Lakes freeze overnight -- smooth as glass

Darling watcher Obert reports phenomena

You could just see the cub reporter's breath as he reported this today:

"Maybe some of you longtime lake residents have seen this before, but I have never seen a lake the size of Darling totally ice over in less than 12 hours? Last night the lake was wide open . . . and this is what it looks like this morning! Of course, the temp dropped down to about zero last night and the wind was almost calm this morning. Maybe the start of hockey season?"

Keep watching the lake, Tom. Please wait a bit before lacing on the skates.

(The cub is filing regular reports and photos on Alex girl's winter sports again this year. If you'd like to receive the super fan reports, send us a note and we'll see that you're included on the group email list.)

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Patty Wicken writes:
I have seen it. It is such a gift from God when the lakes freeze smooth as glass before the snow falls and the wind blows. I remember ice skating across Latoka, the lake like a mirror, not a wrinkle in the surface or a flake of snow anywhere, the ice about 8" thick, cracking and popping in long slices in front of me with the weeds, logs and even fish clearly visible. Incredible. Let's hope we don't get any snow to speak of for a few days. Fingers crossed I am so there!
Patty

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Diane writes:

I'm with you Patti....growing up on Le Homme Dieu I couldn't wait to get home from school to skate.... Once I spotted my sailor's hat that had blown off that past summer. Thanks Tommy for bringing back that fond memory...

Diane Hoffman O'Brien

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Obert writes:

We have received a response from Mr. Donley here. He says "Lake Carlos (the "A" lake on the chain [his description]) is not frozen over due to the purity of its homeowners."

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Mikko writes,

Back in the mid-'90s, a bit later in the season, we had such a smooth surface on Lake Osakis, completely unobstructed by snow, that I drove to Minneapolis to purchase an ice-bicycle. It had a long front fork with an ice-skate blade at the bottom, in place of a front wheel. The back wheel was covered with a metal rim with metal studs all over it. It worked like a charm, and I still cherish the blissful notions that were dancing in my brain as I pedaled across the smooth ice on that gorgeous and sunshiney January day. Then in a nano-second the little skate blade dropped into a crack in the ice and the bike stopped - but I continued forward at about 20 mph, finally touching down in a perfect three point landing (one chin & two feet) a good ten yards from the crashed bicycle. Ahh the blessed memories of Winter in Minnesota. - Mikko Cowderey

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Jane writes:

I was also stunned! But with that nasty wind chill yesterday.....
Get your ice house ready!
Jane Lillestol

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Sara writes from California
Remember when we attached toboggans to the guys' cars and flew across the lakes driving the ice fishermen crazy? Well, this smooth (definitely a big deal!!!) ice would have been fantastic.
Sara Smith Sevey

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Loren Berg, Alex class of '58, writes:
A response from the apprentice cub-reporter. I am happy to report that the ponds on the golf course here in Arizona did not freeze over last night. Also, as a summer resident who happens to reside on Lake Carlos, I concur with Mr. Donley’s assessment.
Hope things are going well!
Loren Berg

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Assignment to cub reporter from the editor

Cub.

What we need to really sell this story is a photo looking through the polished ice at some interesting object beneath it. I know it is a bit early to be venturing out on the ice. Could you just tie your camera to the end of a long stick, set it on time delay, then have it go off as you suspend it over the lake, perhaps pointed at some submerged item, like the outboard motor that fell off the dock last summer?

If the sun is at your back, it should work. Just don’t fall in. After your last assignment, we can't get insurance anymore.

Ed.