The Outhouse Daily News Presents
Canoe Lake Ice-Out
Spring 2007 Edition
News & Updates Page last updated Mon 23 Apr 2007 12:00 EDT
It's Official! [Sunday, April 29th at 10:00 PM]
OK, it is now official -- the ice went out this year on Sunday, April 22nd in the late morning. I was up at Canoe Lake this weekend and spoke to a couple of people who confirmed it, and I also received an email from Dorothy Gray who wrote: "I was witness to the demise of Canoe Lake's ice at approx 10 AM on April 22, 2007. Two other cottagers were also at CL on the 22nd and they concurred as well...."
And that means we have the yongest winner ever: two and a half *month* old Finn Yule Mose (with a litle help from Mom, Karen). Clearly Canoe Lake is in the genes! Congratulations also to the rather large group of others who picked April 22nd, including Arline Mann from New York City (who won in 1999), Scott Murray (who won in 2002), Derrick Cann, Catherine-Jim & All the Brackleys, Peter Fritsch, and Scott Haller.
Have a great 2007 season everyone -- see you next year!
(I have a couple of nice shots of Canoe Lake early this morning
which I'll post when I can find my camera.)
GONE! [Monday, April 23rd at 12:00 PM]
The ice is out! But there's the catch: I'm awaiting official confirmation from someone who was on Canoe Lake yesterday that the ice was out by the end of the day, but not in the morning. So stay tuned for the True And Official Date for 2007 (which looks very much like it will be Sun 22 Apr).
Going, going... [Saturday, April 21st at 8:00 AM]
My father was on Canoe Lake yesterday (Friday) and was *just* able to get over to our cottage by paddling up the river from Bonita. He reports that the ice has turned black and is getting pretty soft, and that there were open areas around the islands and in the south end, but that it had not progressed too far yet.
His estimate is that it will go out today or tomorrow. I will check in with folks onsite and post an update later today... STAY TUNED!
Voting closed! [Sunday, April 15th at 11:00 PM]
Well, almost. If I receive any emails before midnight they will be included of course.
I think things will get underway soon. The forecast is for much warmer temperatures
(finally!) and even
(gasp!) sunshine later this week. Hopefully I'll have some news
from Canoe Lake in the next couple of days.
Brrr! Still cold... [Tuesday, April 10th at 10:00 PM]
We've had over a week of sub-zero night-time temperatures up in Algonquin, and there's not much relief in sight. (The CBC just forecast -9°C again tonight.) I received word today from Don Stanfield who is up on the river between Tea and Bonita and he reports that while the ice softened quite a bit during the warm spell a couple of weeks ago, it's firmed up again and won't be going anywhere until we get some warmer weather.
Photos from yesterday [Sunday, April 1st at 10:00 PM]
Missy and Dave Sharp were up at Canoe Lake yesterday and sent these two pictures:
one of their bay, and the other of the rocks off the point. It certainly does look like
things are softening up, but there are several days of
sub-zero *highs*,
and snow (!) in the forecast for Algonquin late this week.
So I'm not packing my bags just yet...
Thanks to Murray Wolff for his 2007 ice-out poem [Sunday, April 1st at 9:30 PM]
|
Spring of '07, we start dreaming again, When the ice will break, In the spring of 2006, My prediction for this coming spring, After the ice has melted, - Murray Wolff |
Hoping for reports from Canoe Lake this weekend [Friday, March 30th at 3:30 PM]
I'm hoping to get updates from anyone who is up in Algonquin this weekend
as to the state of the ice. The temperatures have been pretty average here
in Toronto so far this Spring, and the forecast for Algonquin for later next
week is for sub-zero overnight lows (including -9°C next Wednesday!), so
I'm not holding out hope for an early ice-out any more.
Expecting An Early Ice-out [Sunday, March 25th at 10:30 PM]
Within 12 hours of sending out my annual email on Friday I had received 40 replies!
Clearly it was overdue!
It looks like people are expecting an earlier-than-average
ice-out again this year with the most popular dates
so far being April 19th and 22nd.
Below is a photo of Canoe Lake last Sunday, March 18th, from Stewart's looking North-West.
Holly reports that the skating conditions were perfect; and Jill Matthews that on the same
day
"Clark set out with our dog Maya and took two hours to skate the entire lake."
Welcome to Canoe Lake Ice-Out for Spring 2007! [Friday, March 23rd at 11:30 AM]
It's that time again! Time to start counting the days until the ice goes off the lakes and rivers of Algonquin Park and a new season begins.
Most of you have been on this list before, but for those who are new this is the 9th Annual Outhouse Daily News Ice-out Challenge where we all try to predict the date on which the ice will go off Canoe Lake in Algonquin Park.
Predictions for Spring 2007
Multiple people on the same date are listed in the
order in which their choices were received
at the worldwide headquarters of the Outhouse Daily News.
 |
|
| Apr 07 (Sat) | Rob Waywell |
| Apr 08 (Sun) | |
| Apr 09 (Mon) | |
| Apr 10 (Tue) | Sue Ebbs |
| Apr 11 (Wed) | Tony Kennedy |
| Apr 12 (Thu) | Dorothy Gray |
| Apr 13 (Fri) | Jan Richmond, Willi Powell, David & Colleen Cairncross |
| Apr 14 (Sat) | Craig White, Bryan March, Russ Matthews, Buddy Born, Mark Rubino |
| Apr 15 (Sun) | Steve Barrow, Steve Bunn, Helen Waters |
| Apr 16 (Mon) | Debbie Ridpath Ohi, Al Clare, Clark Matthews, Joan Cossette, Chris White |
| Apr 17 (Tue) | Jefferson Ridpath, Jill Matthews, Brian Parkinson, Ken Born, Duane McPhail, Sue Calverley, Sandy Churchill, Kirk Reardon, Amy Chen, Esther Bronson |
| Apr 18 (Wed) | Ray VanKleef, John Ridpath, Jeff Wayland, Jeffrey McMurtrie, Gwen Lloyd |
| Apr 19 (Thu) | The Ottawa Grays, Peter Matthews, Adele MacLean, Karin McCaskill, Doug Gardner, Kris Schattmann, Hugh Statten, Andrew Hsueh, John Arbour & The Severn Sound Boys |
| Apr 20 (Fri) << | David Sullivan, Randy Born, Kaarel Truuvert, Chuck Gray, Andre Gulabsingh |
| Apr 21 (Sat) | Bryan Fullerton, Laurie March, Gaye Clemson & Sons |
| Apr 22 (Sun) | Finn Yule Mose & Karen Yule, Arline Mann, Scott Murray, Derrick Cann, Catherine-Jim & All the Brackleys, Peter Fritsch, Scott Haller |
| Apr 23 (Mon) | Sandra Matthews, Mark Steele, Holly Stewart, Katheryn Churchill, Sue Kingsley, Rob Lourie |
| Apr 24 (Tue) | Glenn Strudwick, Dave Nodwell |
| Apr 25 (Wed) | Don Lloyd, David Sharp, Scott Simmie |
| Apr 26 (Thu) | Harry Binswanger, Maryanne Lewis & Rob Dennison |
| Apr 27 (Fri) | Missy Sharp, Joel Arthurs, Murray Wolff |
| Apr 28 (Sat) | Case Ridpath |
| Apr 29 (Sun) | Andrew Reynolds |
| Apr 30 (Mon) | |
| May 1 (Tue) | Andrew Strachan |
Here's the current distribution of votes for each date...
Current Weather for the Canoe Lake Area
from Environment Canada, and some long term predictions:
- Algonguin Park (Weather Network or Environment Canada)
- Huntsville (Weather Network or Environment Canada)
- Long term (3 month) temperature and precipitation forecasts for Canada. (There are lots of interesting long term weather forecasts and records at Environment Canada.)
- Some interesting historical weather data from Environment Canada. (Enter "North Bay" for the Station Name under "Search by Station Name".)
Past Ice-Out Dates
| 1953! | April 14th |
|
| … | … | |
| 1989 | May 4th | |
| 1990 | Apr 29th | |
| 1991 | Apr 28th | |
| 1992 | May 8th | |
| 1993 | Apr 26th | |
| 1994 | Apr 27th | |
| 1995 | Apr 15th | |
| 1996 | May 8th | |
| 1997 | May 8th | |
| 1998 | Apr 17th | |
| 1999 | Apr 20th | |
| 2000 | Apr 26th | |
| 2001 | Apr 23rd | |
| 2002 | Apr 19th | |
| 2003 | Apr 23rd | |
| 2004 | Apr 22nd | |
| 2005 | Apr 28th | |
| 2006 | Apr 20th | |
| 2007 | Apr 22nd | |
| 2008 |
Latest recorded ice-out date: May 8th in 1992, 1996, and 1997.
The Rules
- All entries must be received by midnight, Sunday, April 15th, 2007.
Entries may be submitted by email to Jeff (jwr) at electricpenguin (dot com). - If you know of someone who should be included in this poll but does
not have email access,
feel free to send in their prediction for them. - Entry must include your name and date of your prediction.
- You *can* duplicate another person's prediction (see below for a list
of predictions so far)
if you really want to be a joiner, but the first one to pick a date gets all the gloating rights. - You *can* change your prediction up to the deadline.
- Ice-out is defined as follows: "At least 50% of the lake is clear
of ice, by a majority vote
of those present." - Winner is the person whose prediction is the closest.
- Prize: being able to lord your superior knowledge of the lake over
others for
the rest of the year.
Previous year's ice-out pages
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