Cold Winter!

I can't remember the last Winter it was this cold at the Pack.  It definitely wasn't in the last 10 yrs.  Heck I can remember in the last 5 yrs. a year or two the Pack didn't freeze at all.  And, I'm kinda miffed that with all the subzero temps we've had recently why the ice isn't thicker.  (Actually, I think I do.  It's because the snow on top of the ice acts as an insulator keeping the ice closer to the water temp beneath it rather than the air temp above it)

  Here's a photo I took from the Briar Hill Summit last week (1/22).  You can see that there is water at the Lakes edge.  I know it's a lot thicker in the middle because as I was taking this photo there was a group of 4-5 people that were out on the ice near Cove Haven.  If I had to guess, I'd say at the thickest the ice was maybe 4-6 inches.  That's thick enough to support an average weight human but definitely not thick enough to support a 600 lb. snowmobile.  At least the snowmobile I'd be riding.  That is probably why I haven't seen one snowmobile out on the lake yet..it's just not thick enough.  Because if it were, I'm sure I'd see them on the Lake on the weekends.  Heck, I'd want the ice at least a foot thick before I'd ride a snowmobile out on it.

I've seen a bunch of ice fishermen up near the State Ramp each weekend.  I'd say there was at least a dozen of em last weekend.  I have no clue what they they are catching.  If I had to guess I'd say Yellow Perch, Pike, ocassional Bass, etc.  I just don't get the ice fishing thing.  Drilling holes in ice, sitting on a bucket freezing my a$$ off is not my idea of fun.  I'd rather hike, bike, ski, etc. in the Winter.  Regardless, I suppose ice fishing beats sitting at home watching TV.  At least you're out in the fresh air/outdoors and it still IS fishing.  So, to those of you that ice fish..kudos to you.

Here's thinking about ONLY 60 more days until I get the boat out on the Pack.  Historically, the ice comes off the Lake the first week in April..that is when it's frozen.  Like I said, there's been some years (like 2-3 yrs. ago) where the Pack didn't freeze at all.

To those hard water fishermen..FISH ON!  Rob