Ice/Snow Conditions - Island Grove/Snake Island, It's Not Pretty

[Vampire With Freckles]

Hi Folks:

We decided this was probably the last weekend of decent ice and despite checking out the ice/snow conditions in our usual area (Island Grove to Snake Island) we decided to bite the bullet so-to-speak and head out. We thought if we headed up late Friday afternoon the snow would have settled as a result of the beautiful sunny, above zero day we experienced on Friday plus we thought we would be able to snag a decent parking spot where we normally park before the early birds arrive on Saturday morning.

I lost the bet which meant I had to walk across the channel and pick up the quad. So I headed out across the channel. I tried to find a well travelled ski doo travel heading in the direction I wanted to go - but I had no such luck. As a result, I basically started to walk and I discovered a variety of conditions most of which were bad. There were a few areas of clear ice, some areas with a few inches of snow but for the most part I encountered deep, densely packed snow (approximately 12 to 24 inches) and deeper than my boots.

I observed someone on a quad who was stuck in the deep snow and went to assist him but by the time I reached him a ski doo had come to his rescue.

I managed to cross the channel to Snake Island - but it took me 3 times longer to walk than normal to walk the same route. Then I attempted to take the quad across the channel - BIG MISTAKE - and I should have known better. Before attempting to cross the channel I made sure to pack a shovel - which was a great idea because I gave it a work out. There were a few ski doo tracks but no quad tracks to follow so I was forced to try and follow a ski doo trail. I made sure the quad was in 4 wheel drive and in Low gear and than I headed out and of course I was MOVING. About 100 feet out on the lake I hit the first deep snow drift and yes I got stuck. Dug out the quad and headed out again and sure enough I got stuck a 2nd time which I managed to dig out. Headed out a third time and got stuck again and I was still less than half way across the channel. I call "The Boss" to come and help and thankfully a really nice guy on a ski doo also came to our assistance. Once we dug the quad out from the 3rd time the ski doo followed "The Boss" in until he reached the well travelled ski doo path while I continued to walk back to the mainland. Once it was clear the quad would have no additional problems the nice guy on the ski doo came back and picked me up and dropped me off on the mainland. Its great that people assist strangers in poor conditions.

We could have returned to the island but I decided enough was enough and we headed home. The sun had started to set and I didn't want to take a chance that we would get stuck again while attempting to return to the island and end up digging out the quad in the dark.

The conditions were not great but definitely not the worst I have ever encountered. Travel is not great if you are walking unless you can find a well travelled ski doo trial but there were very few in the area I was travelling. Travel by quad is not great - make sure to take a shovel in case you get stuck. The only means of travel that I would recommend in the current deep snow conditions would be by ski doo.

Anyone planning to walk out and pull a sled etc. should either reconsider or pack light.

Hope this information is helpful to board members.

That's all for now, Nancy

[drive2fish]

Great report Nancy. Always a pleasure reading them. I may venture out the south end of snake island on Sunday. Walking that is. Hope that Saturdays traffic will flatten out the snow a little

[Vampire With Freckles]

Hi drive2fish:

I am also hoping there will be a lot of ski doo's and quads out on Saturday to help pack down the snow. I suspect there will be a lot of people out on the lake on Saturday with all manner of vehicles due to the fact the weather is suppose to warm up over the next week and this will probably be the last weekend for most people to head out fishing etc.

Not sure of the weather on Saturday but if it is sunny and/or warm it will help to knock down the snow somewhat, however, too much of a good thing will result in a deep slushy mess on top of ice. Not sure which is worst - deep snow or deep slush.

If I recover from my exhausting trip to the lake on Friday and we head out to the lake again on Saturday I will post the conditions Saturday evening so you know what you can expect to encounter on your trip on Sunday.

BTW the nice man who stopped to help us when we were stuck informed me that the fish were few and far between on Friday.

That's all for now, Nancy

[fishmagnet]

Thanks for the great report you are always very informative.. Thanks for your time!!

[cuda]

Great report nancy