Ice prognostication for the coming week 2/2

[Evan Perkins]

    There is a very good chance for lots of great quality ice to be skated this weekend and into the coming week until it warms up at the end of next week. from looking at WebCams it appears that Ice has survived thus far in the inland sea off of North hero, and at mallets Bay in colchester. As far as I can tell, it looks like when it gets cold again this surface will turn into smooth, black ice or maybe some orange peel as there does it appear to be texture on some parts of the ice, which I am assuming is from late snow showers. It is also quite possible that some previously rough ice in the Burlington area on lakes and ponds and places like Missisquoi Bay, have been resurfaced by yesterday’s rain showers. It would be great to hear some reporting, if folks see anything up in that direction today.

     Other locations in Vermont, that will most likely be good are lake Willoughby, which has some smooth ice, and some rougher ice, but has been reported as good Skating . Lake MoreyTrail is being. Officially opened, but the whole lake can be skated. There are probably many many other locations that could become decent Skating this weekend as well. Because it has been warm and it will get cold tonight. There’s a possibility of open areas skimming , so folks should have their eyes out when skating places like mallets Bay for newly formed patches of black ice that are too thin. Generally, looking for large grain crystal pattern on the ice will be a good identifier of new ice as all of the ice that is thick enough to Skate will have a different texture. 

      There is also a relatively low wind forecast on a lot of nights this weekend and into next week so it’s quite possible that new black ice could form in big areas in the inland sea and other parts of northern Champlain, and maybe southern Champlain. There will probably be a relatively small window of Skating this new Ice, because temperatures aren’t getting that cold at night so it would be great to hear early reports if people see any areas skimmed over. I am particularly interested in the northern and southern parts of the inland sea and other areas in northern Champlain . if people happen to be driving by and see new smooth ice on areas that are currently open now please report(ideally pictures too )Hopefully there will be some great ice for folks to skate this weekend . 

    Evan 

[jeff....@gmail.com]

I would love to join up with a group for skating in Chittenden County or nearby this weekend, either day. Anybody making plans?

Thanks,

-Jeff

[Adam Bright]

Hey Jeff,

I will likely be driving down to Mallet's Bay this Sunday, unless people report that ice conditions have deteriorated--or unless more attractive ice draws a large number of people somewhere else in the area. My drive is from Montreal, which I learned last time makes my ETA difficult to predict: it really depends on the line-up at the border. But my goal is to get to Mallet's at around 10AM, if not earlier. If you're planning to skate Sunday, we could trade numbers and I can keep you appraised of my arrival time once I pass the border.

Best,

Adam