We're Back!

OK - it's been over a year since my last blog. Last year just seemed like there was too much going on. But I enjoy my blogging - and as this was our first visit to the Park this year I decided it was time to get back on track. What a beautiful day in the Park - a spectacularly sunny day and the temperature was a comfortable -2C. The lake was solid ice with virtually no snow - perfect for walking. We spent about three hours just walking all over the lake - and taking pictures of course. Enjoy - the lake is truly beautiful in winter!

Parked at the dock

It was also a perfect day for driving on the lake. First I drove onto the ice for about 40 feet and then chickened out and drove right back into the parking lot - it felt too freakish. But later we ran into Randy and Jane who assured me there were 19 inches of good ice and they had driven on the ice the day before. I had always wanted to do it, so we hopped in the car and off we went. After some initial butterflies we both actually enjoyed driving across the lake and the very different experience from sitting down in a boat.

Like walking on a drum

The ice was very "busy" while we were there - doing lots of expanding and contracting and making all kinds of interesting noises as cracks opened and the great plates of ice shifted. The various sounds were easy to hear without any snow to muffle them, so as we walked we were accompanied by a constant symphony of burping, whumping and cracking sounds. Most often it sounded like a quick hit on a kettle drum and Carolyn said she felt like we were walking on a drum skin. Big cracks like this criss-crossed the lake - sometimes opening right under our feet! It was a bit startling but still perfectly safe.

Walking up the Madawaska

We decided to walk up the Madawaska, carefully keeping to the shoreline because moving water means less than solid ice.

Wolf tracks

We found lots and lots of wolf tracks on the Madawaska - these ones were particularly well defined

Open water

The further we went up the Madawaska, the more of these open spots we found. We finally decided we had probably gone far enough and turned back towards more solid footing.

Walking Home

We ran into Jane, Randy and their friend Len while we were out walking on the lake. After swapping hellos and exchanging news they headed off home for lunch while Carolyn and I continued our walk.

Northway Channel

Looking down the Northway Channel