Coalpit again.

Another great skate today on Coalpit Dam.   Still need 4WD to access but worth the effort.   The white ice made it feel like a massive skating rink. Was warming up as we left - we hope it holds over the week with north westerlies forecast.

80mm over whole dam - locked in hard smooth snow ice.

Dave x2 

First skate 2013

Sunny side of Coalpit

Today Dave P and I headed off to hunt for ice.  After the big snow of a week ago we were not sure what we would find as the temperatures had not been that low.  Still a bit of snow around on the way but lots when we hit the Naseby area.  This had created snow ice and we were treated to some great skating on hard smooth ice.
Coal-pit Dam was the standout.  First time either of us had seen in completely locked in and we were treated to good skating - we returned later in the day for another burst.

Coal-pit - hard smooth snow ice 70mm plus.  Need 4WD on the track because of snow.
Pond-on-George - smooth snow ice - good skate except for the water in/out spot.
Idaburn Dam - some good snow ice on main pond. Lots of water running in the area. Good skating on selected parts - be careful
Poolburn - thin plate ice on most of lake.  Limited skating if you look for it.  Track a bit muddy.

Also had a rare skate on Lower Coalpit

Pond-on-George

Agent Dave 

Lower Coalpit

Poolburn

A skim of ice.....

Visited the Lower Manorburn Dam this morning.  A skim of ice across the main basin and 12 to 15 mm in Rush Cutters corner. Wet and foggy but great to see some ice at least!  Hoping for frost!!

Waiting for Cooler Temps

Warm around Otago so far this season.  We had a big snow dump a week ago and were hoping for colder days and a bit of ice hunting over the weekend.  Unfortunately everything warmed up again so we stayed home.

Cooler today and waiting for the frost!!

Late Video - Danseys Pass - and crazy downhill skating!!

I just found this bit of video from last season.  Skating in Danseys Pass on the Maerewhenua River - never thought I would see that freeze! I was just driving through and was surprised to see so much ice around on the river.  A bit freaky skating over fast moving water with rapids on the down side but a great experience which I didn't push too far!!

Looking forward to next winter!

and I saw this on youtube -  Downhill Ice skating which might be taking skating to far for me!!

More Here

Lots of action here

Hang up the skates...

Time to hang up the skates as far as natural ice goes for this season.  Had a creaky skate in a limited area on the Lower Manorburn last night.  The ice was deteriorating rapidly and probably won't last another day.

Some great ice this season but an early finish!

One for the road...

 With the warm temperatures we decided not to go ice hunting last weekend but today was surprised to find enough ice for a skate on the Lower Manorburn - in the shaded area of Rush Cutters.
The ice was in better condition  than a week ago (although less ice)  - around 60 mm, hard and dry and good to get a skate on natural ice again (despite the few bits of leaf litter on the ice).  Could be the last this year!!