Last week started off as did the many weeks before. The trees were leafless, the air cool, and the lake was ice covered. On closer inspection, cracks in the lake's icy lid were observed around the islands. There was hope that we would have an April Ice-Out after all, avoiding the uncommon and dreaded May de-icing of Lucerne.
Patches of open water soon began to dot the shoreline on the North end of the lake, too.
Back in the woods, the taps lost their beards and started running for the last time this season.
It was a better run than expected. Many buckets filled to overflowing which, for this time of year, is unusual. The sugarmen tasked to collect all that sap complained of sore, pulled muscles which, for this time of year, is not unusual at all.
Lake Lucerne missed Ice-Out last week by just one cold snap. If you're planning to put in piers, docks, and boats next weekend, you should be more than safe. I don't think the lake ice will make it even past Wednesday. An extended sapping season, insane gas prices, and a late Ice-Out have pushed back the annual Knottlane Board Meeting and Pool Party to Fall. This means there will be more extensive coverage in upcoming summary pages of the coming trillium, tree greening, pier putting, and early season golf. Huzzah!
-Nemo will be washing a few buckets before that first tee time.
