Ice-Out History?

webmaster · 03-27-2010, 09:44 AM

Does anyone have any information on how Ice-Out was determined before pilots Alan and then Dave Emerson became the official judge? The recorded dates go back over 120 years so there must have been a method at one time that didn't involve an airplane.

I received a question about this from a newspaper writer and thought the history buffs here might have some information.

Dave 35 · 03-27-2010, 12:51 PM

At one time they posted a raft on the ice at the Weirs with an electric clock. When the raft move enough to stop the clock that was "ice out". This may have been in the 50's but I am not sure.
Dave Pangburn-Lockes Island

SIKSUKR · 03-29-2010, 08:48 AM

Fuuny you asked this question Don as I was wondering the same thing last week. I would assume that if the same criteria was used, (navigating to all the Mt.W ports)a boat was sent out to see if it could do just that. Or maybe they used a hot air balloon?

Chickie · 03-29-2010, 06:12 PM

Yes, Dave 35, I remember in the late 1940's they used to set up a raft at the Weirs, as you say. In 1950 a song called "The Thing" (recorded by Phil Harris) became widely popular. After that time, the ice-out raft became known as "The Thing".

Yankee · 03-29-2010, 06:56 PM

I would inquire at Goodhue and Hawkins marina in Wolfeboro. They have every ice out date posted on their wall and might be able to shed some light for you.

BroadHopper · 03-29-2010, 07:37 PM

I remember my Grandfather and Dad talking about this raft. I though they were pulling my ................

I guess this is true.

SteveA · 03-29-2010, 07:50 PM

There is a long history ice out in other parts of the USA.

My sister lives in Fairbanks, and Ice Out on the Chena River it is a big deal.. and big money!
They use a Tower and Clock that sounds similar to the Weirs Raft.
This story is about Tanana River.

http://juneauempire.com/stories/0501...74221148.shtml

Maybe we should bring back the raft idea! I would be fun... and someone could win some big bucks.

hilltopper · 03-30-2010, 07:26 AM

Where I grew up in the northeastern VT (the NEK) the biggest ice out contest in the area was for Joe's Pond located in West Danville. They use the clock method also except that there's a cinder block involved so the raft doesn't move, it just sinks when the ice weakens.

http://joespondvermont.com/iceout.html

Lakegeezer · 03-30-2010, 10:25 AM

For ponds, the clock method works well. For Winnipesaukee, not so much. This year, I was iced out over a week before the official declaration. Where would you put the clock?

After the ice-out call, we had photos posted of ice in Roberts Cove. We're talking about a record that has been kept for over 100 years. The method should have some consistency, otherwise the record could be called into question.

What we do today is fine - but it is not perfect. This year, the Roberts Cove pictures proved that.

mcdude · 03-30-2010, 11:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lakegeezer

After the ice-out call, we had photos posted of ice in Roberts Cove.

...but our current definition of ice-out does not require the Mount to make it into Robert's Cove.

Pineedles · 03-30-2010, 02:27 PM

I was wondering why Center Harbor was included as one of the ports until I saw that they appear to be making a once a week trip this season to CH. I'm so glad, it was going to be very lonely without the Mount making a stop there.

Yankee · 03-30-2010, 06:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lakegeezer

For ponds, the clock method works well. For Winnipesaukee, not so much. This year, I was iced out over a week before the official declaration. Where would you put the clock?

After the ice-out call, we had photos posted of ice in Roberts Cove. We're talking about a record that has been kept for over 100 years. The method should have some consistency, otherwise the record could be called into question.

What we do today is fine - but it is not perfect. This year, the Roberts Cove pictures proved that.

As one who has kept his boat at Robert's Cove for many years, it's one of the last places on the lake to be rid of ice every year. It's located on the east-most end of the lake and almost perfectly aligned with the prevailing wind that blows down through the broads and the ice just piles up in it. This year though, it is out as early as I have seen it in 25+ years.

Subsequently in the summer, just outside the cove before the water depth quickly drops to 100+ feet, it can also have some of the roughest water on the lake when the wind picks up.

03-27-2010, 09:44 AM	#1
webmaster Moderator Join Date: Jun 2002 Posts: 2,432 Blog Entries: 1 Thanks: 438 Thanked 3,726 Times in 824 Posts	Ice-Out History? Does anyone have any information on how Ice-Out was determined before pilots Alan and then Dave Emerson became the official judge? The recorded dates go back over 120 years so there must have been a method at one time that didn't involve an airplane. I received a question about this from a newspaper writer and thought the history buffs here might have some information.

03-27-2010, 12:51 PM	#2
Dave 35 Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Ridgewood NJ and Lockes Island Posts: 22 Thanks: 0 Thanked 2 Times in 2 Posts	Ice out At one time they posted a raft on the ice at the Weirs with an electric clock. When the raft move enough to stop the clock that was "ice out". This may have been in the 50's but I am not sure. Dave Pangburn-Lockes Island

03-29-2010, 08:48 AM	#3
SIKSUKR Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 5,075 Thanks: 215 Thanked 903 Times in 509 Posts	Fuuny you asked this question Don as I was wondering the same thing last week. I would assume that if the same criteria was used, (navigating to all the Mt.W ports)a boat was sent out to see if it could do just that. Or maybe they used a hot air balloon? __________________ SIKSUKR

03-29-2010, 06:12 PM	#4
Chickie Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 367 Thanks: 0 Thanked 67 Times in 38 Posts	The Thing Yes, Dave 35, I remember in the late 1940's they used to set up a raft at the Weirs, as you say. In 1950 a song called "The Thing" (recorded by Phil Harris) became widely popular. After that time, the ice-out raft became known as "The Thing".

03-29-2010, 07:37 PM	#6
BroadHopper Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Laconia NH Posts: 5,509 Thanks: 3,116 Thanked 1,089 Times in 783 Posts	'Wild Thing' I remember my Grandfather and Dad talking about this raft. I though they were pulling my ................ I guess this is true. __________________ Someday may never be an actual day.

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03-29-2010, 06:56 PM	#5
Yankee Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Posts: 150 Thanks: 19 Thanked 38 Times in 23 Posts	I would inquire at Goodhue and Hawkins marina in Wolfeboro. They have every ice out date posted on their wall and might be able to shed some light for you.

03-29-2010, 07:50 PM	#7
SteveA Deceased Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Gilford, NH Posts: 2,311 Thanks: 1,070 Thanked 2,053 Times in 496 Posts	Ice Out Towers... There is a long history ice out in other parts of the USA. My sister lives in Fairbanks, and Ice Out on the Chena River it is a big deal.. and big money! They use a Tower and Clock that sounds similar to the Weirs Raft. This story is about Tanana River. http://juneauempire.com/stories/0501...74221148.shtml Maybe we should bring back the raft idea! I would be fun... and someone could win some big bucks. __________________ "Before you criticize someone, walk a mile in his shoes. That way, if he gets angry he'll be a mile away and barefoot!" unknown

03-30-2010, 07:26 AM	#8
hilltopper Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Meredith Posts: 716 Thanks: 25 Thanked 105 Times in 66 Posts	Where I grew up in the northeastern VT (the NEK) the biggest ice out contest in the area was for Joe's Pond located in West Danville. They use the clock method also except that there's a cinder block involved so the raft doesn't move, it just sinks when the ice weakens. http://joespondvermont.com/iceout.html

03-30-2010, 10:25 AM	#9
Lakegeezer Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Moultonboro, NH Posts: 1,657 Blog Entries: 1 Thanks: 342 Thanked 618 Times in 278 Posts	For ponds, the clock method works well. For Winnipesaukee, not so much. This year, I was iced out over a week before the official declaration. Where would you put the clock? After the ice-out call, we had photos posted of ice in Roberts Cove. We're talking about a record that has been kept for over 100 years. The method should have some consistency, otherwise the record could be called into question. What we do today is fine - but it is not perfect. This year, the Roberts Cove pictures proved that. __________________ -lg

03-30-2010, 02:27 PM	#11
Pineedles Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Moultonborough & CT Posts: 2,535 Thanks: 1,058 Thanked 652 Times in 363 Posts	I was wondering why Center Harbor was included as one of the ports until I saw that they appear to be making a once a week trip this season to CH. I'm so glad, it was going to be very lonely without the Mount making a stop there.