What do folks know about ice depths in the BWCA?

I was on 3 different lakes the past 2 days. I didn't measure the ice but it did gain a few inches during that little cold snap after the thaw. It is really good ice right now and there is not any slush to speak of. The snow that we have been getting the past few days might push some water up and create some slush.

The owners of Tuscarora Lodge have a weekly weather/ice report on their facebook page, which you can link to from their website

The ice on Sawbill 10 days ago was around 20 inches, with some spots much thicker. Perfect travel conditions.

I was on the Ely side and drilled through 20" ice. Top half was hard frozen slush type ice, the rest was solid and clear. Way better than this time last year.

Thanks for all of the input. I'll be heading north in a few weeks. Wanted to a get a sense of how deep I'll have to drill for water.

quote gonorth1: "Thanks for all of the input. I'll be heading north in a few weeks. Wanted to a get a sense of how deep I'll have to drill for water."

20 inches as reported is like 10-16 inches less than many years.

In Ely - today.

No SLUSH...
20+ inches of ice


LOTS of snow.

Just camped on Disappointment.

No SLUSH.

drilled an auger hole. Ice hold was full length of my arm up to my shoulder before we broke through. wow.

quote Cedarleaf: "Just camped on Disappointment.


No SLUSH.


drilled an auger hole. Ice hold was full length of my arm up to my shoulder before we broke through. wow.


"

How much snow on top of the ice?

quote Pinetree: "

quote Cedarleaf: "Just camped on Disappointment.



No SLUSH.



drilled an auger hole. Ice hold was full length of my arm up to my shoulder before we broke through. wow.



"

How much snow on top of the ice?"

I'd say 8-12 inches. It was hard going with the pulk sled breaking trail...

quote Cedarleaf: "

quote Pinetree: "

quote Cedarleaf: "Just camped on Disappointment.



No SLUSH.



drilled an auger hole. Ice hold was full length of my arm up to my shoulder before we broke through. wow.



"

How much snow on top of the ice?"

I'd say 8-12 inches. It was hard going with the pulk sled breaking trail...
"

I think when it warms up you might see a little slush forming.
Yeh breaking trail is a good workout. But coming back the same way you can really fly along if your trail is still there.

Got back from a trip up the gunflint on Sunday. Had around 8 inches of snow on the lakes and around 18-20 inches of ice. It was a straight up blizzard on the way out though so could be a little more snow now.

Just came from Parent out of Snowbank - and 2.5 feet of ice about....

VERY solid.

Starting to get a bit moist with the warm up and sticky snow.

Reviving this thread.

I'm heading up to Seagull next weekend for two nights and three days of fishing.

Has anyone been recently? How much ice can I expect to drill through? Are the pinch points & open water on Seagull relevant in mid-February or have they all frozen over?

I'm also wondering about the snow pack. Does anyone know what it's like around the end of the GFT? I'll be watching the weather closely. If there's no fresh snow this week, would it be possible to travel without snowshoes or would you recommend them (I'll only be traveling over the lake, not venturing onto any portages)?

Thanks for the help!

Pinetree: "
I think when it warms up you might see a little slush forming.
Yeh breaking trail is a good workout. But coming back the same way you can really fly along if your trail is still there."

Generally slush is not temperature dependent but formed by the pressure of the weight of snow on the ice. The snow pushes the ice into the water, water moves up onto the ice and remains liquid due to the insulation of the snow above it. Over time outflow from the lake causes the water on top of the ice to drain.

Circumstances are different during periods of thaw.

About 20 inches on E. Bearskin two weeks ago.

22 inches of ice on Moose. On Feb. 18th there was about 6 inches of wind packed snow on the lake and on land. On the evening of the 19th there were 6 to 7 inches of new fresh, soft powder.

Yep, Tuscarora this last weekend had 20" to 24". It also has about 10" of new snow of top of it too.

Minnesotian: "
Yep, Tuscarora this last weekend had 20" to 24". It also has about 10" of new snow of top of it too. "

For this time of year that really isn't a lot of ice.