Ice-in Watch 2006

[IslandSib]

This reminds me of the ice cream truck coming, when you were little......you can hear the music...
Better get ready!!!

[Orion]

ROTFLMAO.....very funny stuff Quilt Lady.

Web cams all look promising!.....keep fingers crossed and keep on dancin'!

[OVIDGSD]

Can anyone on the ground give us a report on exactly how much snow Winni got yesterday? Thanks!

[Paugus Bay Resident]

We got about 5 inches in Gilford, a little bit more in Alton.

[DRH]

We got about 6" in West Alton.

[Pepper]

What a sight!

Mother Nature's artistry is showing all over the lake this morning!

On the Weirs Cam there is a swirling masterpiece depicting varying thickness and formation of ice with a tapestry of snow atop.

On the Anchor Marine Cam, Crystal formations reflect a rainbow of colors as the sun's angle casts it's rays in a most favorable light.

On Snake Eyes, a field of diamonds delights the eye with an ever-changing arrangement of rainbow lights, as the sun dances across a bejeweled landscape.

If there's anybody out there who can't look at the cams this morning and not wonder about the beauty of nature, well, that would be sad for that person.

I hope you all get an opportunity to view this spectacle before it passes!

[SIKSUKR]

I'm with you Pepper!! I think winter in NH can be absolutley spectacular!Get out there and enjoy this beautifull part of the world on a sunny winters day.There's nothing like it!!Smell that awesome mountain air and look around at the snow covered landscapes even if you don't indulge in winter activities.I myself love being on top of a snow covered mountain on a cobalt blue sunny day with the sun warming your face.I love summer but the crispness and clearity of the air in winter doesn't even compare.More snow please!!!

[DRH]

We saw a large coyote out on the new ice this afternoon. We first spotted it walking around between Treasure Island and Ship Island, then it wandered over between Ship and Moose Islands. We watched it for quite a while with a spotting scope. It didn't appear to be on any particular quest or heading in any particular direction, and occasionally it would just sit on the ice and look around. We lost track of it over near Moose Island. With the ice so new (and thin) we were hoping the coyote wouldn't break through, but the ice was strong enough to support its weight.

[Pepper]

Oh what a beautiful thing to witness! I'm envious!

We have a small pack of coyote in our neighborhood somewhere, as we can hear them communicating with one another on a nightly basis. Usually around 1:00AM while I take the dog on his last walk of the night I can hear them howling back and forth to one another in the neighboring woods. Years ago it would make my hair - and the dog's fur - stand on end every time. Now it's become a welcome and pleasant sound that I look forward to.

I must admit, though, that I'm glad I can only hear them, and not see them!

[pparisi133]

WOW....what a great shot of Rattlesnake and Treasure.....hope it locks in this week

[Senter Cove Guy]

The enlarging of all the lake webcam pictures for the Ice-In watch is your latest stroke of genius. Well done.

[FLAG!]

My question is, how much snow is on the ice. If the lakes region got 5 to 6 inches of snow, is it going to present an insuation problem now? ^ inches of snow on 1 inch of ice is not generally a good recipe for strong ice. Some of the cams look as though the ice was watery enough to suck up a lot of that snow. Is that the case or am I looking at 5 inches of snow on the ice????

[Misty Blue]

Hi Folks!

'Just back from a little ICW time in Boca Raton. They can have it!

There is nothing better than a X-country ski on the Lake! We just did a little jog up Red Hill....Awsome!

As they say... It's the snow that brings 'Em here but it's the slush that Keeps 'em here!

Misty Blue.

[djhornet]

I now live year round in Key Colony Beach and I have to agree with you. We have kept my childhood home on Pleasant st. in Meredith Bay and I would be heart broken to see the Derby delayed let alone cancelled. I have been checking in on the weather forecast and it looks very promising so I am ecstatic about that. The Wahoo fishing is hot, but I am in dire need of some clean cold air from the Lakes Region, chatting with the many people who visit us, and a dozen or more flags. Winnipesaukee is my therapy and without question I would take that ski around the lake over the offshore trolling 99 times out of 10o; if only my business would allow me more time!

[Island Girl]

Does someone have an ice bubbler out in the broads off the Broadview condos... I have been watching that hole of open water get larger everyday... now it is very apparent.

We could use another aerial shot, Bill!

Island Girl

[Pepper]

IG it's getting worse in other spots, too! The Weirs Cam is showing two large areas of open water which I did not notice previously! I'm beginning to lose faith that we will see a true ice-in.

[jaybat]

Hello IG and others. First, I'd like to thank all the folks who have sent up the web cams and posted the messages about the ice conditions. For the past few weeks I've been reviewing the Ice-in Watch page to see how the ice on Winni is setting up. Looks as if mother nature isen't beeing nice to us out doors folks. Anyway, this is my firs message and I like to know if any folks out there know what the ice conditions are over on Wentworth. I'm planning to come up and fish on the 11th & 12th of February. I know it the BIG DERBY on Winnie but, we've already planned the weekend for Wentworth. Maybe next year we'll enter the Winnie derby. If any one out there has info on Wentworth please post a message. Thanks for the assistance and feed back from Jaybat in Central Mass.

[Merrymeeting]

Jaybat,

Everything you want to know can probably be found here...

http://www.lwa.org/

including a webcam....

[secondcurve]

Pepper:

Please don't post sad smiley faces about the lack of an "ice in". Think positively, it will be an early spring! If we were going through a difficult winter, there would be all sorts of chatter about wanting spring to arrive, etc. Pray from warm weather and lots of rain. We will be on the lake in our boats in mid April this year!

PS: I saved $500.00 bucks by not insuring the sleds this year. No snow, why insure them!

[Pepper]

SecondCurve, I am sad because my snowshoes sit idle in the mudroom, I've yet to be able to have my very-first-ever snowmobile ride, and although this winter is unusually mild, we've been virtually unable to go outside and play. Besides that, I'm getting ready to take a much-anticipated cruise to the Caribbean, and what fun will it be to escape a "non-winter"? Thus far our only "winter joy" we can look forward to is the Alton Bay Winterfest, as we're participating in the bed race that day. My first winter with free-time, and I'm not having any fun yet! So, you can see why I post sad faces.

There is a silver lining to the dark cloud, however. If the weather stays mild, when we reopen in March we might actually be busy, because everyone will be opening up their cottages, starting construction projects, and generally just glad to be entering a season with some hope of fun!

[Mr. V]

Hi Pepper

Say, if you want the best of both worlds, head out to Portland, Oregon.

You want snow?

Mt. Hood is 60 miles away, and it has fourteen feet and counting, with great ski areas, both downhill and cross country, and mucho snow mobile trails.

Best of all, once you leave the mountains and return to the valley, there's no snow or ice.

Lots of rain though.

[pparisi133]

I have to agree with Pepper....this is NH....there's supposed to be cold, snow, and ice! As much as I like camping, fishing, and going to the beach, I equally enjoy skiing, snowmobiling, and ice fishing! I think the four seasons are what makes New Hampshire the best place to live....a 6 month spring just doesn't do it for me

But, what can we do? "Let us accept the things we cannot change", right? Who knows....we could set a record in March for the most snow in a 30 day period! LOL.

Keep smiling, everybody!!

PS - anyone hear how the Derby meeting went today??

[Pepper]

Originally Posted by pparisi133

...PS - anyone hear how the Derby meeting went today??

WMUR just reported that the Derby has been postponed one week.

[Weirs guy]

Its my first winter living on the lake, and all I can do is watch the ice come, then go, then come. So much for taking my kids ice fishing and slidding down Tower Hill, but at least the heating bills are managable.

[jaybat]

Thanks Merrymeeting for the link to Wentworths Lake Asscociation web site. Any news on next weekends Winnie Derby? Our Rod & Gun Club located in Upton, MA has postponed its Trout Derby scheduled for this weekend. Hope is not next weeked as a few of us are planning to head North up to NH to ice fish on Wentworth or somewhere. Just getting away for a few day up to NH is always a blast. I'd probably spend more time in the summer up in the Lakes Region but you can't catch Stripped Bass in the regoin that I'm awear. Thanks again for the link, it's appreaciated.

[FLAG!]

Actually, I have unconfirmed reports that Winnipeasukee has a small elusive striped bass population....

That wasn't bottom you had when you lost your line trolling for salmon last spring...

[nightrider]

derby postponed one week

[KTO]

It's funny how in just a few more weeks we will be discussing ice out versus the ice in...what a weird winter!

[Mee-n-Mac]

We did a tour of the lake, from Alton to Meredith this Sat. First thing to say is ... man was it ever COLD ! The wind was merciless as well and because of the two I'd have to say only the most intrepid fishing folk were out on the ice. Relatively few bobhouses to be seen wherever we went. Got a few pictures to post when I can get some free space. Second there was lots of open water, especially off the Samoset condos and btw the Weirs and Spindle Pt. White caps crashing on the ice ... an unusual sight. Lots of trees and branches down on Meredith neck.

[Cow Man]

I had my doubts about the wisdom of this trip. Based on previous posts I knew that the ice was thin in many areas around the lake. Still, I reasoned that the recent cold snap might have changed the situation and I had no information about the Harilla to Cow Island area.
We have been visiting our camp in winter for many years and have never had any trouble. We are experienced and well prepared. We discussed the prospect of falling through the ice, proper self rescue techniques and brought along the tools we would need to handle an emergency.
The ride to Harilla encouraged me as I saw many snowmobiles, cars and trucks often parked near to one another in Center Harbor as well as a few in the vicinity of Trexlers. A local shop owner told me he thought the ice was safe in the area and an ice fisherman reported the ice as eight-inches thick.
We loaded up the toboggan and set out from Harilla on foot. I do not doubt that the fisherman was sincere, there probably was 8” immediately offshore around Long Island. But the ice got increasingly thinner and cracked, and being white an exact thickness was hard to gauge.
Approximately 100 yards from our camp at the Ragged Island side of the Hole in the wall, the ice began to crack with each step and we realized we had to abort. We cautiously worked are way back to the landing.
In my opinion, barring several consecutive days of sub zero temperatures the ice is not and will not be safe to walk on in the area between Ragged and Cow and extending one quarter the distance back towards Harilla this year. I expect I will be able to make the trip by boat by mid March.

[spotsink]

Sorry to hear you had to abort your adventure but also very glad you made it off the ice OK. It must have been very frustrating to be so close and not be able to reach your island.

We have been thinking about trying to get from 19 mile bay to Little Bear but have not tried it yet. 19 Mile Bay has numerous Bob houses on it along with trucks, ATV's and snow machines. I heard of a truck through the ice near Chase Point last week so I think the ice is questionable out that way...

I think you are correct in thinking you will be able to go by boat in the next four or five weeks... I think we will need to wait until then to check our place.

[Island Girl]

It is so good to be home here on Rattlesnake Island. The magnificient beauty of this place never ceases to awe me... and my most gracious hosts.

The ice is not safe. It is 1-6 inches in depth with open holes the size of a snowmobile.

There are a lot of rifts with water in them. Some areas are frozen nicely and others very thin... such as near the alligator on the Rattlesnake peninsula. The airboat went through the ice or made cracks along the way. There have been no snowmobiles or ATV out here on the broadside of the island... and with good reason.. The above freezing temps this week will not help things any either.

RG, your place looks fine after all that wind.

I am thinking early ice out as well... there will be a lot of debris as the ice is high against the docks and may pull them apart; ice houses have blown apart all around the lake as well.

I will try to post a picture or two..

IG

[Weirs guy]

All that wind on Friday pushed ice flows from the middle of Weirs bay into the docks by the peir, the open spot in the middle of the bay out towards Spindle point is huge. We saw a airboat Sunday morning, but other then that no ones been "brave" enough to venture out there, which is a very good thing. I expected at least one lost angler over the weekend. Looks like no ice in in the bay this year, but I'll be swimming in a month!

[Lake Fan]

This weekend we went from 19 Mile Bay to the south side of Whortleberry Island with a small snowmobile. There's a big pressure ridge from Chase Point all the way across to Whortleberry. OK to walk over. We found a safe spot get the sled across, but I don't think a truck could cross it. We had 14" of ice in most places. The ice was solid across to Little Bear and Cow. Very cold and windy for the weekend. Not may fisherman around out there. The fish must have been frozen also - we only got one 17" laker. Still had a lot of fun.

[trfour]

...even though we hav'nt had ice in on the lake this winter, I have never seen so many pressure ridges, thanks to all of the PhotoPosts and web cams here!

Weir'd Winter!!

[Cow Man]

Does anyone sell those things North of Florida? I like to use my camp year 'round. After this winter's thin ice I'm thinking I might convince myself I need one!

[gtxrider]

Any day now it will look like this:

[Island Girl]

.... I will unwrap the boat and get it ready!!

[Grant]

Originally Posted by gtxrider

Any day now it will look like this:

I can only hope so. I found MAJOR dock damage last week when I was up there. It's going to be expensive to repair. Time for a bigger bubbler.

[upthesaukee]

Originally Posted by DRH

We got about 6" in West Alton.

We had a like amount here right above Sandy point Keywadin park area. Glad it was over 4 inches...the plow guy only cometh with 4 inches or more, and this stuff was heavy!

[Paugus Bay Resident]

My question is, how much snow is on the ice

Don't know the answer (since I'm to chicken to go out ), but when I drove to Alton this morning all the ice I saw was covered. Temps were above freezing most of the day (6pm 30).