Crossing The Lake...

Greetings Everyone!

It's amazing to know about a week ago -- the lake was a body of water -- and now, its a sheet of ice!  For the past few days Ernie and Gunter were out testing the ice thickness of the lake so that we could safely cross. 

Why do we want to cross the lake?  Well, because we have planned a spring vacation and need to catch our flight to the 'Lower - 48'.  When the lake broke-up a couple of weeks back -- I was almost certain that we'd need to charter a helicopter out.  Ernie however was convinced the lake would refreeze and we could snowmachine or walk out.  Our friends Gunter and Bridgett, figured either way we left the island -- they'd be there to see us off.

So - with all that said -- Ernie and Gunter began testing the ice on Monday. On Wednesday they measured good ice thickness readings and that we could cross the ice safely on Thursday.   Thus, on Thursday we began our journey across the ice. 

Below - Ernie and I arrive at Thursday's meeting place -- near Clancy's cabin -- and waited for Gunter and Bridgett to arrive.  Since we anticipated walking the last 200 yards of the lake -- we only packed a few personal items to take -- including about 15 spruce boughs because Ernie and Gunter planned to re-test the ice along the way.

Shortly afterwards, Gunter and Bridgett joined us driving their snowmachine and then, we loaded the ice auger onto the small sled.  The ice auger is electric - meaning it uses a rechargeable battery for operation.  Mike McGyver loaned it to all of us for our drilling pleasure.  The auger is a handy tool and so much easier to use than our heavy gas auger. THANK YOU MIKE!!!

Below - I snapped a photo during the beginning of our trip across the lake.  We crossed the lake near Clancy's place and went straight across and followed the shore line.  The snowmachine tracks in the photo are from Ernie and Gunter's previous trips across the ice as they made their ice testing runs. 

As we cruised along -- we were greeted by an awesome sight!  About 75 - 100 Trumpeter Swans had gathered out on the snow covered ice.  Some of the swans didn't care for us zooming along and took off -- showing us their amazing wing span and graceful flight. 

 After watching the swans for a bit and taking photos -- we took off again -- heading out more towards the lower landing.

Soon we came upon one of Ernie and Gunter's test holes which they had noted with the number 8 - for 8 inches.

We stopped at this hole so that Ernie and Gunter could drill a new hole and take a current ice depth reading.  After they drilled a new hole - Ernie measured for a new depth reading.  The ice had 'grown' 1 inch -- so now the depth of the hole was 9 inches.  Bridgett and I then took one of the spruce boughs, placed it in the new hole and packed ice shavings around the spruce bough to visually continue marking the route.

Because we were approaching the 200 yard mark from the lower landing -- Bridgett and I decided to walk as Ernie and Gunter re-tested the ice. 

In the photo above -- there appears to be an open lead -- but it's frozen.  However, we all stayed clear of the area -- the photo looks close - but it's not.  Since I was now walking -- I decided to take my ear plugs out (we use ear plugs while riding on our snowmachine) and was greeted by ice noises!  It's one thing to hear the lake make ice noises when standing on land -- but when your out on the lake and hear those sounds -- it can be a bit nerve wracking.  I didn't hear any cracking sounds -- just sounds similar to a whale moaning.

Below Ernie is returning to get his snowmachine after walking ahead to locate the next test hole on the lake. The test hole was marked with the number 9 written in the snow.  Gunter waited behind on his snowmachine before going forward.

In the meantime, Bridgett and I continued to slowly walk along following Ernie and Gunter -- taking pictures and enjoying the sights.  Every so often the lake would moan -- and we'd look at each other with raised eyebrows, shrug and continue walking.

Below -- Ernie takes a new measurement at the 9 inch hole while Gunter walks ahead to the next hole.  The new measurement at the 9 inch hole was 10 inches. 

Since I was walking along with Bridgett -- why not take a photo of her all dressed up?  In the background, Ernie and Gunter are moving forward to the next ice hole.

Finally, it's my turn to be photographed all dressed up.

Below -- we are almost to the lower landing -- you can sort of make it out in the upper left hand corner of the photo.  In the foreground is a section of frozen clear ice -- which we skirted around.  The new ice measurements near this clear ice were 12 and 13 inches.

 

By the time Ernie and Gunter completed all the new ice measurement -- Bridgett and I reached the lower landing -- you can see our foot prints coming across.  After we got to shore -- Ernie and Gunter came zooming up on their snowmachines.  In the photo below you can also see lots of snowmachine tracks -- those tracks were made by fishermen snowmachining down to the lower Keani to ice fish.



Safe and sound on shore!  After giving us farewell wishes, Gunter and Bridgett get ready to re-cross the lake back to their cabin.

 

Thank you everyone for checking in with us.  Take care -- and even though we measured the ice for our crossing -- if you plan to cross the lake -- re-test the ice -- because conditions change and the weather forecast is calling for warmer weather!