Dusty ice.....

Headed to Poolburn this morning not expecting to find much as the weather has been warm over the last few days.  Was surprised to see some snow still about in the shadows and more ice in the main bay - especially as it was above zero the whole way up.  Ended up having a fantastic skate around to the back of the main island and into some of the bays.  Ice had a strange surface - dry and what looked like fine dust (but wasn't) and smooth to skate on.
Plan B in case of no ice was to go bike riding - but decided to do this as well and rode to a small dam near by and had a skate.  Also rode the bike on the ice as the surface stayed mostly dry and allowed the wheels to grip - a first for me and good fun.
Headed back via another few spots to check for ice.  Great day.

Brooding sunrise

Plenty of hazards

Surface like fine dust

Quick visit ...

After a few big frosts this morning I made a last minute decision to check Poolburn for ice.  Good drive up with the track better than expected after the snow.  After a careful check I had a fab skate on a large area of new black ice.   Still some water showing and the ice was quite varied and thin in places but well worth the effort.  Ice still doesn't feel set in.
Good to meet a local farmer and have a chat.
Idaburn and Coalpit were close to a skate but need a few more mm.

Chilly start before sun up

Skate marks

Clear ice

On the track down.

2 big frosts....

After 2 big frosts we headed up to Poolburn to check it out. Temps as low as minus 10 on the drive. Plenty of new ice but not quite enough for a free skate.  We had a crackly skate around the edge in a few places - good to be on the ice but very borderline safe.  We walked  up from the road to check out a small irrigation dam in a shadow of some rocks.  Ice was thick enough but full of green algae - we had a tentative skate at the edge but the ice felt very unsafe.  Could have been a good new spot if it had clean water.
We decided to head back to the stream from 2 weeks ago and had a fab solid skate in the same place.
Very enjoyable morning exploring and skating.

The stream again

Algae Dam....

Our skating track

Big Bay at Poolburn

Poolburn:  New ice but needs more frost to skate

Idaburn:  New ice but needs more frost to skate

Early Winter Skate - 31st may

Set off this morning with Dave P for our usual early season exploring session to familiarise and explore our usual ice skating spots.  We took our skating gear but were not expecting to skate at all.  Saw only the merest skim of ice at the edge of Coalpit and Poolburn but Idaburn had 10-15m out from the edge. We had planned to head back overland from Poolburn but the road was closed (early) - probably early due to Covid19.  We decided to explore around the reservoir and ended up with a great early skate in a stream at the bottom of the dam.  An unexpected surprise despite getting wet clothing walking through the frosty tussock.  Great to get the skates on in May - a rare thing. -8 when we stopped at Oturehua on the way up - great winter feel.

Skating the stream

10-15mm on Idaburn

US Ice trip Dec 2019

As I was heading to San Francisco in December (2019) to meet our daughter I decided to go early to see if I could get in some skating.  I have always wanted to visit Helena, Montana as it has a reputation for skating and ice sailing.  Spent two weeks travelling to there and the Eastern Sierra and had some great skating.  

Below are some pics from the trip

First skate - on a snow melt pond at the side of the road while travelling to Twin Falls ID

Swan Valley skate on a pond - bit soft! 

Swan Valley pond

Amazing ice on Clark Canyon Reservoir 

Clark Canyon - think green ice - massive area

Lake Helena - thick ice again - smooth!

Rest on Lake Helena

Frozen Creek near Canyon Ferry

Loving Lake Helena 

Pond area at top of Canyon Ferry 

Skated around a small boat harbour on Canyon Ferry - industrial skate just for fun

Frozen Boat Harbour

Huge ice on Canyon Ferry Dam 

Clark Canyon Res on the way back.

Skated to the Island on Clark Canyon Res - light snow on the ice but good for Nordic Skates

And back to the Island the next day 

Bit of a dodgy skate near Elko NV

Fabulous.....

Amazing ice on Caples Lake - had to snow shoe around the lake to get there

Bridgeport Reservoir - fab skate - huge area

Lake Crowley arm - good skate.

Back to Bridgeport the next day

Caples - amazing ice

Alkalai Ponds near Bishop - snow ice but good in the Nordic Skates