Well, that was a short-lived “ice out” contest! On Saturday, April 3rd, the ice went out of East Bearskin Lake. Bob watched it go and as always, it was an amazing event to watch. Of course, Bob and Quinn have already paddled all over on the lake.
No snow to measure!
Winter disappeared on the Gunflint Trail rather suddenly. We didn’t expect that.
Somebody called around lunch time today to ask, “Did I just see the ice go out on on the webcam?”
Yes, indeed, that is exactly what he saw. Just like last year, it was as if the ice suddenly decided to march eastward down the lake. A little before noon, the ice began rapidly moving past the the lodge, carrying with it remnants of this winter’s history — a broken tipi pole, bits of dog bedding straw, a mysterious log that had been lodged in the ice, an escaped broomball stick. By early afternoon, as far as we could see into the distance on East Bearskin Lake it was totally clear of ice.
The ice all over East Bearskin Lake is becoming increasingly black. It resembles a spotted animal print fabric, covered in white ovals interspersed with jaggedy black splotches of dark ice.
Last chance to make an “ice out prediction.” Predictions range from May 6th to May 12th to August.
Quinn & Andy try out the new ice Tuesday afternoon.
After an interminable number of cloudy, overcast November days, Sunday was finally clear and bright here. Quinn and Bob decided to take a sunny day break and head out on one final lake exploration, a trip to the somewhat inaccessible Rocky Lake. The shorelines of the lakes were ringed with borders of brittle, chunky ice, but they made it into Rocky Lake with only a moderate amount of ice breaking.
