An Active Spring ...



Greetings Everyone!

As Spring unfolds - we've begun to see small flocks of water fowl returning.  Most recently, we've spotted a number of Barrow's Goldeneye and Swans.

The hares are mostly brown now and they've been hopping about - mostly chasing one another. We have also been hearing the coyotes yapping across from our cabin - on the mainland - over near Swan Cove.  Yesterday we heard them at 8:00 am!

Our night time temperatures are going below freezing still - with day temperatures going into the high 40's and lower 50's - Each day has continued to be very sunny - blue sky's - no clouds or winds.  Perfect weather for projects!

The other couple that we've been expecting to arrive for 'break-up' -- arrived yesterday!  It's great to see them again and catch-up on winter news.  The day before their arrival - Ernie and I went out and tested the ice.  We used our ice auger and drilled a number of holes - placing spruce branches into the holes to mark our route.  Readings showed the ice to be 20 -24 inches up to the ridge. However, the ice does show its loosing its density - air bubbles are visible in the ice and the ice looks like 'snow cone' ice when we pulled the auger out of the hole. At the ridge - the ice measured 18 inches in one place and 16 inches in another - there is a ridge crack about 6 to 8 inches wide with water. 

At the ridge our ice auger came apart - the top separated from the shaft - so we returned back to the cabin so that Ernie could repair the separation. Yesterday morning - Ernie was up early to continue testing the ice from the ridge to the lower landing.  The ice measured about 20 inches - the top foot was dry - the bottom foot very porous. Ernie also noticed more cracks - some long and continuous which were not there before.

At the lower landing - the ice has not separated from the shore and fishermen are still pulling their boats out onto the ice to head down to the lower Kenai to fish.

Anyway - at the lower landing - Ernie was greeted by the couple who are coming back to the island for break-up and to spend the summer.  Ernie had prearranged to meet them at the lower landing with our snow machine and big sled. 

They said it was a great sight and sound to see and hear Ernie coming slowly across the lake - testing the ice.  On the return trip - back to the island - our friend's wife decided to walk from the ridge to their cabin - as she walked towards the island - I walked out and together - we walked back.  It was magical to walk on the ice - because of the way the ice crystals are freezing at night - which is in a delicate up right position - when we stepped on the crystals - they crushed and scatter - sounding like many little bells chiming. Totally awesome!!



The ice is beginning to crack around the island --
but the cracks are not more than 3 or 4 inches wide.



A test ice hole out in front of our cabin.

We took a walk around the island to see how the lake 'looked' on Sunday.

On our Sunday walk - we decided to check out some of the island's interior trails.  While exploring - we came upon a 'levatating' tree - actually the wind blew the tree down - but part of it got stuck in an adjacent tree - thus suspended.

We would like to have an 'ice pool'  - DOES ANYONE KNOW THE RULES FOR PREVIOUS ISLAND ICE POOLS?  Each of us can put  $1.00 into the pool with our best guess as to when the ice will go out.  If any our followers are interested in joining the pool or know rules - let us know --- we'll post the rules, add your date with an IOU.


Take Care and Have A Wonderful Sunday!!