Ice Update

I don't know whether this is good or bad news for many of you, but the block with the flag is still sitting proud and the clock is still ticking. No sign it's going to change right away, but we never know. 

Today is warmish (50 degrees!) and there's a pretty strong wind out of the east. Because of that wind, Diane has had to cover and tape the clock on her deck to keep it from being blown off and damaged. She took these photos this morning and you can judge for yourself how stable the ice looks. Diane told me it looks like this will be the best Ice-Out ever with a record number of tickets sold. The final count of tickets and exact amount of the split after expenses isn't known, but it's certainly looking like a bumper year.

We are all amazed that the ice is still holding up. The warm March weather had all of us fooled into thinking this could be the earliest ice-outs ever, possibly stopping the contest in March. But winter wasn't over and we've had some cold and snowy weather from the end of March into April, and that was totally unexpected. This is what makes our contest interesting and fun - no matter how familiar one is with the area or how many Ice-Outs anyone has experienced, nobody has "inside information" or can even make an "informed guess" when it comes to when the clock will stop. People who have never even been here could still pick a winning date and time. It's all a matter of chance - and the weather. We all know how unpredictable the weather can be, especially in recent years. That said, here at Joe's Pond, we seem to be operating somewhat independently, even while experiencing the temperature swings and crazy weather patterns. Except for the undeniable indication over many years of recording Ice-Out dates that shows there is a gradual trend towards earlier endings, not much changes. While there were a few times the contest went into May in past years, that hasn't happened in a long time; and we still have never had a March date. 

I'll keep you posted.

This week I had a note from Gretchen Farnsworth saying that she spotted a loon in the water near her house on Sandy Beach Road. She will try to get a picture for us. That the loon is back is a good indication that spring is on the way. It would be nice if we had a couple of nesting pairs again, and especially great if the chicks produced are able to survive. With eagles being common residents here at the pond in recent years, it is particularly dangerous for the loons. However, overall, the loon population in Vermont is doing well, so the balance in nature is obviously working - thanks to some help from caring humans over the years.

My little pond opened up last night and there's only some slush at the end nearest my house, piled up by a strong east wind during the night. This photo shows just how bleak today is here! But at least most of the snow in my back yard is gone. We had hard rain (I measured .35 inches this morning), and that has done away with most of the snow around my place. There are still snow banks along the driveway and around my deck, but the next few days of warm, rainy weather will finish that off, I think. Temperatures are predicted to drop again, and then we can look forward to (hopefully!) just a light snow flurry from time to time, which probably won't be measurable. That comes from our elevation and the unique microclimate that creates. West Danville, Joe's Pond, Walden and Cabot Plain enjoy that distinction! Spring is a process.

Enjoy your day, wherever you are! Stay tuned for up-to-date ice reports. Anyone who would like to receive email notification whenever I make a new post to this blog can just ask - send me an email (janebrowncabot@gmail.com), or post a comment that includes your email address and I'll put you on the mailing list. Be safe and happy!