Break up on Bowron Lake 2013

We missed the break up this year as it happened while we were off on a businee trip... but luckily our neighbors, Walter and Peggy Weiderick made a photo journal of the event for us!

This year the ice disappeared quietly without any fanfare of any sort. We never know what each break-up with bring. Some years the wind might blow the ice right up onto the shore, or jam the river full of candle ice causing it to overflow, or break into gigantic ice floes and crash all over the lake. This year it just quietly melted away between April 26th and May 1st.....


April 26th 2013, from the porch of Bear River Mercantile, looking near the mouth of Bowron River.



April 26th 2013, ice at the public boat launch looking west.

 On April 27th the ice was moving as can be seen by this next series of pictures.


April 27th, morning the ice is close to shore - taken from the public boat launch, looking east.



April 27th, by afternoon the ice was pulled away from the shore....



...banging around and cracking up....

 

...but the main body of the lake was still iced over.

 April 28th and 29th saw more melting, moving, cracking and crunching. On the 28th the main body of ice moved to the far south end of the lake, leaving the north end calm, clear and reflective.
   

April 28th 2013, north end of Bowron Lake

 

April 28th 2013, reflection of Kibbee Mountain in Bowron Lake

 

April 28th 2013, although the ice moved away from the northend, there is still lots on the lake.


On the 29th the ice was again on the move. During the night of the 29th there was a slight refreeze but by the morning of May 1 all ice was gone.
 

April 29th 2013, the ice is moving back and forth all over the lake.

 

April 29th 2013, at the public boat launch again, ice at the shore but the center of the lake was clear.

 

April 30th 2013, refreeze and a bit of snow along the north end of the lake. By the morning of May 1st all ice was gone.

Thank you to Walter and Peggy Weiderick for taking these pictures and allowing me to post them on the internet!

The 2013 Season has started!

Update from the Park Office. All the lakes are clear of ice, including Isaac and Lanezi (which are traditionally the last to clear). There is still lots of snow on the portages though. The Kibbee Portage is mostly clear; the Indianpoint / Isaac Portage is 70% snow covered with up to 12 inches of snow; the Isaac River Portage is 90% covered with 6 to 36 inches of snow; the Babcock Portage is mostly clear. First West Side Paddlers left yesterday afternoon and the first Circuit Paddlers were booked to leave today. See lots more info at my new facebook page www.facebook.com/Bowronlake