Alton Bay Fly-in
 

Does anyone have any news on the annual Alton Bay Fly-in/Winter Festival?

Bring pontoons just in case.:laugh:

Looks like Feb 19.
 

The town approved the Alton Business Assoc. request for the winter carnival on Feb. 19.

Problem will be the ability to plow the runway. I can tell you there is not enough ice for the guys to get out there now. Hopefully, ice will continue to thicken under this new snow, and people will stay off the runway area whether plowed or not until it is thick enough to plow.

Time will tell.

Any updates on the runway status? Excited to fly down from Vermont after the bad winter last year :coolsm:

my oppinion
 

Ice is gaining, about 8" near gazebo and 6" at sandy point. very thin beyond sandy point and also thin (3-4") where the airport parking area is. Smooth surface so far with the exception of fishing holes here and there, but runway is somewhat marked and staked out. if weather cooperates we should be fine by time the fly-in gets here. Stop in to riverats shanty for a hot coffee:)

Keep track of what's going on with these Alton Bay Webcams

http://www.spencerhughes.com/altoncam/?justshowme=true

and

http://downingslanding.com/

my computer never lets me view the spencer hughes one but thank you for the downings landing cam

Opposite problem
 

Funny, but I have the opposite problem. I can view the Spencer Hughes cam but not the Downings Landing one.

Just a thought --

As I was looking at the Spencer Cam just now and noticed snowmobile tracks layed down in what appears to be slush.

Has anyone considered "orange coning" off the general area of the landing strip to preserve the area ?

Maybe there are other tricks used that I am not aware of 9or can't see from the cam view)

Good thought, Phantom, however...
 

...even with the runway open, plowed, taxiways and parking areas in place, we still have those who feel they are entitled and will run up and down the runway after snow and rain, leaving those indelible tracks.

There are some signs out, including one over by the gazebo along with cones defining the runway area. Of course, about a thousand feet out the runway, there is a tent type bobhouse sitting in what looks to be right on the runway.:(

From the Baysider
 

Good News!
this obviously doesn't apply to the fly-in....

Winter Carnival / Forum Fest?
 

I'm hoping that there will be some Forum Fest members attending this year's Winter Carnival. Maybe we can plan a mini Forum Fest for those who will be in the area. Will be travelling up from NJ on Friday and staying thru the weekend. Any one else planning on being there, please PM me and maybe we can meet.

Well i'll be there for sure, as always first bobhouse on the right, after the entrance to the airport. Tan with table and flying the Red, White and Blue. Stop in for a chat and a cup of hot beverage.

Fly in info
 

What a picture perfect winter day for it !!!!!!!!

and also that great looking bobhouse behind the plane is mine!
Runway is officially open and marked off. 12" of ice and growing.

Stopped by Lake Waukewan during Pond Hockey
 

Lake Waukewan was plenty thick this past weekend. Hopefully Alton will be the same later this month for all who are attending the fly-in..

nice picture!

From the Baysider
 

Alton Bay Winter Carnival
[QUOTE]

Great Alton Bay Bed Race returns Feb. 19

Yes nice photo of the plane ackbard. However I am just wondering if you are hedging you bet as to ice thickness. Those items above the wheels look a lot like pontoons. :rolleye2:

Friday PM.
 

I drove to the other side of the lake today. There were dozens of bob houses in Alton Bay along with about a dozen vehicles and two airplanes. I talked to a couple of anglers. Both said the minimum ice thickness was 10" and most measured a foot thick and was "good ice". With that being said I also saw open water along a lot of the shoreline.

Alton Bay Fly-In
 

Is the Fly-In on Feb 18th or 19th? I have seen conflicting details.

Alton Bay Winter Festival
 

Scheduled for Feb 19th but does anybody know if it is still on or has been cancelled/postponed? Appreciate the update before I make the drive-

From a previous entry: This year Bell
states there is a “plan B,”
thanks to the town giving approval
of using the town’s
parking lot in the Bay for the
event if it cannot be on the
ice.
This should make things interesting!!

Are they landing plains on the ice?
 

So...are they landing plains on the ice today? Is the ice airport open?

I'm looking at the Spencer-Hughes Webcam (see link above) and see eight planes parked on the ice. Chances are planes will be landing on both days.

We drove through the bay about an hour ago. There were 12 planes parked on the ice and a 13th landed while we were there. I didn't have my camera with me to take pictures but will probably do so tomorrow.

A great sign for the carnial
 

According to Altons updated Park & Rec site the carnival will be held in the parking lot and christian conference center and the ice. helicopter and sleigh rides a the conference center - bobhouse decorating and bed race and fishing derby on the ice - and all other stuff in the parking lot. I will be at the first bobhouse off the ramp, come join me and my friends for a hot beverage and some beef stew.
Roger

Bay is glare ice.
 

Need to use extreme care going onto the ice. I haven't ventured out, but have been told that YakTraks are doing much good. Need the ice grippers that are more like nails or studs that go in snow tires.

However you go onto the ice, be careful.

Also, the last plans I heard was that no vehicles would be allowed on the ice during the carnival.

Have fun, and drop by the Masonic Lodge on Rte 28 S just south of the circle for our breakfast buffet from 7-11. Enjoy the day.

Our neighborhood group will see you there in the morning, Uppy!

Weather looks good, pilots are looking forward to flying in tomorrow!
 

I represent a large group of pilots that will be coming in tomorrow. We've come in many years in the past and just love participating in the winter carnival. It was a shame that we couldn't join you last year, but we expect to be there en masse tomorrow. Special thanks, as always, to Paul LaRochelle for maintaining the ice runway and being the airport administrator. Please stay clear of the active runway, and if you'd like to come and look at the airplanes, check them out and talk to the pilots. Many parts of the airplane are delicate, so please look, but don't touch. I bet that if the pilot is present and your kid wants a look inside the cockpit, you could ask and they'll probably oblige. I know that I certainly will!

Pilots from 100's of miles away are coming up to participate in this wonderful event and we are all looking forward to it.

Here is the site that is organizing the Northeast Pilot Group arrivals.

http://www.meetup.com/NEPilotsGroup/events/52406562/

web-cam
 

Must be about 7 aircraft on the ice, right now (10:45AM). The weather
couldn't be better. The ice seems to be cooperative too.

Great beginning of a great day
 

It sure is a great beginning of a perfect day for the winter carnival starting off with a fantastic breakfast at the Masonic Lodge (Thanks guys). Kids, adults and grand parents all appear to be having fun. The helicopter has set up for giving rides and there are a few planes that appear to be doing there practice landings and takeoffs. There are many kids and parents out doing their ice fishing and a couple of guys going around and drilling the holes for them which is a great gesture. The biggest problem I see is parking as they have taken a good portion of the parking area for vendors and I being handicapped could not find a handicap spot in the whole bay area including the one beside Amilyne's store. We had hoped to stop and see the bed race, but I'm sure one will not be able to park unless you chose to walk a mile. I believe this day surely will give the local businesses the shot in the arm that they need this winter.
Thanks to all that have contributed to putting on this fine fun filled day and the good lord for the perfect weather for it. :)

http://i54.tinypic.com/2e56yqf.gif

Pilot's point of view
 

Neat Youtube video of a plane landing on the Alton ice runway.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kUOfu749mfI

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/kUOfu749mfI" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

Bed Race
 

And it was Olympic Zamboni by a full bed length!

Nice to have met you riverat.

I posted some photos taken this morning.

Does anyone know what they were charging for the helecopter rides? Just curious...

Good pics, MM. Thanks for sharing. Were the hover crafts really noisy?

They were loud, yes. About what you would expect from a very large fan running at top speed. I took a short video with my camera. The wind noise and distance don't allow you to hear the hovercraft. They came in close to the ramp later and parked in a row.

http://youtu.be/YPobxybJapM

Nice meeting you today .. you sure looked like you were having fun .. :)l

Helicopter Rates
 

$30 per person. Under 2 was free.

Photos from the Alton Bay Fly-In
 

Here is a link to some pics that I took on Sunday. It was a good turnout and beautiful conditions.

http://teamneidhardt.smugmug.com/Air...1553481_6LPVx2

It was a great day but a little breezy and cold. Posted a few pictures in the photo gallery. http://www.winnipesaukee.com/photopost/index.php

Hi RLW, We will meet sometime around the lake I.m sure. Maybe the forumFest, fishing has been ok but it is all about the socializing and just being out there for me. I have met quite a few forum Members out on the bay this year and it is always a pleasure to do so. We are so blessed to have such beautiful surroundings at any time of the year.

At is was very nice to meet you Slickcraft, hope to see you again soon. God Bless.

Hi, I sure was having fun, my favorite day of the whole season! Great people and friends combined with great food and beverages, what's not to like? Weeee, Weeeee! Weeeeeeee!

Along with that commercial...
 

...Pure...adrenalin!...........................:)

http://www.maxsound.com/trendingnews/images/0529.jpg


You tube Video

:laugh:

Amen to that:)

Hi everyone! I'm a central PA pilot and have been watching this forum off and on for a while. I decided to make a name and post for the first time in honor of the excitement around this year's fly-in considering that finally... FINALLY... after 4 years of trying, scheduling, and being foiled by weather and work, I made it to the ice runway. It was not, unfortunately, for the winter carnival, but we did get to see the setup well underway and we got to enjoy lunch on Saturday the 18th.

We had a low-visibility three hour flight from Pennsylvania, but upon arriving in New England the clouds and weather practically melted away, and the lake was just as beautiful and intoxicating as I had imagined it. Landing on the ice was the culmination of a dream for me, and while we only got to spend a few hours amongst you, it was a wonderful experience nevertheless. I'm linking a video of our landing and taxi that you will all hopefully enjoy. Ironically, if you watch the video of the Cherokee above in the thread, we were there eating lunch when they were filming that. If you look really closely, you can see our plane parked on the ice in a few shots!

In any case, thanks for the experience. We're considering driving up next year and getting a hotel room so we can actually stay for a few days and not have our arrival and departure times dictated by the flyable weather.

http://youtu.be/yNCzZPee6aU

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/yNCzZPee6aU" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

Thanks
 

Quick HD Video from the Alton Bay Fly-In
 

Video from the Alton Bay Fly-In on Feb 19th. Thanks to my friends at Lakes Region Seaplane Services for the help. Make sure to maximize the viewer to see it more easily.

http://smu.gs/znZDMN

His house was not there yesterday afternoon. Probably a good move given the warm weather ahead. It won't be long before the ice at the bottom of the ramp gives out.

Yup, You saw right!
 

I yanked my winter home off the bay yesterday due to sketchy ice at the ramp. It will nt be long with the days and nights we're having, you will not be able to get on or off there.
Meanwhile, I will be fishing in back bay starting this afternoon.
It was a great pleasure to so many visitors this season as short as it was and I'm looking forward to next year, God willing.

From the Baysider

Our first helicopter ride!
 

We and another couple went to the winter carnival for the first time this year and had a great time! Loved the bed races especially the "Elvie"(plural for Elvis I was told) What a riot they were. I think the high point of the day was the helicopter tour of Alton Bay. Just awesome! We'll put it on our calender for next year as a must do activity.

The Breeze
Wave "cuz I'll be wavin' back:D

Thanks to everyone who posted on the Alton Fly-in Forum. We came up from Florida for the week and had a great time at the Winter Carnival and fly-in. This will keep us sane until we can return to the lake this Summer.

As the psychiatrist told Hawk-eye in M*A*S*H
"Ladies and Gentlemen, take my advise,
Pull down your pants and slide on the ice." :laugh:

Time to move "I" believe