Ice thickness ?

Mink Islander · 02-10-2012, 10:34 AM

Well, I drove up this morning to check things out personally. Unfortunately, not only is the Cattle Landing dock area a complete mess thanks to Island Services' airboat (cmon guys how about just a little common courtesy - you greatly contributed to destroying an important access point to the lake and should have known better) and still impassable but that entire shoreline has lots of open water in both directions. In short, no easy access point. I checked Sheps and the usual access area around from the showroom is completely open water out 20 ft or more. I also ducked into the Y Landing marina but figured that was likely unpassable too. I saw zero activity between y landing and cattle landing.

Meredith was very quiet for the Friday of the Derby. A bit more activity further out in the bay, but we're talking a handful of people. This was around 8AM.

Oh well, add me to the list of those hoping for an early ice out.

DueSouth · 02-10-2012, 11:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mink Islander

... Unfortunately, not only is the Cattle Landing dock area a complete mess thanks to Island Services' airboat (cmon guys how about just a little common courtesy - you greatly contributed to destroying an important access point to the lake and should have known better) ....

while I appreciate the fact that the IS guys are a trying to make a living, I share the sentiment - they should know better.

fatlazyless · 02-10-2012, 12:14 PM

The first tip-off to me was that there's no cars or trailers or people or anything happening at the Cattle Landing town dock and parking lot. It was totally empty.

What was there was a nicely designed sign from the Ice Fishing Derby that warned people to be carefull about setting out on the ice, and gave a list of ten helpfull ice safety practices. So's apparently, what with the open water along the shoreline, thin ice, nearby water circulators, warm sun, and left-over shattered ice from possibly an air boat, nobody seems to be trusting the ice in the area of the Cattle Landing dock.

Just for my own curiosity, I set my 200-lb weight on the ice while bracing my hands down on the edge of the new concrete and lumber dock and jumping up and down to test the ice, and it started to crack up and looked to be maybe 1/2" thick immediately next to the dock. Determining the thickness and safety of the ice can be very challenging even when you are looking at it closely......probably just drilling a test hole is about the only way to inspect it.....and as already mentioned the parking lot and dock were both totally empty of any vehicles or people.....so's no one wanted to trust the unknown safety of the ice in that area. Most years they do, but not this year so far?

Sully · 02-11-2012, 08:14 AM

Just saw a low flying helicopter near the Long Island bridge. I hope the first tragedy hasn't happened. Unfortunately, there will be serious accidents on Lake Winni this weekend simply because the Meredith Rotary lacks the same common sense as that of Mr. Scott Crowder and the Pond Hockey Tournament.

Jonas Pilot · 02-11-2012, 08:56 AM

I just came off the ice in Wolfeboro Bay. It's a solid 8" with some pressure ridges to deal with. Only one car. Nice to see a lot of families enjoying this mild winter day. I saw quite a few rescue rings and throwable cushions. Lots of flags up but mostly salmon caught including one I was told was about 7 or so pounds. A tagged rainbow trout was caught yesterday out off the beach.

Sully · 02-11-2012, 09:04 AM

Rescue Rings? Throwable Cushions? Families enjoying a mind winter day? Ahh yes....this is the lack of common sense that leads to tragedy! The only questions are ...Where will it happen? How many times will it happen? and..... Will there be rescue rings or throwable cushions?

Jonas Pilot · 02-11-2012, 09:42 AM

I couldn't get the little rascal in the middle to smile no matter what I did.

Jonas Pilot · 02-11-2012, 09:44 AM

Family fun!

codeman671 · 02-11-2012, 12:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sully

Rescue Rings? Throwable Cushions? Families enjoying a mind winter day? Ahh yes....this is the lack of common sense that leads to tragedy! The only questions are ...Where will it happen? How many times will it happen? and..... Will there be rescue rings or throwable cushions?

I have already heard a report of someone losing a jiffy auger through the ice on winnisquam today. They slammed it down to dig a hole and it went right through...1-2"...

ishoot308 · 02-11-2012, 04:47 PM

Jonas Pilot;

Great, great photo's!! The first one where the one in middle won't smile is a keeper for sure!!

Thanks for sharing!!

Dan

Jonas Pilot · 02-11-2012, 08:40 PM

Dusk at the Derby 2012 Alton.

SAMIAM · 02-12-2012, 07:28 AM

Awwww,Jonas......so cute.Fast foward 10 years and that littlle guy will have a big ol' grin,hanging out with a couple of pretty girls.

tis · 02-12-2012, 07:36 AM

Thanks for posting the pics, Jonas. I loved them!

Jonas Pilot · 02-12-2012, 10:14 AM

The guy in this picture was the most adventurous person that I saw Saturday. He went out to at least half way between Clark and Sewall Points. I think he was scouting to check ice thickness. He was using some type of ice chisel to chip his way through the ice. An experienced chiseler can tell a lot about the ice just by the sound of the impact.

Merrymeeting · 02-12-2012, 11:16 AM

I posted a few photos of Alton Bay during the Derby yesterday. The ice there was solid, most reports in the 12" range.

02-10-2012, 10:34 AM	#1
Mink Islander Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 753 Thanks: 59 Thanked 271 Times in 129 Posts	Cattle Landing update Well, I drove up this morning to check things out personally. Unfortunately, not only is the Cattle Landing dock area a complete mess thanks to Island Services' airboat (cmon guys how about just a little common courtesy - you greatly contributed to destroying an important access point to the lake and should have known better) and still impassable but that entire shoreline has lots of open water in both directions. In short, no easy access point. I checked Sheps and the usual access area around from the showroom is completely open water out 20 ft or more. I also ducked into the Y Landing marina but figured that was likely unpassable too. I saw zero activity between y landing and cattle landing. Meredith was very quiet for the Friday of the Derby. A bit more activity further out in the bay, but we're talking a handful of people. This was around 8AM. Oh well, add me to the list of those hoping for an early ice out.

02-10-2012, 12:14 PM	#3
fatlazyless Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 8,764 Blog Entries: 1 Thanks: 300 Thanked 1,014 Times in 739 Posts	The first tip-off to me was that there's no cars or trailers or people or anything happening at the Cattle Landing town dock and parking lot. It was totally empty. What was there was a nicely designed sign from the Ice Fishing Derby that warned people to be carefull about setting out on the ice, and gave a list of ten helpfull ice safety practices. So's apparently, what with the open water along the shoreline, thin ice, nearby water circulators, warm sun, and left-over shattered ice from possibly an air boat, nobody seems to be trusting the ice in the area of the Cattle Landing dock. Just for my own curiosity, I set my 200-lb weight on the ice while bracing my hands down on the edge of the new concrete and lumber dock and jumping up and down to test the ice, and it started to crack up and looked to be maybe 1/2" thick immediately next to the dock. Determining the thickness and safety of the ice can be very challenging even when you are looking at it closely......probably just drilling a test hole is about the only way to inspect it.....and as already mentioned the parking lot and dock were both totally empty of any vehicles or people.....so's no one wanted to trust the unknown safety of the ice in that area. Most years they do, but not this year so far? __________________ ... down and out, liv'n that Walmart side of the lake!

02-11-2012, 08:56 AM	#5
Jonas Pilot Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Wolfeboro, New Hampshire is my home, 24-7-365 Posts: 1,686 Thanks: 1,047 Thanked 336 Times in 189 Posts	8" in Wolfeboro Bay 2-11-12 I just came off the ice in Wolfeboro Bay. It's a solid 8" with some pressure ridges to deal with. Only one car. Nice to see a lot of families enjoying this mild winter day. I saw quite a few rescue rings and throwable cushions. Lots of flags up but mostly salmon caught including one I was told was about 7 or so pounds. A tagged rainbow trout was caught yesterday out off the beach.

02-11-2012, 09:42 AM	#7
Jonas Pilot Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Wolfeboro, New Hampshire is my home, 24-7-365 Posts: 1,686 Thanks: 1,047 Thanked 336 Times in 189 Posts	Family fun! I couldn't get the little rascal in the middle to smile no matter what I did. Attached Images Last edited by Jonas Pilot; 02-12-2012 at 08:40 AM.

02-11-2012, 09:44 AM	#8
Jonas Pilot Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Wolfeboro, New Hampshire is my home, 24-7-365 Posts: 1,686 Thanks: 1,047 Thanked 336 Times in 189 Posts	Family fun! Family fun! Attached Images

The Following User Says Thank You to Mink Islander For This Useful Post:
DueSouth (02-10-2012)

02-11-2012, 08:14 AM	#4
Sully Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 49 Thanks: 110 Thanked 10 Times in 6 Posts	Just saw a low flying helicopter near the Long Island bridge. I hope the first tragedy hasn't happened. Unfortunately, there will be serious accidents on Lake Winni this weekend simply because the Meredith Rotary lacks the same common sense as that of Mr. Scott Crowder and the Pond Hockey Tournament.

02-11-2012, 09:04 AM	#6
Sully Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 49 Thanks: 110 Thanked 10 Times in 6 Posts	Rescue Rings? Throwable Cushions? Families enjoying a mind winter day? Ahh yes....this is the lack of common sense that leads to tragedy! The only questions are ...Where will it happen? How many times will it happen? and..... Will there be rescue rings or throwable cushions?

The Following User Says Thank You to Sully For This Useful Post:
codeman671 (02-11-2012)

The Following 2 Users Say Thank You to Jonas Pilot For This Useful Post:
bclaker (02-12-2012), ishoot308 (02-11-2012)

02-11-2012, 04:47 PM	#10
ishoot308 Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Gilford, NH / Welch Island Posts: 6,281 Thanks: 2,401 Thanked 5,291 Times in 2,062 Posts	Great pics! Jonas Pilot; Great, great photo's!! The first one where the one in middle won't smile is a keeper for sure!! Thanks for sharing!! Dan

The Following User Says Thank You to ishoot308 For This Useful Post:
Jonas Pilot (02-11-2012)

02-11-2012, 08:40 PM	#11
Jonas Pilot Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Wolfeboro, New Hampshire is my home, 24-7-365 Posts: 1,686 Thanks: 1,047 Thanked 336 Times in 189 Posts	Dusk at the Derby 2012 Alton Dusk at the Derby 2012 Alton. Attached Images

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beagle (02-12-2012)

02-12-2012, 07:28 AM	#12
SAMIAM Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Moultonborough Posts: 2,900 Thanks: 336 Thanked 1,676 Times in 586 Posts	Awwww,Jonas......so cute.Fast foward 10 years and that littlle guy will have a big ol' grin,hanging out with a couple of pretty girls.

02-12-2012, 07:36 AM	#13
tis Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 6,749 Thanks: 752 Thanked 1,459 Times in 1,016 Posts	Thanks for posting the pics, Jonas. I loved them!

The Following User Says Thank You to tis For This Useful Post:
Jonas Pilot (02-12-2012)

02-12-2012, 10:14 AM	#14
Jonas Pilot Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Wolfeboro, New Hampshire is my home, 24-7-365 Posts: 1,686 Thanks: 1,047 Thanked 336 Times in 189 Posts	An adventurous soul. The guy in this picture was the most adventurous person that I saw Saturday. He went out to at least half way between Clark and Sewall Points. I think he was scouting to check ice thickness. He was using some type of ice chisel to chip his way through the ice. An experienced chiseler can tell a lot about the ice just by the sound of the impact. Attached Images

02-12-2012, 11:16 AM	#15
Merrymeeting Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Merrymeeting Lake, New Durham Posts: 2,226 Thanks: 302 Thanked 800 Times in 368 Posts	I posted a few photos of Alton Bay during the Derby yesterday. The ice there was solid, most reports in the 12" range.