« Previous

Ice-In Week

 Next »

December 5th through 11th, 2022

Last week started off as it has since <a href='/WeeklySummaryPages/2022/0508/Ice-OutSS.html' class ='defaultlink2' target='_blank'>last May</a> with critters scurrying about, Schaefer's having some sort of meat sale, and open water. One of those events would not last the week. The open lake almost closed up just after the week started. At ground level it looked as if ice-in was just hours away. A higher view showed many open patches. Those open areas would grow as a strong wind started to push ice off Lucerne. Some took in the de-icing show while enjoying snacks left for others. By afternoon, the lake was almost completely ice free. A huge flock of water fowl were seen floating up the north end. Their numbers included many bufflehead ducks (endangered but "Least Concern (Population increasing)". A few eagles were seen flying over the lake and scaring the ducks. For much of the week, signs of Christmas could be seen around the lake with plenty of lights, but a lack of lake ice and snow gave it a less "Holidays in the Northwoods" feel. Just after mid-week, Winter stopped fooling around and it got cold. Thursday morning's 2°F air and a few low ground crashing clouds put a frosty coating on trees, lifts, bushes, and weeds. At first glance, we thought the lake had gone from open to iced overnight. A very rare occurrence. But on closer inspection some steam pointed to at least one patch of open. A drone was sent to confirm the existence of open water. The low clouds that frosted the trees were thick and photo blocking at around 300 feet. Pushing above the cloud layer showed some open water under all the clouds and some unexpectedly high winds. Imaging the open area was best below the clouds (and wind!). There was a chance that all this ice might blow off the lake as it had earlier in the week, but no. The wind was too light and the ice too entrenched. At sunset, it was given that the vast open patch wouldn't see another morning. A clear sky on Thursday night was filled with light from a just after full moon. It really lit up the mostly frozen lake. On Friday morning the open had a thin layer of ice covering it. The darkness of some of the ice had us thinking there was still some open, but on closer inspection a little snow that had blown onto the "possibly open" water and confirmed its closed nature. Saturday night's sky wasn't so clear. With a closed lake and a little snow, it feels totally Christmas-y up here now. Most roads are sort of clear with a little ice and snow here and there. Knott Lane is not one of them. That was quick. The lake went from open to closed in 2 days. I'd still give it a little more time before treading upon it unless you really want to get that last swim of the year. As mentioned before, a little white on the ground and an ice covered lake has given the lake area a Christmas-y feel, but more accurately it's comfortably Christmas-y. No deep snow or sub-zero (°F) fun for us so far. With January coming just over the holiday hills, I'm not sure how long that will last. That is not to say that trudging around in deep snow and sub-zero air is not without its charm, it's just that it doesn't have that much charm.<br><br><br>-Nemo's looking forward to longer days, maple tapping, and Ice-Out.

2022 Archives All Archives

Classic View Home

knottlane.com