Shelburne Bay March 7th

[Marc Heinzer]

I skated about 9 miles on Shelburne Bay, starting around 10:45 AM, launching from Red Rocks Park. While sections of the path to the beach are icy, there are ways to navigate around the ice, and poles can be helpful.

The ice conditions where I skated were good, though not perfect. I enjoyed the experience, though some sections were rougher or softer. I suspect the softer spots are areas where melted snow has trapped air beneath the surface. The ice is at least 4 inches thick, and I couldn’t poke through even after 8 attempts. The smoothest ice was along the shores, sheltered from the west and northwest winds—particularly on the south side of Red Rocks and the east side of Shelburne Point, extending south to Shelburne Park Bay.

I skated from Red Rocks to the Shelburne Shipyard. North of this point, the ice becomes rough. Afterward, I skated south along the west shore of the peninsula. I tried to follow the shoreline back to Red Rocks, but the ice on the east shore was rough and not very enjoyable, with significant wind exposure. There were some visible cracks and small pressure ridges, but they were easy to navigate around.

If the wind is from the west or northwest, launching from Shelburne Bay Park might be a better option, especially for longer skates, as it offers more protection from the wind. The ice around Red Rocks is good, but as you head south, it becomes increasingly rough.

[Marc Heinzer]

I need to make a correction. I wrote:
"Afterward, I skated south along the west shore of the peninsula."

I meant to say:
Afterward, I skated south along the west shore of the bay.

On my track, the section from mile 5 1/2 to 6 1/2 was the bumpiest.