5/1/08 – Happy May Day! Today is statistically the mostly likely ice-out date for Sawbill Lake. That is not going to happen this year as the ice is still 10 inches thick and fairly solid. Since we started measuring a little less than two weeks ago, the ice has melted almost exactly an inch a day. If that average holds, the ice would be gone on May 11th. I think it will melt faster than that for a couple of reasons. The sun is a little higher, hotter and shines longer every day. Once the ice gets to 4 or 5 inches, it turns a very dark color which seems to cause it to melt very quickly. Accounting for these adjustments, my best guess is that the ice will depart on the 6th or 7th. It all depends on the weather though, so we’ll have to wait and see. – Bill

Deputy of Outfitter Security, Roy Wonder, eyeballs today’s official ice thickness reading. Roy says 10 inches.

Looking south from the canoe landing. There is quite a bit of open water. The first loon spotted at Sawbill this year is floating and waiting in this picture.

Looking north from the landing. Still pretty solid.