Ice Conditions

Merrymeeting · 03-24-2008, 08:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Merrymeeting

There is a pond I pass on the way to work that usually has the ice go about 2-3 weeks before the lakes region.

Despite a relatively cold weekend, temps rarely out of the 30's, nights in the low twenties and teens, and the areas that have melted refreezing over night, much to my amazement, this pond was 1/2 ice free this morning and looks like it will completely go sometime today.

I never would have believed this given how solid it was last Friday.

I suspect the ice on the lakes is weakening from below too. I hope those vehicles are off soon.

liberator211 · 03-24-2008, 10:38 AM

I made the trip out to Bear Island from Meredith Neck on Friday afternoon and spent the whole weekend out on the island. Around Dolly the water is beginning to open up a bit. Between Mark and Bear Island the ice depth averages 22 inches. I measured it in many spots. I can not recall the ice being this thick this time of year. People who know the lake should not have any problems on the ice for the next week or two. Be careful but we are still a long long way from ice-out.

Weirs guy · 03-24-2008, 12:46 PM

Its strange, with all this snow and ice still around I have to remind myself its late March!

20mile · 03-24-2008, 07:35 PM

Last weekend the ice in 20 mile bay was approx 24" but was getting meally. This weekend it was hard and solid again. I have never seen ice this thick, this late in the year. Ice out in May this year.

secondcurve · 03-24-2008, 07:53 PM

I hope over confidence and perception don't conspire to cost someone their life out on the lake this SPRING. Remember, while it is easy to feel lulled into thinking winter will last forever, SPRING has arrived and with it is rapidly changing ice conditions. I have a simple rule, I don't go out on any body of water in the Lakes Region after March 15th. Yes, I occasionally miss a day of late season snowmobiling or ice fishing, but it is a small price to pay to avoid becoming the topic of a Forum thread on this site. Stay safe.

VitaBene · 03-25-2008, 04:55 AM

I agree second- the ice was not good this year consistency wise either. My truck stayed on shore this winter.

Blue Thunder · 03-25-2008, 07:00 AM

The majority of the ice on the lake is "snow ice", meaning it was snow that melted and/or got rained on and then turned to ice. That type of ice is full of air and, with the right weather, will melt quickly. We didn't get a good solid freeze of "black" ice to start things off. CLA, is there a more technical explanation that that??

BT

SIKSUKR · 03-25-2008, 08:12 AM

I certainly would not use the calander as a basis for using the ice.If you did that then you would have been pretty wet early in the season last year.Check the conditions and make your decision from that.
That reminds me of the skiers I saw this weekend.They dress by the calander.The weather was very cold and January-like and people are dressed for "spring".

Merrymeeting · 03-25-2008, 08:52 AM

No matter what the condition or stability of what is there, with temps at night hitting the low teens, and a forecast of the same cold, wet, below norm weather pattern for some time out, it isn't going anywhere anytime soon.

trfour · 03-26-2008, 12:15 PM

that Mother Nature is being so kind to us, with the flood potential being what it is. Cold temps at night, not too warm during the day.

03-24-2008, 12:46 PM	#3
Weirs guy Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Weirs Beach, NH Posts: 1,067 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	Its strange, with all this snow and ice still around I have to remind myself its late March! __________________ Is it bikeweek yet? Now?

03-24-2008, 07:35 PM	#4
20mile Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: 20 mile bay Posts: 87 Thanks: 0 Thanked 15 Times in 12 Posts	Ice conditions Last weekend the ice in 20 mile bay was approx 24" but was getting meally. This weekend it was hard and solid again. I have never seen ice this thick, this late in the year. Ice out in May this year.

03-25-2008, 07:00 AM	#7
Blue Thunder Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Eastern MA & Frye Island/Sebago Lake, Maine Posts: 958 Thanks: 257 Thanked 351 Times in 158 Posts	The majority of the ice on the lake is "snow ice", meaning it was snow that melted and/or got rained on and then turned to ice. That type of ice is full of air and, with the right weather, will melt quickly. We didn't get a good solid freeze of "black" ice to start things off. CLA, is there a more technical explanation that that?? BT __________________ " Live for today because yesterday is gone and tomorrow may never come"

03-25-2008, 08:12 AM	#8
SIKSUKR Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 5,075 Thanks: 215 Thanked 903 Times in 509 Posts	I certainly would not use the calander as a basis for using the ice.If you did that then you would have been pretty wet early in the season last year.Check the conditions and make your decision from that. That reminds me of the skiers I saw this weekend.They dress by the calander.The weather was very cold and January-like and people are dressed for "spring". __________________ SIKSUKR

03-26-2008, 12:15 PM	#10
trfour Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: The Lakes, Central NH. and Dallas/Fort Worth TX. Posts: 3,694 Blog Entries: 3 Thanks: 3,067 Thanked 472 Times in 236 Posts	We Should All Be Thankful... that Mother Nature is being so kind to us, with the flood potential being what it is. Cold temps at night, not too warm during the day. __________________ *trfour* Always Remember, The Best Safety Device In The Boat, or on a PWC Snowmobile etc., Is YOU! Safe sledding tips and much more; http://www.snowmobile.org/snowmobiling-safety.html

03-24-2008, 10:38 AM	#2
liberator211 Junior Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Westbrook, CT Posts: 17 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	I made the trip out to Bear Island from Meredith Neck on Friday afternoon and spent the whole weekend out on the island. Around Dolly the water is beginning to open up a bit. Between Mark and Bear Island the ice depth averages 22 inches. I measured it in many spots. I can not recall the ice being this thick this time of year. People who know the lake should not have any problems on the ice for the next week or two. Be careful but we are still a long long way from ice-out.

03-24-2008, 07:53 PM	#5
secondcurve Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 2,129 Thanks: 1,358 Thanked 564 Times in 291 Posts	I hope over confidence and perception don't conspire to cost someone their life out on the lake this SPRING. Remember, while it is easy to feel lulled into thinking winter will last forever, SPRING has arrived and with it is rapidly changing ice conditions. I have a simple rule, I don't go out on any body of water in the Lakes Region after March 15th. Yes, I occasionally miss a day of late season snowmobiling or ice fishing, but it is a small price to pay to avoid becoming the topic of a Forum thread on this site. Stay safe.

03-25-2008, 04:55 AM	#6
VitaBene Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Moultonborough Posts: 3,644 Thanks: 1,718 Thanked 1,662 Times in 861 Posts	I agree second- the ice was not good this year consistency wise either. My truck stayed on shore this winter.

03-25-2008, 08:52 AM	#9
Merrymeeting Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Merrymeeting Lake, New Durham Posts: 2,228 Thanks: 304 Thanked 799 Times in 368 Posts	No matter what the condition or stability of what is there, with temps at night hitting the low teens, and a forecast of the same cold, wet, below norm weather pattern for some time out, it isn't going anywhere anytime soon.

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