Aardwolfs Ice Hockey Club
| Aardwolfs Natural Ice Reports |
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| 22nd August 2011 7.49pm |
Aardwolfs Ice Hockey Club |
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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.
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HELP US TELL YOU WHAT ITS LIKE ON THE ICE
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Weather information |
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| Natural Ice Reports for 2011 | |
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Skate Hire: Clive 033238293: 0274504399 Stewarts Gully Ice Skating Sharpening and Skate Hire |
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Sunday 31st
July 9.43pm: Lake Lyndon, From Fred van Slooten via email. |
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These Photos were Lake Lyndon on Saturday.
Definitely out for skating.
  Lake Lyndon with windblown Ice, Photos by Fred van Slooten |
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Sunday 31st
July 4.19pm: Lake Ida, From Joe Morgan via Sat Phone |
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| The whole of Lake Ida is frozen, there is about 60mm of Ice, there is some rough spots but there are still large areas of good ice. | |
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Saturday 30th
July 8.19pm: Manorburn Dam, From Dave Young via http://chipofftheiceblock.blogspot.com/ |
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Went by the Lower Manorburn today on the way home, and
although it wasn't the best time (afternoon, sunny and warm) I had a skate
in the main basin on bumpy hard ice. Thick in Rush Cutters and thinning out
into the middle. Bit creaky in the sun. Finished off with a good skate in
the gorge (near the neck) on hard, smooth solid ice - but had to keep to
the shady side as there was water further out! Manorburn in the sun, Photo by Dave Young |
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Saturday 30th
July 8.19pm: Poolburn Dam From Dave Young via http://chipofftheiceblock.blogspot.com/ |
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Decided to have a look at Poolburn Dam to see how it had
survived the snow and warm temperatures over the week. The track was fairly
muddy in places and definitely you need a 4wd, although it would have been better when
frozen. Was surprised to find so much ice still there. The ice was snow effected and was rough in places. Had a bit of a skate but care was needed
as the ice had holes with water showing through. Variable depth but solid
enough considering the conditions.Good to skate though! Water holes at Poolburn, Photo by Dave Young |
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Sunday
31st July 9.38am: Lake Ida-Saturday From Jas |
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| All access roads to get to Lake Ida are clear, the whole of Lake Ida is frozen and skateable, some cracking and rough spots but this mornings frost should have fixed that. | |
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Friday 29th
July 7.54pm: Coalpit Dam, From Dave Young via http://chipofftheiceblock.blogspot.com/ |
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| Coalpit - snow ice on clear ice. Had a bit of a skate but the surface was soft | |
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Friday 29th
July 7.54pm: Idaburn Dam, From Dave Young via http://chipofftheiceblock.blogspot.com/ |
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| Idaburn - a bit of ice floating in water. | |
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Friday 29th
July 7.54pm: Manorburn Dam, From Dave Young via http://chipofftheiceblock.blogspot.com/ |
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Lower Manorburn thickish ice in main basin. Has been curling.
Had a good skate on hard bumpy ice. Curlers had cleared lanes. Will be good
if frost comes but lots of wind on the ice. Bumpy Ice at Manorburn, Photo by Dave Young |
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Monday 25th July 10.25pm: Lake Clearwater, From Alan Knowles via email |
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Light snow cover on 6 - 7 cm of ice. No wind,
delightful skating over much of the lake. Still possible to skate length of
whole lake with only a 3m walk around a crack. Weather conditions at
10.17p.m. clear sky, rising barometer and -4degC. Charles and Carolyn Reid of St Albans, Chch on Lake Clearwater, Photo by Alan Knowles |
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Sunday 24th July 8.21pm: Maori Lakes, From Glen Cameron via email |
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Went to Maori Lakes a little thin as you can
see. About 25mm of ice. Woops, a bit thin to skate on!!!!! Photo by Glen Cameron  Light snow at the Maori Lakes today , Photo by Glen Cameron |
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Sunday 24th July 8.21pm: Lake Clearwater, From Glen Cameron via email |
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About 11am this morning light snow on top of
black ice. A few people out skating. Glen enjoying the wonderful weather , Photo by Glen Cameron |
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Sunday 24th
July: Poolburn Dam, From Ryan Hellyer via/iceblock.org.nz |
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Hideously windy cold weather today. Small dump of snow overnight but nothing
major. Wind has created some pressure cracks across the surface but they’re
very solid and safe to skate across. Approximately 90 – 100 mm ice in the first basin as you'd drive in. Snow is on it’s way so potentially the last skate on smooth ice here for the winter perhaps. |
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Sunday 24th July 3.56pm: Lake Clearwater, From Alan Knowles via email |
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Great skating today on Lake Clearwater, started
fine then light snow, heavy snow and now (3.45pm) just overcast -0.2deg not
looking liker much more snow. We skated from extreme eastern end of lake to
swamp at western end and back on fast snow muffled ice, just lovely. Team
was Kyle and Kirsty Thomas, Elaine Brake and me. Snowy Conditions at Lake Clearwater today, Photos by Alan Knowles  |
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Sunday 24th July 7.39am: Lake Clearwater, From Alan Knowles via email |
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| Lake Clearwater: Overnight low of -7.9degC. Temp at 7.30 am -7.3deg. Weather clear and calm. Ice thickness 6cm - 7cm. I predict good skating on good surfaces this morning. If the predicted snow doesn't arrive ice will be softening by noon. | |
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Saturday 23rd
July: Lower Manorburn Dam From Ed Waite and Ryan Hellyer via/iceblock.org.nz |
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| Excellent smooth Ice in the middle basin, approximately 100mm of ice, there is water in the channel below the top lower basin | |
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Saturday 23rd
July 6.46pm: Lake Roundabout, From Ron James via email |
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Lake Roundabout, near Lake Emma, Thin but GREAT
Ice. Ron on a Thin but skateable Lake Roundabout, Photo by Chris Rusk |
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Saturday 23rd
July 6.46pm: Lake Emma, From Ron James via email |
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TOO THIN!!!!! Lake Emma, Photo by Ron James |
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Saturday 23rd
July 6.46pm: Lake Camp, From Ron James via email |
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TOO THIN!!!!! Chris in his gummies on Lake Camp Photo by Ron James |
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Saturday 23rd
July 6.46pm: Lake Clearwater, From Ron James via email |
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Great ice at the southeast end. Thins out in
main basin Lake Clearwater and the Southern Alps in the background, Photo by Ron James |
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Saturday 23rd
July 4.54pm: Poolburn Dam, From Dave Young, Ryan and Eddie via email http://chipofftheiceblock.blogspot.com/ |
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As good as it gets! Great skating all over
locked in lake. 100-50mm. Road - good if frozen. Skate with the frost as it softens as the day warms Snow predicted for Sunday (24). If frosts return after the snow the ice will hold.  Eddie, Dave and Ryan on some amazing looking Ice at Poolburn, Photo by Dave Young |
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Saturday
23rd July 1.51am: Lake
Ida-Friday Night From Clive Murphie |
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| The whole main lake is still frozen but has suffered from the rain and has patches of crud and a rough surface over a large portion of the lake , there are still some good areas of smooth black ice to skate on, on the northern side of the lake, under the trees. Good frost again tonight | |
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Friday 22nd July 2.20pm: Lake
Ida and Lake Evelyn From Fred van Slooten by email |
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Had a small skate on Evelyn this morning
22/7/11. Good ice about 60mm.
Ida had around 100mm at North end and about
60mm at south end with thin ice in the south east corner. Saw 6
trout.Hard frost in the morning with the temp warming during the day.
Ice damp but looked like it would freeze
again overnight. Surface a bit rough in some
areas.
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Friday 22nd July 4.45pm: Lake Clearwater From Alan Knowles by txt |
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| Clearwater Ice today, skated past island from eastern end on 4-5cm boing-fizz ice, then up to village (34km) Free Air temp last night was -8, current conditions cloudy +3 | |
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Friday 22nd July 2.20pm: Lake
Ida-Thursday Night From Ron James by phone |
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The main lake has suffered slightly with the
rain on Thursday morning leaving some scratchy patches of crust on the ice,
but there are still large areas of good black ice, We are probably heading
up again Friday evening. -2 frost last night as we were leaving. Thursday Night at Ida, Photo by Ron James |
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Friday 22nd
July 1.50pm: Poolburn Dam, From Dave Young and Dave Patchett via txt http://chipofftheiceblock.blogspot.com/ |
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| Poolburn: Today we skated the whole Lake on black ice, 4-5cm thick and creaky in places. Thicker ice in the shadows and in some bays. The Ice is weakening in the sun, its best to skate early and in the frost. The Road is muddy and slippery as the sun gets to it. There is still some snow around. | |
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Friday 22nd
July 8.52am: Lower Manorburn Dam, From Dave Young and Dave Patchett via txt http://chipofftheiceblock.blogspot.com/ |
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Lower Manorburn: thick ice in Rushcutters bay,
thinning out towards the other side, good skating on hard ice, water either
end of the main basin. Check the frost report, the ice will hold if its frosty. |
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| Friday 22nd July 9.10am: Video of Lake Ida and Red Lakes From Wed 20th Video by Joe Morgan | |
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Thursday 21st July 11.13pm: Lake Ida From Alan Knowles/Fred van Slooten by email |
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| Ida was very wet today but skateable after rain | |
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Thursday
21st July 8.05am: Lake Clearwater From Alan Knowles by txt |
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| Lake Clearwater was too soft to skate on today. Heading for Lake Ida. | |
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Thursday 21st July 2.40am: Lake Ida
and Lake Evelyn From Clive Murphie |
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Lake Ida currently has the best Ice we have seen
for the last 10-15 years, there is between 110-80mm of perfect Black ice
covering the whole of the main lake, last night 16 people had an amazing
skate under a clear sky with no wind. Conditions were brilliant!!!!! We hope
the weather holds for the weekend and that the snow and rain stay away. Lake
Evelyn still needs some firming up round the edges to allow access on to the
ice.
The crew at Ida for a brilliant Skate. Photo by Ron James  Nathan Testing the Ice thickness...."I need a longer drill" Photo by Ron James |
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Thursday 21st July 2.40am:
Red Lakes East and West From Clive Murphie |
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Had my first skate at Red Lakes East today
beautiful black ice that was 35-40mm but marginal, will be good with a
couple more frosts, Red Lakes West was even thinner with enough Ice to stand
on ........Just!!!! Clive Skating on Black Ice at Red Lakes East. Photo by Ron James |
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Tuesday 19th July 6.00pm: Lake Ida
and Evelyn From Ron James by phone |
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Good Ice at Ida today, black ice over most of
the lake. Lake Evelyn still to soft to get on. |
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Tuesday 19th
July: Lower Manorburn Dam From Dave Patchett via txt to /iceblock.org.nz |
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Mess1:
At Manorburn now. Looks like lovely strong ice. Will see how far I can get. Mess 2:Surface is generally very good. Depth is variable. Lots of water flow so goes from 10 cm to skim in about 8 m in shadow near end of road. Just put my toe through up there. Can’t get get down toward lower basin much but can make a creaky passage across the bays upstream of Rushcutters to reach shadow. Could be even better with more frost. Is very still. |
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Sunday 17th July 8.08pm: Lake Ida From Alan Knowles by txt |
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| Lake Ida has 4-5cm of clear black ice all over, surface almost perfect, Little Lake Ida 5-6cm black ice with orange peel surface. Lake Evelyn 4cm of ice too soft to skate on at 2pm. With tonight's frost it will be OK tomorrow morning. | |
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Sunday 17th July 8.46pm: Lake Clearwater From Alan Knowles by txt |
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| A light frost overnight at Lake Clearwater which has a good covering of about 3 cm, its thickest at the eastern end. Lake Roundabout and Lake Emma have 3 cm of ice, all will be skateable in a day or two, Lake Camp only has a skim of ice. | |
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Saturday 16th
July: Lower Manorburn Dam, From Dave Young via http://chipofftheiceblock.blogspot.com/ |
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On the way to Queenstown I checked for ice at any spots I
could find. No joy in the warm temperatures. On the way home in the
evening I dropped into the Lower Manorburn Dam just for a look. Found a
patch of ice that was thick enough for a skate! Surface was smooth and hard
in the shade. Had a skate in a limited area - enough for a few turns and a
bit of a glide around. The ice seems to be on its last legs with big
patches of water showing - and this may be my last skate here this year
unless we get some cold hard weather. 5.00pm - Looking down to the middle basin - water on the left. Picture by Dave Young |
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Saturday 16th
July: Lower Manorburn Dam From Dave Patchett and Ryan Hellyer via /iceblock.org.nz |
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The ice is rapidly melting. We had a brief skate in the gorge
but were only a few meters or so from open water, which was slowly
approaching as the morning moved on. The section of ice we were on was
approximately 50 mm thick but reasonably smooth as the warm temperatures had
done a god job of resurfacing it. The middle basin had a skim of ice with a
layer of water on top, but most of the two channels was liquid as was the
entire bottom basin. Lower Manorburn Dam, Photo by Dave Patchett |
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Thursday 14th
July: Lower Manorburn Dam From Helen via txt to /iceblock.org.nz |
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| Frost again and skated this morning. 4…6cm ice – a bit sticky surface. | |
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Wednesday 13th
July: Lower Manorburn Dam From Helen via txt to /iceblock.org.nz |
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Got frost and had very good skating at Manorburn mid
this morning.
Skated 12km around. Ice 4…6 cm. Just great.
Bring on the frost!!
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Tuesday 12th July:
Lower Manorburn Dam, From Dave Young via http://chipofftheiceblock.blogspot.com/ |
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 Air Bubbles in the Ice at Lower Manorburn, Photo by Dave Young Woke this morning to the sound of rain (after frost last night) but decided to head out to the Lower Manorburn any way for a pre-work skate. Light sleet was falling. The ice was fall of air bubbles but seemed safe enough for a skate - although very noisy! Skated from just below the neck down into the gorge next to Rush Cutters. Good to have a big area to skate on but the ice seemed a bit fragile from all the air bubbles. Fresh snow on the hills will hopefully keep temps down. |
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Monday
11th
July: Lower Manorburn Dam,
From Dave Young via http://chipofftheiceblock.blogspot.com/ |
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 Lower Manorburn by Moonlight, Photo by Dave Young By the light of the silvery moon.....One of the small pleasures of life is walking off the ice in the moonlight after a skate. Visited the Lower Manorburn tonight and was pleased to find skate-able ice as the end of the day - especially as it had been a warm (for winter) windy day. Skate-able ice in Rush Cutters corner - around 50mm thick but creaky out into the basin. Found good hard ice in the gorge to the right of Rush Cutters and had an enjoyable skate as the sun went down and moonlight took over. If you pick your spots there is skating to be had but the ice needs careful checking. Will last with a frost or two and the snow on the hills should help bring temperatures down. (hopefully!) |
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Sunday 10th
July 2.00pm: Manorburn Dam From Ryan Hellyer via/iceblock.org.nz |
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| Good ice conditions. Arrived at around 2pm to find 55 mm of reasonably good ice in the gorge. Ice in channel was of similar quality. Locked in at edges. The ice was warming up as we approached the middle basin so didn’t skate in that far, but we assume it would have been okay in the morning. Looks very promising for a good skate tomorrow morning for anybody attempting it. | |
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Sunday 10th
July: Idaburn Dam From Ryan Hellyer via/iceblock.org.nz |
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| Bloody awful. Almost all the ice is gone. Good for swimming if you don’t mind it being a little chilly. | |
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Sunday 10th
July: Hoffmans Dam From Ryan Hellyer via/iceblock.org.nz |
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| Measured approximately 40 mm of soft snow ice. Dave Patchett crawled out to test the ice but had to return to shore as severe cracking was occurring and significant amounts of water was pouring onto the ice as the shoreline ice caved in. Could be skateable tomorrow morning if there is a good frost overnight. | |
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Sunday 10th
July: Coalpit Dam From Ryan Hellyer via/iceblock.org.nz |
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| Water near edges but consistent 55 mm thick snow ice from shore. Surface was a little rough but a good skate none the less. | |
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Tuesday 5th July 11.26pm:
Lower Manorburn Dam, From Dave Young via http://chipofftheiceblock.blogspot.com/ |
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Headed out to the Lower Manorburn early this morning to find good smooth
ice all over the central basin! Great skate over the whole main area. Ice
thickness ranged from 50mm+ out to around 40mm on the far side and was
locked in. Too thin either end to go further. The bad news! - dropped by on the way out of town in the evening and the ice was covered with water and creaky. Warm temps and wind during the day had knocked it back. Hopefully a few frosts will rebuild.  Manorburn Dam, Photo by Dave Young |
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Tuesday 5th July 9.42pm:
Lake Clearwater From Alan Knowles by email |
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   Photos by Alan Knowles Skated Lake Clearwater to 100m of island today. Then a big westerly wrecked it all. now very warm |
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| Monday 4th July 8.46pm: Mystery lake and Lake Clearwater From Alan Knowles by email | |
| Skated Mystery Lake today, small area of old ice and the rest fast black ice, lovely, but warming by the time we struggled up the 400m and 9km walk in. Lake Clearwater has good ice at the eastern end and tomorrow it should be 50mm and skateable probably to the island from the point. | |
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Monday
4th July 5.00pm:
Lower Manorburn Dam, Poolburn Idaburn and
Coalpit
From Dave Young by email http://chipofftheiceblock.blogspot.com/ |
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Ice depth in Rush Cutters 35-40 mm - getting less as
you get out of the bay. Safe but creaked a bit due to the weakening
effect of above 0 deg. A few stones and things on the ice but easily
avoided.
Should be great after a cold night and a good depth
to build on through the week. Did not check other areas due to fading
light.
Had a relaxing evening skate on hard smooth ice.
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Sunday 3rd July 7.47pm:
Lower Manorburn Dam, Poolburn Idaburn
and
Coalpit
From Dave Young by email http://chipofftheiceblock.blogspot.com/ |
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Lower Manorburn Dam at 7.00am Ice still too thin in the
main basin. Around 25-30mm of hard black ice in the shaded areas - and able
to skate as it was freezing hard. Good to get on the Manorburn finally
although the ice is still touch and go and limited area. Poolburn - Ice
thickness - 30mm in places down to nil (We skated around some of the edges)
. More frost needed. Idaburn - around 30mm. Varying 10-20 mm on Coalpit.
 Ryan and Dave P at Poolburn Dam, Photo by Dave Young  More Skating at Poolburn, Just, Photo by Ryan Hellyer |
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| Sunday 3rd July 7.38pm: Lake Evelyn, Lake Ida and Little Lake Ida From Clive | |
 A Great Day to Start the Season, Photo by Fred van Slooten  Nice Ice Main Lake at Ida, Photo by Joe Morgan Lake Evelyn: 25mm good cover but needs more frost to be OK for a skate. Lake Ida 60-75mm black ice over approximately half the Lake, Little Lake Ida whole lake frozen, 70+mm ice, frozen snow stippled cover except for a patch on the west end, watch out for the 2 springs at the west end. Hockey Rink: heaps of light snow covered ice and Skateable Enclosure 50-65mm black ice with wet patches. A great day skating for the 11 of us who were up early to get through the gate with Alan's arranged key, at 9.45am. It made a huge difference to the day being able to have all our gear at the Lakeside without having to carry it in. |
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Sunday 3rd July 1.20pm:
Lower Manorburn Dam, From Keith Dickson by email |
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Today Sunday, Manorburn seems one frost away from a safe
skate Stupid kids have thrown rubbish every where, worst I have ever seen it for rocks etc. Thickness about 30mm white ice. |
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| Saturday 2nd July 6.18pm: Lake Evelyn, Lake Ida and the Red Lakes From Alan Knowles: by txt | |
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Red Lakes: 10mm too
thin, lots of open water. |
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Saturday 2nd
July 4.19pm: Idaburn Dam From Ryan Hellyer via /iceblock.org.nz |
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 Idaburn Dam 20mm of ice Photo By Ryan, Dave & Dave Marginal ice, it may have been okay in the morning but had softened in sun by the time we checked in the late afternoon. Ice thickness approx. 20 mm. |
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Saturday 2nd
July 4.19pm: Poolburn Dam From Ryan Hellyer via /iceblock.org.nz |
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| Marginal ice at Poolburn Dam. We had a brief skate on the edges but it was very dangerous, not recommended unless you are prepared to fall in. Approx. 15mm thick. | |
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Saturday 2nd
July 4.19pm: Manorburn Dam From Ryan Hellyer via /iceblock.org.nz |
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 Manorburn Dam Middle Basin Photo from Ryan, Dave & Dave 15 mm softish ice on central basin. Similar on top basin. |
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Tuesday 28th
June 10.51pm: Lake Clearwater/Camp From Alan Knowles: by Email |
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Weather Report: Gloriously miserable! As of Tuesday 28
June, no ice. Daytime temperature 2.5 deg C, with one heavy snow shower
about 11 a.m. that settled about 10mm, 200 m above the hut. At 8.30 p.m., time of writing, +1.2 deg snowing slightly with 4mm wet snow settled on ground in the village. Southerly wind. Still no ice. |
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Tuesday 28th
June 7.21pm: Manorburn Dam From David Young via chipofftheiceblock blog/iceblock.org.nz |
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 Lower Manorburn Dam, Photo: David Young Traveled through Central yesterday- beautiful day and no hint of ice on Coalpit, Idaburn or the Manorburn dams. Warm temps. This morning was a good frost though which put a thin sheet of ice on part of the Lower Manorburn. C'mon the frost! |
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Sunday 26th
June 9.12pm: Lake Ida From Fred/Karl van Slooten by email/via geocaching network |
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| Thin skin of ice over the smallest pond | |
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Tuesday 21st
June 10.08am: Lake Clearwater/Camp From Alan Knowles: by Email |
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This photo was taken on Tuesday 21 June at Lake
Clearwater. Only minor frosts since. No ice yet anywhere,  Lake Clearwater on a frosty morning: Photo Alan Knowles |
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Wednesday 15th
June 6.13pm: Manorburn Dam From Dave via http://iceblock.org.nz |
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| Still waiting for the the cold. Visited the Lower Manorburn today after a frost or two. Thin sheet ice in the gorge part of the dam but nothing elsewhere. At least I got to break some ice in the puddles! Skates are sharp and ready to go! | |
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Saturday 4th
June 11.06am: Manorburn Dam From Glen Cameron by txt |
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| No Ice at Manorburn today!!!!! | |
| Other Places to visit for Skating Videos and Photos | |
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Joe's You Tube site: here Glens You Tube site: here David Young's Blog: here iceblock.org.nz Ryan Hellyer's Homepages: here |
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| Archives | |
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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. |
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Some of the events above may have no association with the Aardwolfs Ice Hockey Club |