As iceboaters we know that conditions can go from great to not, overnight. Let’s just say that if you think a lake is good enough to drive there and check it, then bring boats and buddies just in case. How many times have we discovered excellent conditions, planned sailing for a couple of days hence, allowing for that spot of insignificant weather to pass through first? Probably countless.

This time it was a half inch of damp snow that was packing itself into dense drifts as we watched. That’s blowing snow on the far shore, and often it would engulf us. It was supposed to be rain, or the snow track would miss it, or any number of wishful weather scenarios. We didn’t think it would be THIS windy and THIS cold, so discretion being the better part of valor we retreated to skate a small sunny swamp hidden from the wind with four inches of ice over 6″ of water.

But then wonder of wonders, Wessarunsett in Skowhegan was nearly completely frozen, not getting taken apart by the wind. That must mean there is significant thickness there.

The edge is open, but out just four feet there was 1/2″. It needs to be a lot more than that to hold up to the winds today. And why wasn’t this plate destroyed last week the same way Pushaw and Plymouth were, all within meteorological spitting distance from one another?

Take-away of the day: if it looks good: do it. Be Bold!