Snowshoing to Rattlesnake?

Pricestavern · 02-25-2010, 01:58 PM

My wife and I are heading up to the Lake this weekend for our annual winter snowshoe out to Rattlesnake to check on the cabin. We head out from Minge Cove to the southern point of the island.

What's the concensous for our trip on Sunday? Is it do-able?

Many thanks,
Rich and Maria

Chubbs · 02-25-2010, 02:39 PM

Considering how warm it has been, and from reading all of the ice condition reports, I would make sure my life insurance premiums are paid in full. Is it really worth the chance??

Rattlesnake Gal · 02-25-2010, 04:40 PM

You may want to reconsider going out on to Rattlesnake Island. My neighbor was out there on Sunday. He told me on Monday that he wouldn't go back again until boating season. He said there were ominous pressure ridges off the southeast corner of the island, although they could be gone now. As they walked up to them, there was quite a bit of water and they were making moving/cracking/crunching noises. During the day the ice receded from the rock they climbed onto the island from and the ice cracked as they got back onto the ice. He said the big areas are turning grayish, though other areas had clear black ice that still looked pretty thick.

The water temperature has been 37° since Saturday, which means that it could be melting the ice from underneath. Making ice conditions very dangerous. Click here for related Water Temperature thread.

If you do go, please be very careful. Oh, and take pictures. We love them.

Good luck!

RG

fatlazyless · 02-25-2010, 05:36 PM

You know what works real good is those old wood cross country skis from the 1970's with the 3-point bindings & boots that can be found at yard sales or the Etcetera Shoppe in Meredith for walking/cross country skiing across the lake. With their weight distribution it only requires about two inches of ice, and it is great excercise and very quiet so the condition of the ice becomes self-monitored by tell-tale cracking sounds as you move along. Hey, you might actually enjoy it.

Wearing either a pfd or waterski belt and carrying those orange Wal-mart ice picks and a whistle never hurts for hard core, lake ice-traveling die-hards

!

Happy trails!

As far as I know, there has never been a cross-country ski, lake ice, accidental drowning-death in the history of Lake Winnipesaukee for the last 110 years.

wifi · 02-25-2010, 05:45 PM

Heck, I thought FLL was going to suggest tying old inner tubes to the bottom of the snowshoes

Island Girl · 02-25-2010, 07:09 PM

I would not go. A truck went through the ice in Minge Cove, and it is thin in areas. There are ice ridges on both ends of the island with hugh pools of water. I am not sure what conditions are on the wimpy side as far as the ice pulling away from the shore but I suspect it is melting. The lake temp is 3 degrees above normal for this time of the year and closer to late March.

Stay home... and get the boat ready. It won't be long now.

IG

Pricestavern · 02-26-2010, 06:32 AM

Thanks very much to you all. We've decided, with an extremely heavy heart, to call off our trip. I think we're going to chase the snow and head to the Catskills this weekend instead.

Again, many thanks for all your input! This forum once again proves it's indispensability.

See you all after Ice Out!

- Rich and Maria

fatlazyless · 02-26-2010, 08:03 PM

Was watching closely today as the 20' aluminum jon boat-air boat w/ the big roaring V8 engine and airplane propeller in a cage slid across the ice surface from South Bear-Mark Isl toward Cattle Landing. That boat must weight maybe 2500-3000-lbs plus it has the powered forward movement going on, and today's grey looking softish ice still had enough strength to support the weight with no ice breakups. Crossing a small pressure ridge at Dolly Island showed a small splash of water....but not much.

So, one never knows, could be the temps will drop and March will be a seasonally cold month.....nobody knows....not even the www.noaa.gov!

Lucky1 · 02-27-2010, 03:29 AM

Reading about going out to islands with snowshoes made me wonder if anyone lives on islands year round?

fatlazyless · 02-27-2010, 07:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lucky1

Reading about going out to islands with snowshoes made me wonder if anyone lives on islands year round?

Nobody that departs from Cattle Landing down the end of Meredith Neck for Bear-Pine-Dolly-Mark-Mink-Timber-Round-Jolly-Camp-Steamboat...that I ever see. There's the large jonboat-airboat traveling back & forth out beyond the bend 'tween Bear & Mark somewhere this winter which I assume must be to a winter construction job, but that's just a guess.

About ten years ago there was a guy named Archie who had a white, poverty style, lobster boat w/ a 40-hp blue Suzuki outboard who spent the winters out on Camp Lawrence. Could be Camp Lawrence, Camp Nokomis, Sandy Island Camp or Three Mile Island-AMC has someone at this time as a caretaker unbeknownst to me?

L

Pine Island Guy · 02-28-2010, 11:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lucky1

Reading about going out to islands with snowshoes made me wonder if anyone lives on islands year round?

I believe that George Randall still lives year round on Cow Island (at the former Camp Idlewild).

ice ice disappear, PIG

tis · 03-01-2010, 07:26 AM

Didn't someone live on Whortleberry year round too?

SIKSUKR · 03-01-2010, 10:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pine Island Guy

I believe that George Randall still lives year round on Cow Island (at the former Camp Idlewild).

I was thinking the same.Met him 2 years ago at Mama's on Cow.Aayuh.

Lucky1 · 03-02-2010, 06:29 AM

Thank you for the replies. It sure looks like we still have some pioneers here at the lake!

fatlazyless · 03-03-2010, 07:03 PM

Saw two guys on a 4-wheel atv this afternoon out by Mark Island, plus the large jonboat-airboat being supported by the ice as it powers along on top of the ice. The two guys stopped, got off their atv, and were walking around out there by Mark....so you know, you know....whatever...believe that is buoy 20 out by Mark Isl....so some are still out there....(?)

02-25-2010, 01:58 PM	#1
Pricestavern Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Valencia, Spain (formerly Rattlesnake Isle) Posts: 388 Thanks: 125 Thanked 142 Times in 82 Posts	Snowshoing to Rattlesnake? My wife and I are heading up to the Lake this weekend for our annual winter snowshoe out to Rattlesnake to check on the cabin. We head out from Minge Cove to the southern point of the island. What's the concensous for our trip on Sunday? Is it do-able? Many thanks, Rich and Maria

02-25-2010, 04:40 PM	#3
Rattlesnake Gal Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Central NH Posts: 5,252 Blog Entries: 1 Thanks: 1,447 Thanked 1,349 Times in 475 Posts	Snowshoeing to Rattlesnake Island You may want to reconsider going out on to Rattlesnake Island. My neighbor was out there on Sunday. He told me on Monday that he wouldn't go back again until boating season. He said there were ominous pressure ridges off the southeast corner of the island, although they could be gone now. As they walked up to them, there was quite a bit of water and they were making moving/cracking/crunching noises. During the day the ice receded from the rock they climbed onto the island from and the ice cracked as they got back onto the ice. He said the big areas are turning grayish, though other areas had clear black ice that still looked pretty thick. The water temperature has been 37° since Saturday, which means that it could be melting the ice from underneath. Making ice conditions very dangerous. Click here for related Water Temperature thread. If you do go, please be very careful. Oh, and take pictures. We love them. Good luck! RG Attached Images

02-25-2010, 05:36 PM	#4
fatlazyless Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 8,527 Blog Entries: 1 Thanks: 296 Thanked 957 Times in 698 Posts	You know what works real good is those old wood cross country skis from the 1970's with the 3-point bindings & boots that can be found at yard sales or the Etcetera Shoppe in Meredith for walking/cross country skiing across the lake. With their weight distribution it only requires about two inches of ice, and it is great excercise and very quiet so the condition of the ice becomes self-monitored by tell-tale cracking sounds as you move along. Hey, you might actually enjoy it. Wearing either a pfd or waterski belt and carrying those orange Wal-mart ice picks and a whistle never hurts for hard core, lake ice-traveling die-hards! Happy trails! As far as I know, there has never been a cross-country ski, lake ice, accidental drowning-death in the history of Lake Winnipesaukee for the last 110 years. __________________ ... down and out, liv'n that Walmart side of the lake!

02-25-2010, 07:09 PM	#6
Island Girl Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Central MA Posts: 2,352 Thanks: 18 Thanked 535 Times in 179 Posts	Not I I would not go. A truck went through the ice in Minge Cove, and it is thin in areas. There are ice ridges on both ends of the island with hugh pools of water. I am not sure what conditions are on the wimpy side as far as the ice pulling away from the shore but I suspect it is melting. The lake temp is 3 degrees above normal for this time of the year and closer to late March. Stay home... and get the boat ready. It won't be long now. IG __________________ Island Girl ....... Make Lemonade

02-26-2010, 06:32 AM	#7
Pricestavern Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Valencia, Spain (formerly Rattlesnake Isle) Posts: 388 Thanks: 125 Thanked 142 Times in 82 Posts	Thanks for all the input Thanks very much to you all. We've decided, with an extremely heavy heart, to call off our trip. I think we're going to chase the snow and head to the Catskills this weekend instead. Again, many thanks for all your input! This forum once again proves it's indispensability. See you all after Ice Out! - Rich and Maria

02-25-2010, 02:39 PM	#2
Chubbs Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Posts: 82 Thanks: 1 Thanked 5 Times in 4 Posts	Considering how warm it has been, and from reading all of the ice condition reports, I would make sure my life insurance premiums are paid in full. Is it really worth the chance??

02-25-2010, 05:45 PM	#5
wifi Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Lakes Region Posts: 1,321 Thanks: 282 Thanked 287 Times in 169 Posts	Heck, I thought FLL was going to suggest tying old inner tubes to the bottom of the snowshoes

02-26-2010, 08:03 PM	#8
fatlazyless Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 8,527 Blog Entries: 1 Thanks: 296 Thanked 957 Times in 698 Posts	Was watching closely today as the 20' aluminum jon boat-air boat w/ the big roaring V8 engine and airplane propeller in a cage slid across the ice surface from South Bear-Mark Isl toward Cattle Landing. That boat must weight maybe 2500-3000-lbs plus it has the powered forward movement going on, and today's grey looking softish ice still had enough strength to support the weight with no ice breakups. Crossing a small pressure ridge at Dolly Island showed a small splash of water....but not much. So, one never knows, could be the temps will drop and March will be a seasonally cold month.....nobody knows....not even the www.noaa.gov! __________________ ... down and out, liv'n that Walmart side of the lake!

02-27-2010, 03:29 AM	#9
Lucky1 Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Moultonborough and FL Posts: 459 Thanks: 318 Thanked 123 Times in 53 Posts	Reading about going out to islands with snowshoes made me wonder if anyone lives on islands year round?

03-01-2010, 07:26 AM	#12
tis Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 6,411 Thanks: 719 Thanked 1,381 Times in 957 Posts	Didn't someone live on Whortleberry year round too?

03-02-2010, 06:29 AM	#14
Lucky1 Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Moultonborough and FL Posts: 459 Thanks: 318 Thanked 123 Times in 53 Posts	Thank you for the replies. It sure looks like we still have some pioneers here at the lake!

03-03-2010, 07:03 PM	#15
fatlazyless Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 8,527 Blog Entries: 1 Thanks: 296 Thanked 957 Times in 698 Posts	Saw two guys on a 4-wheel atv this afternoon out by Mark Island, plus the large jonboat-airboat being supported by the ice as it powers along on top of the ice. The two guys stopped, got off their atv, and were walking around out there by Mark....so you know, you know....whatever...believe that is buoy 20 out by Mark Isl....so some are still out there....(?) __________________ ... down and out, liv'n that Walmart side of the lake!