Today I went out and started checking ice.  Found some good ice and some not so good. Ice varied in thickness from 9″- 10″ on the smooth ice that had been there since the bays had froze over out as far as 200 yards.  From there it turned rough to the point it was difficult walk and even 4 wheeler over in spots for the next 100-200 yards.  Ice depths were anywhere from 5″ to 8″ with stacked ice underneath and slush.  Beyond that out to Gull Reef, Spider Island, and west towards North Twin Island there was anywhere from 5″ to 7″  once I got thru the rough stuff, but it did get more travelable.  I feel confident that our ice will stay put in those areas, but beyond that it all depends on the wind.  I don’t do Red Lake stuff here at my place.

Tomorrow I will be going out farther to Ray’s Reef and possibly the Graveyard Reef and see what it like out there. But until after Christmas Day our access will remain CLOSED.  I was really hoping to get out there in the rough ice with my Jeep and ice disc and chop things up so we would be ready for walking ,ATV, or snowmobile portable access by then. But I don’t feel comfortable running on that ice yet with the warmer weather coming the next few days. Starting Tuesday if the forecast is accurate… at least we will be going back to freezing temps both day and night.. but nothing below 0 that we desperately need.  Actually, right now I’m hoping that the forecast for rain over Christmas holds up.  It would be the best thing for us right now with what we have to work with.

So it goes..   have a Merry Christmas and get ready to go…

Eddy