Most of Kukagami Lake was frozen over by the middle of December, but the main body of the lake remains open. Warm temperatures and heavy snow predicted this week will likely keep the ice from forming for perhaps another week.
Sunday, December 16, 2012
Monday, March 26, 2012
Ice Out 2012
March 20th, first day of Spring! Or is it? Spring seems to have come weeks ago, and there is no better place than the lake to see how deeply we are into the season.
Just two weeks ago we were skiing on some of the finest snow of the winter. Three days later it had all turned soft. A few days after that, all the snow on the lake had turned to slush. Yuck.
Another few days later the weather turned cold again and the top layer of slush froze. Not enough to walk on, mind you. Just enough to hold me up for a sec, then crash, I'd break through to the slushy water that lay above the good ice. Trying to take a walk was a chore. Step, crunch, step, crunch. Exhausting!
Then of course the weather warmed again, and it hasn't gone below freezing since. That top crust is gone, and all of the soft top-ice has gone back to slush. But now, just 17 days after the biggest snowstorm of the year, even most of the slush is gone. Walking on the lake is easy, and very interesting.
Three decades of watching the ice melt away has taught me many things about the process, the first of which is that it is different every year. If you scan through the articles I've written each spring, you'll see a different story each year. (Some of these are posted at northenlife.ca.)
This year the ice will be going off earlier than most, maybe even earlier than it did in 2010, which was the earliest recorded, on April 3rd. That year was the first time ever that the ice became unsafe in the month of March. This year is the second time that March ice becomes unsafe.
How do I know when to stop travelling on the ice? By watching it very carefully. Every day for the past week I've walked on the lake, observing and taking notes. Shallow areas at the edges of islands became watery. The white ice on top all turned to slush, and slowly drained through cracks in the clear ice below. The drain holes widened ever so slowly, until some were wide enough to push a ski pole through.
I've measured and marked the ski pole so I can see how thick the ice is. By measuring at the same hole each day I can see how fast it is melting. It's not surprising that it is melting very fast this year.
So far, nearly all the thinning of the ice has been the loss of the white ice and slush. The hard, clear ice hasn't melted much at all. But it won't take long for it to go, because it is only a foot thick this year. Most years it would be nearly two feet thick.
It's always a guessing game to figure out when the ice will be gone. It is very much dependant on the weather, warmth, wind, sun and rain. Given that it's been ages since the nights have cooled to below zero, and that the prediction is for more of the same, I'm guessing the ice will be out on April fool's day.
Saturday, February 4, 2012
Still Skiing........
Well, we just had to get out to do some trail work! After 27 years of taking care of ski and snowshoe trails, we could't quit just because we retired. Allan has been out brushing and grooming and track-setting the trail on the west side of the lake. These are trails he designed and built 30 years ago! He has a couple of loops to take care of this winter, and plans for longer, steeper trails for next year.
I've just spent the last 2 days working on some small snowshoeing trails, with hopes that some of the neighborus will take up the sport.
Mostly we are both having a wonderful time working outside.
Sunday, January 29, 2012
Here Comes the Sun!
January is a most wonderful month. Because of the LIGHT! Gone are the dark days of November and December. It is colder, yes. Minus 31 C at my house sometimes, but brighter than those grey days of late autumn. At long last, the SUN returns!
At 6:30 in the morning there are already hints of daybreak on the eastern horizon. This early dawn brings a spark of optimism for the longer days to come. Very faint pastels of creamy yellow and blue give promise of a sunny day.
As the minutes tick by, a smattering of clouds can be seen. Their bottoms turn pink near the eastern sky, and fade to a deep blue-grey across to the west. Slowly, slowly they drift in the high northern breeze.
By seven it's bright enough to go out for a walk on the lake. I love winter! With lots of ice underfoot, I can step out my door and go anywhere – everywhere! The only downside is the 10 minutes it takes to get dressed in layer upon layer of wool and down, mitts and boots, coat and scarf.
These really cold mornings bring new beauty to the landscape. Moisture from the warmer air of yesterday precipitates on each and every needle of the pines along the shoreline. Lovely frosted trees grace the islands. And frost crystalizes on my eyebrows as my breath freezes in the morning chill.
By 7:30 the sky is brilliant. The skinny clouds overhead are salmon-pink. To the west they remain furry-grey, waiting for the sun to reach across the sky. Ravens waken, and call out to each other, breaking the silence of the day.
Yellow turns to white as the clouds in the east catch the sun. The creamy-salmon-pink spreads across the sky to the west, where the thin popcorn clouds become a brilliant pink and blue. And beyond the clouds, the western sky is a deep blue curve – the Earth's shadow on the atmosphere as the sun rises slowly, reaching toward the horizon behind me.
Soon the top of the sun appears between the trees on the eastern shore. A deep yellow-orange ball of light slowly, slowly moves higher and higher, as though it was hiding in the forest, and just now came out to stay for the day.
On the coldest days of January, the sun will shine for 9 hours and more. Each day now brings us two+ more minutes of sun. And the long dawn and dusk will give us a couple more hours of daylight. Whoohooo! The dark days are gone!
Friday, December 30, 2011
December 29th
Overnight the wind died down, and at last all the water was covered with a thin sheet of ice. Now we wait for more cold weather...and then snow!
December 28
Most of the lake froze over on the night of December 24th, then was buried in the first real snow of the season. One large hole in the ice remained. Strong south winds on the 26th made the hole bigger. Strong north winds on the 27th kept new ice from forming. This photo was taken on the morning of the 28th of December....mist rising from the waves on the open water as the north wind continues to blow.
Wednesday, December 28, 2011
Winter at Kukagami
Best of the season to you from Kukagami!
The lake mostly froze on the morning of December 24th, then the first real snow of the year came that night...effectively insulating the new ice so it can't get thick enough to be safe. Warm weather again on the 27th was melting the snow, then plunging temperatures and more new snow came that night!
Still, we have been out skating and skiing, and in the mushy snow of the 27th I had a great walk across the old ice and along the ridge on the other side of the lake. Whoo hoo! I do love winter! It started snowing heavily, so I could not tell if the main part of the lake had frozen. Thus, I hiked the 3 km again on the 28th to have a look. There, rising with the north wind I saw water and waves in the distance! I wasn't too surprised by this, because that's the area nearest where we used to live, and it has always been the last bit to freeze. Look for an update here in the next day or two.
We have been intensely working on winterising our old camp, and not doing much else. We are now rewarding ourselves over the holidays by taking a week off 'work'. I'm trying to catch up on the mail and the website! Take a peek here now and then to see what's happening at the lake. Also, I will be writing a new series of articles for the local paper in the new year, and these will be posted on the website.
We would still love to hear from you and what's keeping you busy. And if you find a great little lodge in the wilderness ... let us know! We'll be looking for places to ski this winter.
We'd love to hear what's new at your house.
Viki et Al and Kate and sometimes Vesta
Saturday, December 17, 2011
Thursday, August 25, 2011
Summer Update
It has been a very long time since I've done an update.... As with many 'retired' people, we find we are busier than ever.
We moved over to the camp at the end of May...which stretched out through the first week in June as the new owners didn't come out to get the keys until June 4th. Thankfully, they have allowed us use of the shed at the lodge until we build the garage, as there is no storage space here. We also have things stored in the sauna here and in a tent-shed at Mary's camp. We have only a vague idea of where anything is. But, being summer, it's not too difficult to get by.
Our first big project is building a small pottery studio for me! We designed it with a second story that will be a library. There will be a sofa-bed in it to allow guest space. It is tucked nicely into the forest, yet still has a stunning view of the lake. I am very excited to have this space....which I might actually get to use by next spring because it will probably end up being storage space until we get the house winterized. That is our next priority! Winter is coming!
Do we miss the lodge? Not really. As you know, we talked about selling the lodge for the past few years. This was a slow letting go of our life there. The fact that we have this beautiful spot on the western shore of Kukagami Lake more than makes up for what we left behind at the south end. As I gaze out at our view here, I'm already looking forward to many winter snowshoe hikes along the ridges!
The view we wake to each morning is the lake just a few meters away, and marvellous sunrises! I've always loved 'morning campsites' when we are canoeing. I feel that joy every day now. This summer has given us marvellous weather. I'm swimming before breakfast very day. The water is just as wonderful here as it is at the lodge. There are lots of neighbours though...and Allan has to watch out for motor boats when he takes his long swims in the afternoon. We are getting used to the rise in activity all around us. And we rest assured that life at the lake will become quiet again when the summer is over.
We do take a few days away from building each month for a little get-away, and went to Killarney in June. We paddled around George Island and camped on the western shore. Then spend a day paddling around Badgley point. We hiked to the Crack on our way home. Having never been there before, we were amazed at the views! It was especially nice to see out over the bay to where we have paddled for many years.
Kate was at her summer camp for 3 weeks in July. We spent a couple of days in Algonquin Park just before we picked her up in Sundridge last month. Allan had never been in the Hwy 60 corridor before, and was keen to see the logging museum. Pretty as Algonquin is, we were glad to be back to our clear, cool Kukagami Lake.
In Early August we spent 5 days at Camp Manitou on the north shore of Lake Huron. Vesta came home from Ottawa to join us there, so it was a wonderful family time together...with someone else doing the cooking! I took a mini workshop on Acrylic painting, and found it very interesting. Could be a part of my future!
Mid-August found us off to do some canoeing. Leaving from home, paddling back home again ... to familiar places. In August! We used to have to work on these glorious summer days! We were out for a week, and it was wonderful.
Kate will be going to LoEllen Secondary school come September. I think she's looking forward to it? She will be taking the bus, so she will be able to go to school every day. It is the 2 hour bus ride that makes me uncomfortable. What kind of life is it for a kid to have that long a commute every day? She leaves here at 6:10 and gets home after 5. Yuck.
Vesta is living in Ottawa. She skied with x/c Ottawa last year, all over Canada! But mostly in the Gatineau's. She's having a great life, but still hoping to find a real job soon. Working retail part-time gives her lots of time, but she would really like to find a job in research or perhaps at a conservation area, or just about anything that will let her use her geography degree. Any suggestions and referrals would be very welcome!
We are looking forward to a long extension of this glorious summer... there is so much more we need to do! Would love to hear form you!
Viki et Al and Kate
Here's our contact info...not much changed from before....
Allan, Viki and Kate Mather
426 Fox Road
Wahnapitae, ON
P0M 3C0
705-853-1571
kukagami@gmail.com
Monday, July 25, 2011
Pottery Show
Greetings all!
For the past two years I have been a member of the Sudbury Potters Guild. A show of our best work will be at Artists on Elgin for the month of August. Here is an invitation to the opening reception, which will be this coming Thursday at the gallery from 5 to 7:30. Hope to see you there!
Viki
Monday, July 11, 2011
Friday, July 8, 2011
Wolf Lake needs you!
For the past 20 some years, I have been working to protect a bit of wilderness not far from here. The Wolf Lake area is host to the largest area of Old Growth Red Pine anywhere. It is located along the Chiniguchi River, and in 1999 was designated as a Forest Reserve (FR). This allowed mining exploration to continue until the claims and leases naturally lapsed, while protecting the land from other commercial exploitation.
The Ministry of Northern Development, Mines and Forests has never been happy with the FR designation, and for the past several years has lobbied the Ministry of Natural Resources to remove the FR protection. And they have prevented the natural lapsing of claims. Now the plan for taking much of the Forest Reserve away has been posted for public comment. You can read a summary of the proposal at www.kewatch.blogspot.com .
Even if you don't have time to read the background, I'd really appreciate it if you could send a quick email to scott.dingwall@ontario.ca with this simple request: Wolf Lake and the rest of the Chiniguchi River system need to be protected. I object to the removal of the Forest Reserve, and urge the Minister of Northern Development, Mines and Forests to stop interfering with the lapsing of claims. A more thorough public review of the protection and boundaries needs to be conducted.
Put EBR 010-7775 in the Subject line.
Send a blind carbon copy to me if you could. Thank you!
Thursday, June 16, 2011
Wednesday, May 4, 2011
Ice is Out!
This photo was taken at 3:30 this afternoon. This is the last of the ice on Kukagami for the spring of 2011. A new season has begun!
May 4 morning
A chunk of ice drifted to shore. About a kilometer away, you can see just a hint of the pale grey line of ice. It separates the forest from its reflection in the lake.
Maybe the ice will be gone today!
Monday, May 2, 2011
May 2, 2011
Yahoo! Strong winds on May first moved the ice! On the morning of May second, pans of ice float amidst reflections in the water.
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