Well maybe not, drove in today and there were no tracks in the snow indicating a boat launch since the April fools day snow. There is a small circle at the end where a 4WD vehicle could turn with a short trailer and back to the water. Then pulling away from the water maybe parking for four vehicles with short trailers or park out on the road.

I used to "cartop" years ago in my younger days...one could manage a small aluminum or Jon boat and a couple of fly rods and troll by rowing...maybe that's what happened here??
Thanks for the pic!

Looking at the ice tonight between Welch, Belknap Point, Lockes Island, Round Island and Timber island, it is ready to go! One day of rain and a little wind and it will be gone!

Keeping fingers crossed!

Dan

Tick Tock
 

North of Mink Island the ice is starting to get very gray. Weather this week should accelerate things. Sounds like a lot of progress is happening south of Mink too.

Mink Island View
 

The view shows West end of Jolly and Birch Islands , East Side of Bear with Six Mile , Little Six Mile and Far Ozone to the North. Is that correct? Thanks for your many photo's

Crystal Lake and Lily Pong
 

I recall anecdotal history that Winni is ice-out 10 days after Crystal Lake in Gilmanton and about the same for Lily Pond in Gilford.
How are these two indicators doing this year?

Yes. That's the view.
 

You're welcome!

The blowtorch is coming. Heavy rain on Thursday and then next week could get in the 70's. It will come.

Lily Pond
 

Just went by Lily pond and there is very very small spot of open water in the center can't be more than 5' in diameter but...In my finest Scottish accent.... "She's breaking up Captain!"

Trekky
 

Beam me up!

Sprinkle some Dilithium crystals on it. That'll break it up!!:D

Silver Sands Ice Out Page
 

Hi Island Girl, any idea when the Silver Sands page will be online? It's getting to be that time :)

Thanks,
Mike

The cams from pine island and bear seem to show no ice in the area but the bear cam pointing a sheps makes the entire area look iced in. Is that last cam updating or does anyone know if you can launch out of sheps and get to the open water between the islands?

For extra credit does anyone have updates on how Alton bay is looking or west Alton marina areas?

weird but true...
 

Hi Mike - all cams are in working order but it has been a very odd ice-out around Bear/Pine. It is still ice between Shep's and Bear, but definitely softening and with the pouring rain tonight it should be going quickly... The channel between Y-Landing and Pine is mostly open, and you could possibly scoot around the south side of Pine to open water on the north side of Bear...

As of last Sunday Alton Bay was still completely iced-over with melting around the shoreline/docks.

I have been doing my "melt dance", it's not pretty but it's working! -PIG

Here's the link to the Morin Insurance Agency's webcam in Alton Bay:

http://www.morinagency.com/webcam/live.aspx

thank you both for the response. Looks like another weekend before trying to float the boat....unless something crazy happens today around Sheps. I did notice that the Broads side of rattesnake opened up completely over night even though the west side is still locked up.

West Alton Sleepers View
 

This is the link to the Echo Shores cam in West Alton showing a nice view from the mainland from left to right of Sleepers, Rattlesnake, Cub, and Treasure Islands.

http://www.echoshorescam.com/

It sure looks a lot different than last year at this time when I was already out at the island.

I have it on first hand intel from this morning not yet between Sheps and Bear.. still to much in the way but the ice is looking real punky and likely will change dramatically over the next few days.

update today...
 

Ice-out officially declared on Pine Island... we can get to all our ports-of-call... both Y-Landing and Pine Island hahaha...

The remainder of the lake to follow soon! -PIG

Ice out
 

Thanks for this valuable info

I wish Marine Patrol would put up a camera looking out of Glendale. It would be helpful for the many islanders that use the public facility, as well as give people a look at weather conditions, available dock space, etc.

That would be nice except it would cost the tax payers 50x's what it should and it'd never work right.

That is a good idea. In the spring (whenever that is) the Gilford Islands Association is supposed to get a tour of the new digs. If that actually happens and I am there, I will make that suggestion.

Boating this morning
 

First off for codeman: Glendale is locked up pretty solid, I think it's going to be another 10 days in there.

We launched our fishing boat from Ellacoya this morning and fished the broads and up and around the east side of Welch. Mostly all open water in this area. Lots of ice blowing and moving so you do need to be careful of getting locked in. No fish boated but it was great to get out on the big lake! We are going to hit it again Saturday and Sunday weather permitting.

Wow, what a difference a day makes! The broads are wide open this morning! From Lockes island to as far as I can see to the south which should be past rattlesnake. There is still some ice on the North side of Welch and North from there.

I'll post some pics later on of certain areas around the lake between Gilford and Meredith as I have some errands to run in that direction.

Won't be long now!

Dan

Ice
 

Still plenty of ice from Diamond Is. and thru the area between Rattlesnake and Smith Point and out past Sleepers. This wind today will help but until the ice starts moving its here for several more days

Ice
 

I'll correct myself - this wind has already pushed the ice line between Diamond and Rattlesnake

Update:

Weirs is still fully iced in. Channel is open

Meredith bay, fully iced in

Sanders Bay, iced in.

Smith cove, iced in.

Glendale, iced in but ice line is at the point and shouldn't be long before it's gone. See attached pic.

Broads are fully open from Lockes island to Rattlesnake.

Ice out
 

Is everyone thinking that with 60 degrees tomorrow, 75 on Monday, 78 Tuesday, and 62 Wednesday that we will have ice out by Wednesday or Thursday?

Alton Bay
 

This is the view of Alton Bay yesterday afternoon from the 'scenic overlook' on Route 11 looking out the mouth of the bay, the other downtown to the Bandstand.

Today, Monday, and Tuesday should free things up if we can get a little wind to help the warm temps and sunshine! -PIG

A Hope for Warm and Calm Weather
 

Folks whose places are on wide open locations hope that the pack ice melts away on calm days thus avoiding damage to their in-the-water docks. Last year, we suffered severe damage from wind blown ice to our exposed dock on East Bear Island. 😱

Fishing Boats
 

There are a few boats fishing in the broads this morning! All must have launched at Ellacoya. Wish I was one of them!

Dan

There must have been a lot of ice breaking up yesterday because a huge raft of broken brash ice floated past our place heading out into the broads. Most of it has cleared by this morning but our shoreline and breakwater is surrounded by chunks, slush, etc. I suspect this was some of the remaining ice on the West side of Welch. Sunny and warm today. Should see more progress.

There are several pickups with small trailers parked at Ellacoya.

Welcome to the Forum.
Ice-out is complicated. Not just a matter of warm days. In this case, you may be right. My guess, made months ago, is for the 16th.
I still haven't heard about Lily Pond and Crystal Lake which I think of as 10 day Canarys.

View from Belknap Point today.

Smith cove is iced in however at Glendale it is almost open to the Marine Patrol.

Landed my first Salmon of the season yesterday
 

Landed a beautiful 22" 4lb. Salmon yesterday just off Welch. Launched from Ellacoya.

At 8 am today Lily pond was still 80 to 90% ice albeit very dark in color. There should be a lot less at the end of the day.

That's a fatty! Nice!

Very warm temps this week and wind picks up TH. Ice out 4/13?