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White Bear Lake Ice Depth = 0-8" Fear Factor = Code Orange

December 25, 2006 - 21:01 — Will on White Bear

We were able to have some Sailing Joy on Christmas Eve day but it was crucial to continually stare at the ice just ahead lest you take a bath.

There were about 10 boats, DNs, Nites and the Wing, that braved the troubled holiday ice. There is still OPEN WATER along the pressure ridge (now 2-3' high) that separates the west bay from the main lake, including last week's 30' open hole that sucked me and boat into the drink at 20 mph. Obviously I got out, but I did have to skate near it again yesterday just to give myself a shiver and show the lake that I'm back. Shaken, yes, respectful, oh yes, but back nonetheless. It felt important.

The surface is pebbly, cloudy with lots of imperfections and frozen overflows, but really fast, too fast perhaps. New separations have occurred in the west bay leaving long jagged crevices with 2" of liquid water jiggling as you zoom over it, daring you to drop a runner into it. An odd circular 4' wide opening still exists on the west bay, the one that devoured Tom's Nite runner last week tragically busting the plank. There are weeds up to the surface of that hole with some sort of ominous bubbling cauldron down below. I'm going to try to walk out there and stick a tree in it. It's a menace.

If you are brave enough to cross the pressure ridge, go over to the south side nearest Belaire Beach and cross over only at that shallow water/sand bar spot. If in doubt watch where Lucky, I mean Clint, crosses. Wear your ICE PICKS this week.

I'm realigning runners and sharpening skates today,
Will on White Bear

December 26, 2006 - 04:16 — Dr Leevil

12/25 Afternoon Ride was Smoooooth

I missed Christmas Eve day due to family stuff but managed to sneak away today for about 4 hours. The surface is hard and there's no evidence of the slush from a couple days ago, but as Will stated above there are plenty of rippled areas and some rough spots from where ATV's ventured during the melt time.

I sail out of the southeast corner and today everything was looking pretty much unchanged in that entire large east bay of the lake. Indeed, the two pressure ridges (off Bellaire and off the Peninsula) are much worse now and I did not find a way to safely travel from the main bay to the YC bay or over to White Bear Boat Works. I decided the main bay had sufficiently great ice and just stayed in that area.

A low of 15 degrees tonight should add some ice, but be very cautious, especially around those pressure ridges. Keep an eye out for changing conditions - the lake was creaking and booming all last night, enough so as to wake me up.

Now we just need some breeze for the rest of the week.

Dr. Lee-vil
Nite 512