Kukagami Environment Watch Area News
www.KEWatch.blogspot.com December 2008
Happy Christmas to All, and to All a Good Night! Santa Claus
Winter is here!
Technically, winter arrived with the winter solstice on the morning of December 21st. However, the snow arrived in the middle of November and the ice came on December 8th. Here at the lake, winter comes early and stays late. At Kukagami, winter is not a three-month season, but five months of quiet under the blanket of snow.
close-up of new ice forming, December 1st
All About the Ice
The first ice rimmed edges of the lake in early November. By the end of the month, the smaller bays had frozen over. Then the winds of November pushed the ice right back to the shore. As soon as the wind died down, the ice slipped over the surface of the lake once again. Cold, calm nights brought new ice, blustery days blew it away. On the first weekend of December, most of the lake was open – the cold dark waters rippled in the morning mist.
Then, we woke on the morning of December 8th to find ice everywhere. By noon, at least an inch of ice had covered the whole of the lake. On December 9th, we had a beautiful 6 inches of snow that effectively insulated the new ice, keeping it from getting any thicker. For the next 6 days we looked out to the pure winter beauty of the lake, but dared not venture upon its surface. Then came 24 hours of rain. Lots of rain. Snow on the lake washed away. Great puddles formed on top of the ice.
Next, the temperature suddenly dropped. The wind blew, rain changed to snow. The puddles froze, the slushy remains froze, and new ice could form. By mid-morning on December 16th, the ice measured a minimum of five inches. Lots of ice!
On December 20th, the beginning efforts to open the snowmobile trail across the lake began in earnest. Ice depths were measured in several places, varying between 8 and 12 inches. The trail could be officially opened by Christmas!
Local Trails
Caution is advised for travellers on local lakes and forests. While the ice on Kukagami has been measured and found to be safe, that may not be the case in other areas. Because the snow came early, the ground underneath has not frozen, meaning that in some swamps there could be wet areas, and possibly less ice than we have on the lake. On any lake where currents run, there may not be enough ice for travel.
If you don’t know the area where you are travelling, it’s best to wait for the trails to be opened, and stay on the marked trail!
Website and Newsletter
The KEW newsletter is published online, and sent by email to any interested person. Paper copies can be provided to residents upon request. Drop a note to Kukagami Environment Watch, 432 Fox Road, Wahnapitae, ON, P0M 3C0. Check KEWatch.blogspot.com to post your own messages, photos, or to see what’s new between newsletters.
