Ice-out conditions updated today: http://www.algonquinpark.on.ca/news/ice-out.php 

Lakes in Algonquin Park remain ice covered with ice softening around shore as a result of increased water levels from recent rainfall and melting snow. Water flow is eroding ice at inflow and outflow locations, which will allow ice to move within the lake in the days ahead or during the next high wind event.Snow depth in Algonquin Park varies greatly depending upon location. On south facing slopes that receive the strongest spring sunshine, snow has all but disappeared with bare or nearly bare ground conditions. Shaded north facing slopes have snow depths that currently exceed knee-deep (more than 30 centimetres or 12”) in some locations.
 

Last edited by Uppa (4/13/2017 10:02 am)

breed85 wrote:

Does anyone have a record as to when they started issuing Backcountry Permits in relation to Opeongo ice out Dates?
 

It's generally pretty close. The park does a flyover too to get a better idea of how ice free the whole park is. The bigger delay is that they might do a flyover once a week on a Thursday to see if they are comfortable opening up on the Friday. That means ice could be gone on an Monday or Tuesday but you're still waiting a few more days for interior permits to start being issued. 

Uppa, I hope these tweets from AO make you feel a little bit better as they did for me. 

https://twitter.com/algonquinoutfit/status/852507099212984321

https://twitter.com/algonquinoutfit/status/852510048383373312

Well Craiger, we knew this was coming as it seems to be the norm for them over the past 4 years...

The new satellite image shows a lot of progress around the park (especially Lake Nippising for this time of year) and even looks like winter is starting to recede from the Park...hopefully LOTS will happen over the next 5-6 days to give us some hope for that April 28th weekend.

Kudos to the park for making this announcement well in advance.  Imagine the wrath that would be unleashed if this waited until the eleventh hour?  

Decision-making with this many areas of influence, interests and dynamic factors is no easy matter.

Trillium16 wrote:

Whether it's the beginning or middle of May makes no difference to me. It sure as hell isn't happening in April, which is what I'd been hoping for a change. The forecast is only barely making it into the double digits this coming week. It's going to take a sustained period of temps like that to weaken the ice enough that the wind can do the rest, and I don't see that anywhere in the forecast. And don't forget that the interior will only be opened up when it is deemed "safe" (whatever that means), or when the access roads are considered to be in decent shape. As others have lamented in previous years, gone are the days when we could be held responsible for our own safety and be in control of our own travel decisions. I'm not at all optimistic at this point that any of the interior will be open by the first weekend in May.

As for bugs, meh, they're part of life in the Park. At least I can have a four-day trip without having to take more than one day off work!

  That is why retirement is GREAT.....tripping any time in THE GREATEST PARK IN THE WHOLE WIDE WORLD!  LOL

 

Little update from today; When I got there it didn't look like much has happened this week, but at this point it was only around 6 degrees. By the time I left at 5:15 the ice was starting to look pretty dark, and lots of small floating chunks of ice near shore melted completely in the few hours I was there.. Oh and my car said it was now 18 degrees. By the end of tomorrow Trout Lake and Pimisi will be the only lakes with ice remaining the whole way between North Bay and Kiosk. I honestly wouldn't doubt it if the warm rain+high lows over the weekend get rid of the rest of the ice around here.
BTW: Looking at the Modis images from today, Kawartha Highlands looks to be ice free, so if anyone is really itching to go on a trip, that could be a good option for next week.

Last edited by ATVenture (4/13/2017 5:45 pm)

Just a bit more info/pics from my trip yesterday..
The main thing I noticed was butterflies.. lots and lots of butterflies. In the few hours I was there I seen at least a hundred. Also I seen a few flies buzzing around, as well as lots of spiders on the ground. I'm considering doing a few day trip in Kawartha next week to get my paddling muscles back in shape for some serious trout fishing in A.P.P. in May.

Looking towards Lauder Lake. Taken from the second campsite on the East side of One Mile Bridge.q


The water is freezing cold, but that doesn't stop these two!


Looking towards One Mile Bridge. Taken from the first campsite on the Easy Side of it.


Taken from One Mile Bridge, looking back towards Kiosk Access. This open stretch of water is well over a KM long.


Looking back towards Lauder Lake, taken from the rail bed.


This Otter was on the ice out in the middle of the lake. He would walk around for a bit and then jump through small holes in the ice (I guess it was fishing). That shows how much the ice is deteriorating out there if he can find multiple ways through. 


Taken from the Closest canoe in site down the North East Shore.


The campground near the Kiosk Cabin.


Looking towards the boat launch/beach.


When you compare this:


To this:


It's pretty obvious the ice will be out earlier this year than last.
I'm actually beginning to think that their April 28th opening will work out perfect. 

Last edited by ATVenture (4/14/2017 8:37 am)

Took this from inside the vehicle with my I phone on the way out of the park this morning. Its raining pretty hard, or at least it was at 10am today! Canoe Lake.