Elk Lake Feb 19, 2005
22 Great days of sailing.
We have some snow cover, but still some great sailing out there.
The conditions change daily with the wind direction.
Some days the north end of the lake has 90% snow cover 1/2" to 1 1/2" deep, then the very next day if we get a wind shift we have 60% cover with drift up to approx 2". On average most days we have about 80% cover and snow cover ranging from 1/2" to 2". All the snow is very light and fluffy, that's why it blows around and changes so easily. We've added some pictures to the photo gallery...even one ooops shot!
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Feb 28th 2005
All I can say is our house is 50' from the lake and I cannot even see the lake. I am sure it's there, but it is not visible.
Up until about an hour or two ago we were very lucky and had only gotten an inch or two from the storm.
These flakes are tiny, but I couldn't even guess how much accumulation we have had.
We will take the 6 wheeler out tomorrow and measure !! NO SAILING today or tomorrow for sure!!
Jack
Feb 25 2005
We sailed and had a blast today, the wind picked up for a little while. The winds were between 5 and 7mph gusting to 10 or 11 most of the time. I posted some pictures in the photo gallery, we had 6 boats out here today and we were just going to get set up for the weekend. We didn't really expect to get to sail...what a great "bonus " day.
Jack
Elk Lake
10+ inches of hard green ice under the snow
Jack
Feb 20th
We didn't get the snow they forecasted so conditions remain the same. Got in two hours of fast great sailing. We quit after 2 hours because the winds were high and it was hang on with all you've got kind of sailing !
Jack
Feb 21st
We got a little more snow.
The winds were light today only 4-7 mph (the wind meter near shore only showed 2-4)and with the snow we still got a couple rides heading down towards the south end of the lake from Spencers Bay. If you don't want to push alot you really need 10mph wind until we lose some snow. We are using a 6 wheeler to push the boats started so didn't mind, but if I was pushing the boat myself I probably would have quit after only 1/2 an hour of sailing.
If we get 10mph or more we'll be back out there every day the rest of this week. We have very little clear and the rest goes from 1/4" to
3 1/2" drifts. Changing daily. We only saw a top speed of 30mph today, but the 6 wheeler only goes 19-20 mph so not too bad for a weekday with light wind and snow!
Feb 21st
Posted a picture...no real good action. Maybe more wind tomorrow!!
Jack
Feb 22nd
When I woke up today I thought we'd be snowed out for sure looking at the ice, but since the boats were already set-up I though we'd give it a try. Winds are 8 gusting to 12 mph and I am so glad we did ! We have been sailing for a couple hours. There is 2-4 inches of snow so I couldn't believe that it was actually a fun sailing day. The top speed on the gps read 48mph. I had no idea that in that light of a wind with that much snow it was still incredibly sailable. I am sailing my new J20 that is extremely light, but I would guess anyone except a true beginner could sail no problem. The only time we had to push was the intial push off from shore. Then just sit back and sail. Well lunch is over, we are geading out for a couple more hours if the wind holds above 8
Jack Jacobs
sailing on elk lake
i have a week off . and have not sailed yet this year.having not much to lose .i'm just interested in crusing .as i have to be back in new jersey by march 6 monday. otherwise i could just put the boat away now . if you think its worth coming out. i have a yankee. as long as the boat will power through. i'll see ya next week thank you
Elk Lake Feb 24th
We sailed today, the winds were 0-5 most of the day, but there were a couple times the wind meter would go above 8 and we would even see one or to 10's. Around 5 pm the meter was going between 6 and 10mph so we got suited up and ran out. My wife beat me out and took off in the boat (she has only sailed about a dozen times in her life) so I got behind her in our 6 wheeler to push the boat and she sailed no problem for about 5 minutes, then since we knew the wind wasn't here to stay she hopped out and we traded places so I could sail. I got about 10 minutes of sailing in. When she got in the 6 wheeler to push me the guage for the wireless wind meter said 5-7 I sailed but not fast, then we caught a good wind coming off the point and I sailed back and forth across the lake a several times only hitting approx 37mph. Though not fast it was still fun. I would bet your yankee could sail thru the snow effortlessly if we have more than 10mph steady winds or winds of 8mph with gusts of at least 11 or 12. We are not forcasted to have good wind until Sunday, but they only forecasted winds 1-3 today...so who knows. The snow on the southwest side of the lake just over the pressure ridge is significantly deeper than the north end of the lake.
We now have 1-3 inches on most of the north end, but I would guess 3-5 on the southwest side of the ridge. We haven't checked Spencers Bay at all.
Jack
Jack
Feb 23
We did not sail today since most gusts were only 3-4 mph, but we went out and checked the snow cover, it varies from a light dusting of about 1/8th of an inch up to the deepest we found in front of our house near the north end of the lake was 1 1/2"
It's not as light and fluffy as it was, but it's not too sticky either.
We are not expecting any accumulating snow and the forecast is favorable this weekend for us to lose more snow coverage.
Light winds forcast for Thursday.
Winds Friday only expecting 3 gusting to 12
Saturday winds 7 gusting to 21
Sunday 11 gusting to 22
Monday 15 gusting to 29
So if the forecast holds true should make for a great long weekend sailing!
Jack