Driving from Ottawa to Bancroft along 28 today, there were many small and large lakes still iced in solid (seemed like 2 inches or so). But also some larger lakes that were open. We stopped at one that apparently had ice cover yesterday, and only about 10% today. As we got closer to Bancroft it looked like more lakes were open. It's very windy here now, which will help.

Was Hardcore wrote:

breed85 wrote:

Just did a drive to oxtongue lake tonight. There is some open water south of the bridge, but alot of ice at the bridge. Generally not navogable yet.

Some smaller lakes North of LOB are still not navigable.

I would think by the end of the weekend alot of that will change.

Crap Im looking at lakes up Limberlost Road. for Monday. Let me know if things start opening up.
 

I was up there today Bella Rebecca dotty and Oxbow are all still iced in even after the rain but it looks like it's ready to go anytime. Big east was raging.

Ya I'm thinking it won't be open until the 18th for the long weekend.  Sucks but that's the way she goes.

Kiosk today :


The photo is taken from the closest canoe in campsite to the access point to the East down the rail bed. The wind is breaking off large chunks of ice which are floating around. To the left of the picture its wide open all the way to 'One Mile Bridge'. There were day trippers in the campground with canoes in the water.

I also tried out the Brent road which completely amazed me; I was there exactly 15 days ago on my snowmobile on 3+ feet of snow, today I made it 6(ish)km in with my car no problem.. the road was wide open for the most part but I got to a small sheltered hill that had some snow just a tad too deep for my car, if I was determined enough I'm sure I would have made it no problem. I walked passed that snowy section and it was clear again after, so I bet by Monday the road will be passable. There have been many vehicles in already.

Thanks everyone for the updates!
I'm down in Barrie and I'm tempted to drive all the way up the Tim access to check things out lol.

I believe Fork Lake is mostly open on the Webcam?
Edit - Maybe Not lol. Might have been the lighting

Last edited by ATVenture (5/05/2018 7:17 pm)

It did look like fork had mostly opened, after tomorrow it will be wide open.

I just wanted to chime in and say that I love this thread. It's awesome to know there are so many passionate (insane) people out there, it makes me feel slightly less crazy. My guess is that if there was a live ice out feed, we'd all have it on 24/7. When it's reported that the ice is finally out, remember to take deep breaths, we don't need anyone dropping dead at this point. See you out there.

ATVenture wrote:

Check out these guys I seen on Pimisi Lake yesterday. The first portage of the Mattawa River is on the far shore just slightly to the right of the photo. That's where they were headed. Funny thing is I know they weren't the first people to run the entire Mattawa this Spring. Bill Steer ran the River from Pimisi to Mattawa on May 1st.
There were also around 10-12 kayakers playing in the Amable Du Fond yesterday, beside Highway 630 around the snowmobile trail crossing.

I can remember doing stuff like this in the park back in the 80's when we would get our pemits regardless for opening week.