The Year Without an Ice-In

December 25th through 31st, 2023

Lake Lucerne
Last week started off with an open lake. The meager amounts of ice from the prior, colder weeks were in full melt. A lack of snow is another notable feature of the 2023 Christmas season.
Lake Lucerne
While waves lapped at the shore, snow didn't come down, and ice failed to form, the Knottlane Board Meeting and Amusement Hallery came to an end. The cabins here in the extreme southwestern corner of the lake tend to be bigger and more well lit than most of those around Lucerne.
Lake Lucerne
The interiors here are also over bright and cavernously large.
Lake Lucerne
The lumpiness that seperates the lake shore and the well lit cabins of the southwestern corner continue to impress.
Lake Lucerne
The sun set on a mostly iceless lake on Saturday. On Sunday, thanks to a cold, still night, about 75% of the lake was ice covered.
Lake Lucerne
A strong wind from the north drove waves into the mid lake ice, breaking it up. The wind fell off by sunset, but the damage was done. Ice-in would not come to Lucerne in 2023.
Lake Lucerne
A dusting of well formed snow flakes made detecting the open water much easier.
Lake Lucerne
With all the edges having an extended ice sheet, we should be one cold, still night away from full ice-in.
Lake Lucerne
It won't be long now. The great thing about this year's (or would that be next year's?) ice-in is that it makes the Annual Ice-In Contest winner determination trival. Congratulations to those with the foresight and boldness to have selected "after December" for their ice-in date. We'll get those checks out just as soon as we get a formal date of ice-in. The lateness of ice-in this year should make for a shorter winter, but these things have a tendency to even themselves out. Let's hope that the winners of the 2024 ice-out contest are not those that pick "after June".


-Nemo conked out well before midnight, missed the first swim of '24