The launch is seven miles north of the turn off Rt. 27 at Steve’s Appliances. Can’t miss it.
White patches are hard.
Lake is 12 x 1.5 miles. NE wind Monday will be blowing right down the lake. Marks will be 11.5 miles apart.
With all the possible maybe lakes we’ve been hearing about and checking, Jim Gagnon discovered Messolonski Lake, in Sydney, is in decent shape and ready to go. Some hard snow patches here and there, but also large areas of nice ice. There’s a bit of thin standing water which we hope will evaporate in the strong, dry NW wind today. Moderate winds tomorrow and Monday, but different directions both days, which makes it fun.
Launch at the public ramp. It’s thick and tight to the shore for rolling trailers onto the ice; best not to drive on. Launch is on Hosta Lane, just off Rt.23 about halfway up the lake on the east side. Photos to follow when Jim comes in from the ice!
If you need a bit of beauty and awe this holiday season, take a deep breath of this:
The Birches Webcam | Moosehead Lake lodging | Maine | lodging | lakeside cabins | Maine vacation
Just flashed in the past twenty-four hours. Just thought you’d like to know…
After a frantic day of calling around, checking web cams, and Jim Gagnon driving all over Hellen Gone we have nothing to offer. South Twin did not blow clear. In addition, it took a hit from the big rain last weekend. The west branch of the Penobscot river dumps right into the five lakes. Messalonski was reported this morning to have frozen over the night, but the wind today beat it up badly. Damariscotta is a miserable combination of open water, slush and thin ice.
Our ace in the hole Lac Abenakis got more snow than planned, and it packed down hard with the wind.
So all we have to offer today is this inspirational photo. Keep your gear up to date and in good shape. Be sure your clothing is warm and that keep your knickers cinched.
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First, tip of the helmet to the CIBC officers for picking up the slack in ice reports while the usual guy was in Wisconsin chasing DNs around a couple of big day-glo marks. Marks, by the way, that we’ll be seeing a lot more of at CIBC events this season.
We’re watching two lakes very carefully: Pushaw and South Twin. Pushaw seems to have recovered somewhat from the deluge unleashed upon it a few days ago. Two inches of rain reduced the thickness by half and opened up a wide moat. But it’s looking better today, and with low overnight temps should be in good shape soon. Sadly, there is snow coming late tomorrow and the edge of the flakes is close. We’ll have a good on-the-ice report tomorrow so we’ll at the very least know what’s under the snow.
It measures out at a solid three inches:
As soon as it gets light in the morning have a look at the web cam at South Twin Lake in Millinockett. The lake looks great in the morning light, but I think this plate would look good in any light. Millinockett appears to fall on the clear side of the snowy front crabbing its way across Maine late tomorrow and early Wednesday.
Either way, there is no wind forecast for tomorrow or Wednesday. Thursday and Friday look spectacular, so the plan now is wait and see what the snow hits and then make the call for sailing on Thursday and hopefully into the weekend.
Lastly, kudos to Denis for sneaking in a ball-busting high wind blast on Lac Abenakis today. He reports that he won every race of the day.
Note the storm sail and the boom half-way in a whip. Way to go Denis! That sail, by the way, is a Henry Bossett design and gives a nice combination of power in the narrows and flatness when flat out.
Chickawaukie Ice Boat Club 