A Little Zamboni Action And Then...Boom!

At least that's what I'm hoping for.  There's still 4 inches of ice under 3 inches of slush.  After this quick freeze is gonna give us another 6-7 inches of ice just in time for the Monday holiday.  The ice gods have been good to us this year (as opposed to last).  Get your blades sharpened and your wax worms ready.

Boom.

It's Colder Than A...

Keep thinking chilly thoughts.  The 1st annual Mohegan Lake Ice Fishing Derby and Magical Skating Party will begin on 1/26/2013.  It will continue as long as the weather cooperates.  The high of 31 we see today will be the highest temp through next weekend with a low of 6 on Wednesday night.


In researching lake ice,  I came across this great blog from a fellow from upstate [?].  I highly recommend you take a peek; if nothing else, at least check out the ice safety sections. This is a link to the ice growth section where I found the chart.

Many factors weigh into ice formation, such as lake flow, vegetation, the topography of the lake bed, etc...but this is a good rule of thumb for average temps. This puts us at least 5 or 6 inches of new ice (plus the existing) next Saturday.

                                                     Lake ice: It's science!

In the meantime brush up on your ice safety; if you need supplies like an ice auger to drill a hole to ice fish, shop local at the Mohegan Sportsman.  Bear Mountain will sharpen you skates for five bucks (great deal and they do a great job); a good edge is essential for a fun time on skates.

I leave you with this amazing video (also found on the Lake Ice blog) from Sweden.  It's on a lake  1.5 times as big as Lake Champlain and has underwater waves that creates this powerful display of ice sheets being crushed together like tectonic plates?  I really don't know what's going on, but check it out.

1st Annual Mohegan Lake Ice Fishing Derby and Ice Skating Festival

It's ON! (maybe)

I'm closely monitoring the weather and the National Weather Service is telling me that we'll max out at 30 degrees Fahrenheit beginning Sunday night (1/20/13) through Friday.  If that holds, I'm going to make a bold prediction that we're skating on Saturday morning through the weekend.

Ice fishing?  You know it.  Considering that this is probably the last hurrah before another early spring and a prolonged algae bloom, I say we celebrate with an ice fishing derby and ice skating festival.  1st annual.  If you don't show up, I'm taking home all of the prizes. 

All lake activities will be conducted "at your own risk," as it may be a little dangerous.  It's also advisable that you have lake rights so you're not trespassing. There are ceratinly precautions you can take, like wearing a life vest under your coat, the buddy system, ice claws, etc... to ensure you're safe.  NYSDEC recommends 2 inches (seems thin, right?) of solid clean ice for people.   3 inches for people single file.  7.5 inches for small cars, etc..

Anyhoo, stay tuned.  We may get another winter miracle that provides us with a 105 acre ice skating/fishing ground next weekend.