Aardwolfs Ice Hockey Club
| Aardwolfs Natural Ice Reports |
|
||
| 1st September 2011 12.19am |
Aardwolfs Ice Hockey Club |
||
|
DISCLAIMER: These reports are based on: phone calls, emails, trips to the ice, lakes and ponds. Please NOTE that YOU SKATE AT YOUR OWN RISK and these reports only give you an idea of what to expect when you arrive. Conditions can change very quickly in the mountains and though we make every effort to keep these reports current in season, please be careful when skating.
Remember: ICE SKATING on NATURAL ICE can be dangerous.
Having a tow rope on hand works well for this.
More
Safety Tips |
|
HELP US TELL YOU WHAT ITS LIKE ON THE ICE
If you have been to the
Ice Recently, Please
send
me a report:
|
|
|
Weather information |
|
| Natural Ice Reports for 2011 | |
|
Skate Hire: Clive 033238293: 0274504399 Stewarts Gully Ice Skating Sharpening and Skate Hire |
|
|
Tuesday
30th August
7.55pm: Lower Manorburn Dam, From Dave Young via http://chipofftheiceblock.blogspot.com/ |
|
Because I could...Had
a quick look at the dam on the way home to see how it had fared over night.
It was in fast meltdown with warm winds eating into what was left
but decided to put the skates on one more time...... because I could! 30th
of Aug is the latest I can remember having skated on natural ice in NZ. Ice
was a bit limited and need careful checking but was able to have a small
skate and pull a few very careful turns! The Ice is a bit dodgy. Photo by Dave Young. |
|
|
Monday
29th August
6.39pm: Lower Manorburn Dam, From Dave Young via http://chipofftheiceblock.blogspot.com/ |
|
|
...another chip of the
ice block……. I am sure it is the last this year!….. Well what a surprise! Headed up central for work today and dropped by the Lower Manorburn at lunchtime just for a look. What a surprise to see a big pad of ice, despite the warm temps, in the shade at Rushcutters. Luckily I had thrown in my skates …. just in case…… Had to pick a spot to get on and found enough smooth ice to put in a few turns and have some fun. Surface varied from soft rough to smoother hard ice. What a novelty to skate in shorts and no winter gear! Some bad old ice too ice but hey!  Rushcutters bay on the Lower Manorburn Dam, Photo by Dave Young |
|
|
Monday
29th August
10.36pm: Old Tekapo Ice Rink From Fred van Slooten via email |
|
|
Karl managed a skate on the remains of the
old Tekapo rink over the weekend.
Snow ice which was a bit rough, but
skateable.
 Karl van Slooten, skating on snow ice at the Old Tekapo Rink, Photo by Fred van Slooten. |
|
|
Tuesday
23rd August
7.55pm: Lower Manorburn Dam, From Dave Young via http://chipofftheiceblock.blogspot.com/ |
|
One more for the
road....Managed to fit in one more skate early this morning - the last for
this season as temperatures and wind are expected to rise over the week.
Skated from the gorge down to the main basin but wasn't willing to go out
very far as the snow ice did not feel that stable. Ice was hard and a
little bumpy in places - but already going off after a light frost. Season
has been better than expected despite the late start and the snow dump! Last sunrise on the ice, Photo by Dave Young |
|
|
Monday
22nd August
6.55pm: Lower Manorburn Dam, From Dave Young via http://chipofftheiceblock.blogspot.com/ |
|
Early this morning I was
treated to a good skate on snow ice on the Lower Manorburn. Skated from the
gorge, down into Rush Cutters and surprisingly good considering the warm
weather. Some new black ice in places but not thick or strong enough to
skate on. Bumpy in the shade but smooth elsewhere. Wouldn't try it without a
good frost! Think this will be pretty much it for the season. Longer days
and warm temps are here and the snow ice becomes soft and weak in the sun. Skating Out into the Main Basin, Photo by Dave Young |
|
|
Monday
22nd August
6.01pm: Lake Ida From Chris Ruske by email |
|
Looking down from Porters Pass ski field you can
see that Lake Ida still has plenty of Ice, though most of this is covered in
snow, the Photo below illustrates the extent of the sun that is now shining
on the lake.  Lake Ida taken from the South side of the top of Porters Pass Ski field Photo by Chris Ruske |
|
|
Monday
22nd August
5.44pm: Lake Lyndon From Warren McKie via email |
|
|
Just got back from Lyndon. The black ice is
way too thin and the snow ice has softened a lot and is really hard work
to skate on. There was a warm wind all afternoon. if that goes away and
there is another freeze things may come right again.
|
|
|
Monday
22nd August
4.05pm: Lake Lyndon From Chris Ruske by Phone |
|
Lake Lyndon has softened in the sun and the 8
degree temperatures and will not be suitable for skating tonight.  Chris standing/skating??? on very Soft Snow Ice at Lake Lyndon Photo by Chris Ruske  Soft thawing Ice at Lyndon 30+mm thick, Photo by Chris Ruske |
|
|
Sunday
21st August
9.07pm: Lake Lyndon From Fred van Slooten via Warren McKie |
|
|
There is about 300m of skateable snow ice at
the Porters Pass end. Estimated about 80mm thick. Usual caution required
but things should improve with frosts tonight.
 Snow Ice, about 50mm, Photos by Warren McKie  Looking South down Lake Lyndon, Photos by Warren McKie |
|
|
Saturday
20th August
8.18pm: Coalpit Dam, From Dave Young via email: http://chipofftheiceblock.blogspot.com/ |
|
Coalpit – Snow ice over most of the pond. (over
some older ice on shady side) Skate-able but soft surface in the sun. Track
in has a lot of snow. Dave Young at Bumpy Snowpit (Coalpit) Dam, Photo by Dave Young |
|
|
Saturday
20th August
8.18pm: Lower Manorburn Dam, From Dave Young via email: http://chipofftheiceblock.blogspot.com/ |
|
|
Saturday afternoon: Lower
Manorburn – main basin – snow ice on top of old ice in Rush Cutters and
shady parts. (ice over most of the basin) Soft surface in the sun but hard
and bumpy in the shade. Some other skate-able spots in the shady areas. Some
new back ice in parts but too thin to skate. Skate with the frost!  The Gorge with old ice and new black ice, Photo by Dave Young |
|
|
Sunday 14th
August 9.35am: Lake Ida, From Fred van Slooten via email |
|
|
Great night last night. Still plenty of Ice
but wet and melting. It was snowing lightly when we left. Beware of some
of the refrozen areas as the ice is thinner. Surface fast over most of
the Lake but a bit lumpy.
 Wet shiny Ice for an Evening Skate at Lake Ida, Photo by Fred van Slooten |
|
|
Saturday
13th August
2.48pm: Poolburn Dam, From Dave Young via email: http://chipofftheiceblock.blogspot.com/ |
|
Poolburn - 80mm down to 40mm over main bay area.
Mix of snow ice and new ice. New ice is thinner and cracks. Skate-able
around small island and whole main area. Rest of dam unknown as was too warm
to venture too far. Surface -hard- from smooth black ice to bumpy old (snow)
ice. Great skate! Road muddy with the thaw. Skate with the frost.Will it
last......? Always something new to see, Poolburn Dam, Photo by Dave Young |
|
|
Saturday
13th August
2.48pm: Lower Manorburn Dam, From Dave Young via email: http://chipofftheiceblock.blogspot.com/ |
|
Lower Manorburn - Skate-able ice in Rush Cutters
- old ice pack on half of it and new ice over the rest - thinning out to
25mm. Rest of main basin - maybe up to 35mm of ice - not safe. Other
skate-able areas if you look and are careful. Old ice is safe. Hard and dry. Checking the Ice in the Trees in the Upper Basin of the Lower Manorburn Dam, Photo by Dave Young |
|
|
Friday 12th
August 11.59pm: Lake Ida, From Clive Murphie |
|
|
A great skate tonight by the light of an almost
full moon, hardly had to use the lights at all. A large portion of Lake Ida is still covered in 80+mm of ice, though there are bigger patches patches of open water than Wednesday and several obvious holes in the ice. The Northwester has picked blocks of ice up and blown them over the ice, these are now frozen in to the main Lake surface, there is also a slight covering of snow on about a third of the Lake that has frozen to a hard rough crust. The sun gets on a strip about 80mts wide on the Southern side of the lake and this has refrozen to a good skating surface. Access to the ice was by walking 3/4 of the way over the Enclosure embankment to get on to the ice and then skating across to the southern side (where the good Ice is). If skating during the day "be aware" that the ice will be softening in the warmer temperatures, and may crack and break up. The weather forecast for Sunday-Tuesday is lots of snow......Saturday may be your last chance to skate for the season.  Clive sating by moonlight, Photo by Glen Cameron |
|
|
Wednesday 11th
August 3.29pm: News: Use of Ice Claws, From Alan Knowles by email. |
|
| And for those that missed it: Alan Knowles demonstrating the use of Ice Claws to get back onto the ice after falling in. Press Article from the 8th August 2011(pdf) | |
|
Wednesday 11th
August 3.29pm: Godley Lake, From Alan Knowles by email. |
|
|
Godly Lake: Swansong Skate, our last skate was
on Wednesday and Thursday (August 3-4) on Godley Lake. This was the closest
to skating Finnish sea ice I've found in NZ, with surface conditions ranging
from glass smooth to smashed up chunks with much of it hard and
wind-scalloped. Nice with all those high hills looming, but they rolled too
many boulders onto the ice for comfort. When we left on Thursday midday, a
strong wind was forming a pressure ridge across the lake. The lake is about 5km long and .8km across. We skated about 3km of it but there was thin ice and open water at the northern end. We had two sets of tour skates which worked fine, but the figure skates were a liability and Syd reverted to skis. The party was Syd and Charlotte Woods and Alan Knowles. More Photos here and how to get there here  Godley Lake, some good and some "other" ice. photo by Alan Knowles |
|
|
Wednesday 11th
August 3.29pm: Lake Clearwater/Camp, From Alan Knowles by email |
|
| Last Friday Lake Clearwater/Camp the ice was too soft and high winds were pending over the weekend. | |
|
Wednesday 11th
August 11.59pm: Lake Ida, From Clive Murphie |
|
Lake Ida has lasted well even with the weather
over the last few days. A large portion of the lake still covered in 100+mm
of ice, though there are patches of open water. Unfortunately the
Northwester has picked up lots of blocks of ice and these are now frozen on
to the main Lake surface, there is also a slight covering of snow on about a
third of the Lake. The Southern side of the lake gets the sun on a strip
about 50mts wide and this has refrozen to a good skating surface. Access to
the ice was by walking 3/4 of the way over the Enclosure to get on to the
ice and then skating across to the southern side. The Ice should last well
if we continue to have frosts, light NW winds and warm temps during the day
may make the ice better.  Lake Ida Wednesday Night.....:-) Photo by Glen Cameron |
|
|
Tuesday
9th August
8.46pm: Manorburn Dam, From Dave Young via http://chipofftheiceblock.blogspot.com/ |
|
Last Lump of Ice: On the way
home this evening I checked the Lower Manorburn to see what was left after
yesterdays warm wind. There was still a large lump of ice in Rush Cutters -
about the size of an ice rink and a few unreachable bits elsewhere in the
middle basin. The lump in Rush Cutters ranged from over 100mm in the shade
out to about 50mm where it ended in open water. There had been a frost over
night and the edges where solid. Surface bumpy in places but hard and dry so
a fun skate more enjoyable than yesterday. I think this is pretty much it
for the season. Possibly last skate for the season in Rushcutters Bay, Photo by Dave Young |
|
|
Monday
8th August
9.14pm: Manorburn Dam, From Dave Young via http://chipofftheiceblock.blogspot.com/ |
|
|
One more for 2011? Despite the warm and windy weather I decided to visit the Lower Manorburn this morning and was surprised to find quite a bit of ice in the main basin. There was over 100mm of solid ice right in the shady corner of Rush Cutters, thinning out into the main basin. Unfortunately the wind was blowing hard through the gorge and blowing from open water onto the ice, hastening the thaw. Large areas of water elsewhere in the main area. Despite that I was able to walk on and have a skate on hard wet ice - but had to pick my spots because of the rubbish and weed weakened ice. (Weed may be a real problem in this area next year) Solid close in but creaky as you went further out so I didn't venture far outside Rush Cutters. It really felt like the last of the ice for this year - and very warm  Ready for the last skate, Photo by Dave Young. |
|
|
Saturday
6th August 12.01pm: Lake Ida: Weather From Chris Rusk by Phone |
|
| Weather at Lake Ida: 20-30 knots NW wind gusting to 50 knots, strong enough to almost knock me over, pouring with rain, white caps on the water, over the ice on the main lake, good Ice on the Hockey Rink. Ice wont last the day if this weather continues. | |
|
Saturday 6th
August 8.25am: Lake Ida: Weather From Fred van Slooten by Phone |
|
| From Lake Coleridge Weather is Northwest and light rain, not recommended to head up to Ida today, stronger winds and snow forecast. | |
|
Friday 5th
August 11.59pm: Lake Ida, From Clive Murphie |
|
| The Ice was wet when we arrived, the result of warm temperatures and wind during the day, however this quickly froze giving an excellent silky smooth surface for skating on, Still 80-100mm of good ice over the whole lake. Little Lake Ida had much the same surface though there was evidence of a thaw and refreezing as most of the Lake is exposed to sun during the day now. This could be our last skate as Northwesters rain and snow are forecast for the weekend. | |
|
Thursday
4th August 11.39pm: Lake Ida, From Ron James by email |
|
Good Ice, the warm wind has re-groomed the ice. Tony trying some old style strap on speed skates, Photo by Ron James  Smile for the camera, Photo by Ron James |
|
|
Wednesday
3rd August 11.50pm: Lake Ida,
From Clive Murphie |
|
|
The Ice is holding well at Lake Ida with plenty
of ice over the whole lake, if you look hard you can still find spots that
haven't been skated on yet, though the traffic from the last couple of
nights has covered most of the Lake surface. Remember to always check the weather (link to the left) before venturing up to mountains.  Excellent BBQ (courtesy of Chris R) in the middle of the Ice, Photo by Ron James |
|
|
Tuesday
2nd August
7.05pm: Manorburn Dam, From Dave Young via http://chipofftheiceblock.blogspot.com/ |
|
Lower Manorburn Dam (7.30am) - middle basin was much the same as yesterday
but faster ice due to a disappointingly light frost - but a good skate.
Finished off with a fun skate in the first basin out from the pier (near
the dam) on a good pack of smooth hard ice. Very warm when I left Alex
later in the day - will need a few frosts to keep the ice. Skating out from the pier (no diving!) Photo by Dave Young  Manorburn Dam, if you are swimming-No Diving, Photo by Dave Young To see some Diving at Lake Ida: Video by Dave Young Check out why they were diving at: Icy Plunge at Ida |
|
|
Tuesday 2nd August 10.50pm: Lake Ida,
From Clive Murphie |
|
| Another great night skate at Ida, clear sky, nice ice, 80-100mm over the whole lake, we even skated down to the very end of the slip between Ida and Little Lake Ida, not a perfect surface but very close. The Lake should stay frozen and good for skating for several days, snow or rain are the things that would spoil it. Looking good for the coming weekend | |
 |
|
| Izzy enjoying her first Skate on a Frozen Lake, Photo by Ron James | |
 |
|
| Another Great night Skate at Lake Ida, Photo Ron James | |
|
Lake Ida, Historical Interest:
Ice at Lake Ida [ca. 1953] Link received from Jason Dodd |
|
 From the Christchurch Libraries Photo Collection http://christchurchcitylibraries.com/Heritage/Photos/Collection22/02358.asp File Reference CCL Photo Collection 22, Img02358 |
|
|
Monday
1st August
7.55pm: Lake Clearwater, From Alan Knowles via email |
|
| Lake Clearwater and Camp have extensive black ice cover of 1cm - 2cm thickness. Some thick impenetrable ice with a rough surface at the east end of Lake Clearwater's north side. Open water below the village. Daytime temperature today of 11 deg; 8p.m. at +1deg. Clear sky with thin NW arch cloud no wind. Likely good frost coming. | |
|
Monday
1st August
5.01pm: Manorburn Dam, From Dave Young via http://chipofftheiceblock.blogspot.com/ |
|
Monday 1st 8.30am – Thick ice in Rush Cutters down to 40-50 on
the other side
of the main basin. Water in the gorge either side. Some snow effect still in places
and some rubbish thrown on to the ice. Ice hard and silent. Good skate if you
pick your spots.
Weed ruining the surface in Rush Cutters as the day warms and beware of thin
ice as you head to the neck. Skate early with a frost if it holds.! Snow effected and rubbish on the ice at Manorburn,Photo by Dave Young |
|
|
Monday
1st August 12.08am: Lake Evelyn,
From Ron James via email |
|
On Sunday Lake Evelyn was mostly a swimming
area. Swimming Area at the west end of Lake Evelyn Photo by Ron James |
|
|
Monday
1st August 12.08am: Lake Ida,
From Ron James via email |
|
LAKE IDA 50 - 80 mm of black ice over the whole
lake. A bit rough at the A frame end but gets much better further up the
lake. Joe and Ange skating on the top end of Lake Ida, Photo Ron James |
|
| Other Places to visit for Skating Videos and Photos | |
|
Joe's You Tube site: here Glens You Tube site: here David Young's Blog: here iceblock.org.nz Ryan Hellyer's Homepages: here |
|
| Archives | |
|
2011
Saturday 4th June to Sunday 31st July 2010(3)Wednesday 14th July to Wednesday 11th August 2010(2)Wednesday 8th July to Tuesday 13th July 2010Saturday 29th May to Wednesday 7th July 2009(3)Thursday 9th July to Saturday 15th August 2009(2)Tuesday 30th June to Tuesday 8th July 2009 Sunday 6th June to Saturday 28th June 2008 Saturday 31st May to Sunday 27th July See older Photos on the Photos Pages for the individual locations for Ice Skating. |
|
|
Some of the events above may have no association with the Aardwolfs Ice Hockey Club |