Mallets Bay at Dawn

[David Huck]

A group of us got on the ice before sunrise and double poled out from the Fish and wildlife launch. Staying to the middle and opposite shore. It is still bumpy.

Once we got through that area, the sun was starting to brighten the sky, and we had some great skating on the inner bay out to the mouth. From there, we continued more or less due west across the outer bay before circling back to check out some of the features on Mallets head.

The wind was intense and we could have gone much further without that constraint. Despite the wind, the pressure ridges did not seem particularly active and the ice appeared very locked in. I imagine that may change this afternoon. Easy to cross all pressure ridges without hunting for places.

I continued back into the inner bay around Coates island where the ice was generally worse. I wouldn’t recommend it to anyone, though I am finding I enjoy exploration almost as much as smooth surfaces.

Gas bubble area was not open water. Could not identify exact location.

Ice is definitely aging. Saw some cool up thrust candled ice near land.