Spring Break-up in Motion
 
Minute-by-minute photos of ice break-up on Lake Temagami, 2009.
 

Ice Jam — Harold Keevil and Gail Spencer found themselves caught by an ice jam on the North Arm of Lake Temagami.

 
Minute-by-minute photos of ice break-up on Lake Temagami, 2009.
 

On the Move — They pulled their boat over and waited, as the ice began moving north. "The sounds of ice moving are incredible," said Keevil, "like being given a toast by ten thousand fine-stemmed crystal goblets."

  
Minute-by-minute photos of ice break-up on Lake Temagami, 2009.
 

Gone — Thirty minutes later, the last of the ice, swept by a south wind, can be seen on the far shore at the base of Devil's Mountain.

  

                        

 

Ice-out!

It's done. Another season is here.

Harold Keevil watched the North Arm of Lake Temagami break up at 3:30. He boated up yesterday to his island in Sharp Rock Inlet, navigating along small channels among large floes, breaking ice twice.

Today when he left the ice had shifted and jammed the narrows at Seal Rock Point. "We pulled around the back side of the point," he emailed, "and spent an hour watching the ice move out for good."

Keevil is one of the first seasonal residents to move onto the lake, and one of the last to leave.

Ottertooth's test is the same every year: the section of Lake Temagami between Rabbitnose Island and Sealrock Point, invariably the last to go, must be clear of large floes. From this accessible location we declare break-up for all of the Temagami region.

Lakes in the northern-most portion of Temagami still have some ice, but that will be gone in days.

This is the first time since 2005 that break-up is in May.

BACKGROUND:   Historic break-up dates

Ice-out Watch 2009

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