Since I had mentioned that the lake had opened up because of warm weather and high winds -- I thought you'd like to see that one of our cabin neighbors came across by boat to check on his cabin. The photo below was taken on or about March 9th.
In speaking with one of the old timers - who is familiar with Skilak Lake - I was informed that back in 1944, the lake had opened up - just like we are experiencing this year. Then, a cold spell with north winds came in and froze the lake 'over night.'
And wouldn't you know the old timer was right? On March 12th, the lake began to freeze up again and quickly! The temperatures dropped -- giving us a stretch of cold nights, cold days and no winds. Our friend Clancy was planning to come out to his cabin on the 14th by boat -- but the lake was freezing over. So he had to nix that idea -- and coming across by snow machine was out of the equation.
In the photo below, looking up lake, the lake is refreezing.
As the lake began freezing again -- I took a walk around the island and noticed the Trumpeter Swans had come ashore to check things out. I snapped the photo below showing one of their tracks. In following the tracks -- it appeared this swan was 'running' along the shore to gain speed for flight -- because the tracks just disappeared.
Since there were no winds -- as the lake froze -- it took on the appearance of a glass mirror. So while we were out walking with Gunter and Bridgett -- we started a game of 'rock curling'. The game was simple -- just find a semi-flat rock and skid it across the lake's smooth surface. Ernie and Gunter were able to slide their selected stones quite far out -- but Bridgett was a close third.
Below -- Ernie is back to drilling a water hole so that we can pump water. Now that the lake has had about a week to freeze up again -- we've been hearing the lake make all sorts of noises as it 'makes ice' -- my favorite sounds are the ones that sound like rifle reports.
Not all of the lake is totally frozen - there are some open leads that we can see way across over by the upper landing. A friend of ours was at the upper landing on Saturday and confirmed what we've been seeing from this side of the lake. We were also informed by our friends that the lower landing appeared to have open water about 200 yards out from the dock.
On Ernie's birthday -- St. Partricks' Day -- he and Gunter began to test the ice again. They started over on the southwest side and went along the shoreline -- getting readings anywhere from 12 to 16 inches -- until they reached about 200 yards from the lower landing -- there they began to get 6 inch readings and then 3 inches. So they stopped and didn't get over to the lower landing.
For Ernie's birthday -- Gunter and Bridgett came for dinner -- Bridgett made a yummy carrot cake! Afterwards, we settled down and watched "The Last of The Mohican's".
While I was out walking yesterday, I came across a dome ridge that had formed close to shore across from Vince's place. The dome is surrounded by water and is hollow.
Take care - and thank you for checking in!
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