Long time iceboater Chris Conary died suddenly last week. We will miss his great enthusiasm and seeming endless collection of classic ice boats. Here’s the link to his obituary:
Chris L. Conary – The Lincoln County News.pdf
There are certain activities that are known to reduce one’s general stress level, as well as moderating it quite a bit when those super stress events occur. These activities are known to require three key elements. One, it needs to be dangerous so the adrenalin gets a workout. Two, it needs some element of unpredictability to work the brain in adapting to fast changing events. Lastly, it needs to be social, for obvious reasons.
Does not iceboating tick all the boxes?
So, come sailing tomorrow at Dammy where there is unexplored ice, active leads, and iceboating buddies. Just what we all need coming into this holiday season.
By the way, Dave Godin reports that Holbrook Pond in Holden is very nice, with five inches of black ice.
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Most of the snow blew clear from the broads in the strong winds today. Ice surface is ok, let’s call it a 6.5. There is a large open patch on the east side as you enter the broads about 200 yds. north. It starts close to the east shore and runs nearly all the way across. We marked the west end and then went about our expedition. When we came back down, this is how we found our mark:
The first rule of pressure ridges is that are always on the move, sometimes rapidly. There is still a gate at the west end that can be sailed through. There is a Christmas tree marking it. Whether it remains relevant is another matter.
The other open water in the broads is in the NE corner, east to see, also marked with a pine branch, below:
From there is is great sailing all the way through the narrows. We did not go past the end of the narrows. The north end is a whole different world.
Deep Cove is good, as is most of that west bay leading to the river. There is an open patch by Red Roof Island nicely contained within three buoys. Easy to spot. Entrance to the River is fine, as it the first bay. We didn’t go any further south. We are saving that for Wednesday. There are other, unmarked open spots in the usual line of rocks along the west side of the bay leading to the Narrows.
Tomorrow is offering light air, but the day after and Thursday look good so far. Those are the days we have left before warmth and rain come Friday.
Chris Malliet, Nick Pagon and Kevan Coleman found five inches of ice covered with a dusting of snow on Clary today.
Therre are a few bad spots at Vannah Rd, but we will try to locate and mnark them tomorrow, hoping for good conditions all week. If it turns out that sailing there is inadvisdable than Clary is a good runner up. Thanks for getting out there and checking you guys!
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Yesterday we found 3” at Vannah Rd and a very nice surface thanks to Wednesday’s rain. Today, skaters toured the entire south end and found up to 4” of nice black ice. There were point leads and other hazzards. We will set up boats there tomorrow in spite of the poor wind forecast and hope that on such fine ice it won’t take much to get going. Is your alignment perfect? Come tomorrow and find out!
The north end is open.
Some forecasts are calling for light snow late Saturday, but if we dodge it then it appears to be clear sailing all week.
Chickawaukie Ice Boat Club 