Black River WF Ice

[Banjoe]

I'm planning on doing a fair amount of skiing in the BRWF this weekend and am looking for some info on ice conditions of the lakes. It's been so warm in the Finger Lakes, we've barely seen any ice build up this winter. I've been watching the temps and snowfall for that area and it seems like the lakes should be safe away from inlets/outlets, but would love more insight before planning routes that involve crossing bodies of water.

[Tug Hill]

You should be fine on North , South Lake , and most interior ponds and lakes. There may be some slush just under the snow. There are still guys ice fishing on Hinkley. However there is a thin ice crust on the snow. But we are supposed to receive some fresh snow over the weekend.

[Banjoe]

Thanks. The scraper lives in the skiing coat pocket. I have tried to make it to Woodhull Mtn twice, but both times the snow was was too tiring breaking trail through deep snow to get there. Maybe the third time is the charm. Alternately, a visit to as many of the small lakes as possible is on the agenda. I'd like to get several hours all three days I'll be up there, but I haven't skied much this winter and there hasn't been any in almost a month.

[DSettahr]

I would definitely be cautious. I haven't been down that way this winter but I can attest that even some of the higher elevation lakes in the High Peaks still have sketchy spots. Over the past few weeks, folks have managed to punch through on Avalanche Lake and Lake Colden (in each instance it was near the outlet or near an inlet), as well as at crossings on the Opalescent River that are typically solidly frozen this time of year. Thus far there hasn't been any major incidents that I'm aware of, but this time of year even a wet foot or two can be more than a mild inconvenience.

[Wldrns]

A private lake in the area has melting ice and water retreating from the near shoreline. Iced areas around inlet creeks are thin or open water. You can't necessarily always know or tell where all such underground level inlets are. Especially this time of year, water overflow under snow, even if it is over solid ice, is common, making skiing over it a wet slushy unpleasant chore. Be careful, the season is near the end.

[Banjoe]

I think the skiing will be on land, I've skied through slush enough times to satisfy me, and though skis can be scraped, wet boots that then freeze solid put an end to further skiing.

Someone fishing in our area broke through and died this week. I'm not sure where they found the ice to go out on, the two ponds closest to me have been ice-free for a couple weeks.