Ice Conditions

Ridgefarmer63 · 02-04-2011, 10:41 AM

Hello Folks,

I'm new to the forum, first post. A lot of interesting, informative discussion in here.
I live in New Durham and are planning on snowmobiling this Saturday out to my bro's place on Carr Island. We plan on getting to the lake at either Roberts Cove or Alton bay. Any info on lake conditions, pressure ridges', slush, traffic already existing etc. from Alton to Carr Island?
I have been riding sleds all my life (long time... see "63" in name) but the person i'm riding with is new to the sport and I don't want to put her or me in a questionable spot.

Thanks, and think snow.

Ridgefarmer63 · 02-04-2011, 10:57 AM

Dow island, not Carr.

Iron defieciency, sorry.

Lakegeezer · 02-04-2011, 12:30 PM

There was a good bit of wind with the last storm, so open areas lost some of the cover. On Thursday, I walked out to where a few (and only a few) snowmobiles made tracks. Once out there - I dug down to the ice and found it solid. No slush. Walking back was a different story. Slush had filled in my footprints and the snow got deeper as I got near the shoreline, protected from the wind. It could be tough sledding. It is unlikely you will go through the ice if you stay away from the shorelines and rocks - but it is also likely you will be mired in slush if you don't keep up the speed in the coves and protected areas. Hopefully a lot of sleds will be out this weekend and we'll have lots of tracks of packed snow as travel lanes before the next big storm hits.

wadden · 02-04-2011, 01:17 PM

Thanks, Lakegeezer. On what part of the lake were you walking? Wondering about ice conditions in Braun Bay/Center Harbor. Has anyone ventured out in that direction since the storm?

Ridgefarmer63 · 02-04-2011, 02:26 PM

Thanks, Lakegeezer. Guess we'll keep it close to the handlebar.

secondcurve · 02-04-2011, 07:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ridgefarmer63

Thanks, Lakegeezer. Guess we'll keep it close to the handlebar.

Please let us know how your trip goes and what ice conditions you experience.

hazelnut · 02-04-2011, 07:56 PM

Just went from Suissevale up through Greens Basin and there were plenty of hard packed tracks to follow. I went off trail on the lake and found myself in some deep powder but I did not bog down in any slush. Kanasatka was good as well. I did not venture out into Center Harbor but it looked somewhat tracked up. Last weekend there was a bit of slush in Blacky's Cove. Braun bay was good last weekend near Far Echo. Conditions were good. I am sure by mid day Saturday things will be good for travel on a fair amount of the lake.

Ridgefarmer63 · 02-05-2011, 08:42 PM

We went from Roberts Cove up to Long Island, back to 19 mile bay and onto Dow island. The way home in the snow, took us from Dow island to Alton Bay via Elacoya.

Elacoya was not intended, dark and snow got us a little discombobulated, so we followed the west side of the lake down to A bay.

Conditions were a little slushy on the northeast side and better towards the bay as there were a lot more packed runs.

Wild ride home, a little scary but a fair amount of sled traffic was out there with us.

Bring on the derby !

secondcurve · 02-06-2011, 07:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ridgefarmer63

We went from Roberts Cove up to Long Island, back to 19 mile bay and onto Dow island. The way home in the snow, took us from Dow island to Alton Bay via Elacoya.

Elacoya was not intended, dark and snow got us a little discombobulated, so we followed the west side of the lake down to A bay.

Conditions were a little slushy on the northeast side and better towards the bay as there were a lot more packed runs.

Wild ride home, a little scary but a fair amount of sled traffic was out there with us.

Bring on the derby !

Are there any open parts of the lake now?

Ridgefarmer63 · 02-06-2011, 08:22 PM

I definetly am not an expert on the lake, but I don't believe there are any open spots left. We didn't see any.

Drove up west side of lake on route 11 and it looked like a fair number of sleds are venturing out towards the broads.

02-04-2011, 10:41 AM	#1
Ridgefarmer63 Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: New Durham, NH Posts: 39 Thanks: 23 Thanked 3 Times in 3 Posts	Ice Conditions Hello Folks, I'm new to the forum, first post. A lot of interesting, informative discussion in here. I live in New Durham and are planning on snowmobiling this Saturday out to my bro's place on Carr Island. We plan on getting to the lake at either Roberts Cove or Alton bay. Any info on lake conditions, pressure ridges', slush, traffic already existing etc. from Alton to Carr Island? I have been riding sleds all my life (long time... see "63" in name) but the person i'm riding with is new to the sport and I don't want to put her or me in a questionable spot. Thanks, and think snow.

02-04-2011, 10:57 AM	#2
Ridgefarmer63 Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: New Durham, NH Posts: 39 Thanks: 23 Thanked 3 Times in 3 Posts	Ice Conditions Dow island, not Carr. Iron defieciency, sorry.

02-04-2011, 12:30 PM	#3
Lakegeezer Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Moultonboro, NH Posts: 1,657 Blog Entries: 1 Thanks: 342 Thanked 618 Times in 278 Posts	There was a good bit of wind with the last storm, so open areas lost some of the cover. On Thursday, I walked out to where a few (and only a few) snowmobiles made tracks. Once out there - I dug down to the ice and found it solid. No slush. Walking back was a different story. Slush had filled in my footprints and the snow got deeper as I got near the shoreline, protected from the wind. It could be tough sledding. It is unlikely you will go through the ice if you stay away from the shorelines and rocks - but it is also likely you will be mired in slush if you don't keep up the speed in the coves and protected areas. Hopefully a lot of sleds will be out this weekend and we'll have lots of tracks of packed snow as travel lanes before the next big storm hits. __________________ -lg

02-04-2011, 02:26 PM	#5
Ridgefarmer63 Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: New Durham, NH Posts: 39 Thanks: 23 Thanked 3 Times in 3 Posts	Ice Conditions Thanks, Lakegeezer. Guess we'll keep it close to the handlebar.

The Following User Says Thank You to Lakegeezer For This Useful Post:
Ridgefarmer63 (02-08-2011)

02-04-2011, 01:17 PM	#4
wadden Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 74 Thanks: 18 Thanked 14 Times in 7 Posts	Thanks, Lakegeezer. On what part of the lake were you walking? Wondering about ice conditions in Braun Bay/Center Harbor. Has anyone ventured out in that direction since the storm?

02-04-2011, 07:56 PM	#7
hazelnut Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2003 Posts: 1,348 Blog Entries: 3 Thanks: 508 Thanked 462 Times in 162 Posts	Just went from Suissevale up through Greens Basin and there were plenty of hard packed tracks to follow. I went off trail on the lake and found myself in some deep powder but I did not bog down in any slush. Kanasatka was good as well. I did not venture out into Center Harbor but it looked somewhat tracked up. Last weekend there was a bit of slush in Blacky's Cove. Braun bay was good last weekend near Far Echo. Conditions were good. I am sure by mid day Saturday things will be good for travel on a fair amount of the lake.

The Following 6 Users Say Thank You to hazelnut For This Useful Post:
Cobalt (02-04-2011), Lakegeezer (02-04-2011), Ridgefarmer63 (02-08-2011), secondcurve (02-04-2011), SPT13 (02-05-2011), trfour (02-04-2011)

02-05-2011, 08:42 PM	#8
Ridgefarmer63 Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: New Durham, NH Posts: 39 Thanks: 23 Thanked 3 Times in 3 Posts	We went from Roberts Cove up to Long Island, back to 19 mile bay and onto Dow island. The way home in the snow, took us from Dow island to Alton Bay via Elacoya. Elacoya was not intended, dark and snow got us a little discombobulated, so we followed the west side of the lake down to A bay. Conditions were a little slushy on the northeast side and better towards the bay as there were a lot more packed runs. Wild ride home, a little scary but a fair amount of sled traffic was out there with us. Bring on the derby !

02-06-2011, 08:22 PM	#10
Ridgefarmer63 Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: New Durham, NH Posts: 39 Thanks: 23 Thanked 3 Times in 3 Posts	I definetly am not an expert on the lake, but I don't believe there are any open spots left. We didn't see any. Drove up west side of lake on route 11 and it looked like a fair number of sleds are venturing out towards the broads.

The Following User Says Thank You to Ridgefarmer63 For This Useful Post:
secondcurve (02-06-2011)