Meredith bay yesterday.

Bet there is PLENTY of ice on the bay by now.

From what I could see this morning the broads now look locked in...

Dan

start making the rinks!!!!!!!

sahhhwhhheeeeet

I just read that Emerson Aviation has declared ice in. I think this is the earliest I can remember that the broads are frozen over. (That doesn't mean it is the earliest, just that I can remember.) As Emerson said though, it does not mean it is safe in the broads. Please don't go out there!!!

Yes the strips of water near FL26 and south of timber that I observed yesterday were iced over this afternoon.

Tomorrow's snow will slow ice depth formation so the recently frozen areas will not be safe for a while.

From WMUR
 

Pond Hockey Classic
 

How is the ice coming together up there for the tournament? Cant wait!

Ice-in has been declared but as always, check ice as you go!