Is White Bear Open?

[BillB]

Is White Bear Lake safe for kiting now?
Are there areas to watch out for?

Thanks

Bill

[Dave Z]

All the usual spots (Ramsey, Bellaire, Mahto) are good as far as I know. Don't know if anyone's traveled the full length of the lake so no idea on any pressure ridges, etc.... Maybe Kurt will chime in.

[JRN]

Bill, I kited Bellaire last week. I did not go beyond the fish shacks. There were a few bare spots, & pressure cracks, but no open water that I could see. I went out about 50 yards & set my ice screw which did not hit water for 6+ in. down. So I'd say its is safe at least 1/2 way out, though they say that no ice anywhere is 100% secure. Use caution & wear your ice picks!! One of my buddies was following an ice boat last season when it suddenly disappeared. It had been swallowed up by an open area caused by currents off Manitou Is. & the point. Luckily the driver was able to shinny up the mast & escape. His fellow ice riders then pulled the entire contraption out by the mast & salvage what was left. YOU CANNOT BE TOO CAREFUL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Jim N.

[Dave Z]

Yup - that was a trouble some pressure ridge.....that stayed open for awhile. Posts about it:

http://www.iceboating.net/node/1697

http://www.iceboating.net/node/1723

[JRN]

Wow, thanks Dave. Another parallel universe I barely knew existed. Between hang gliders, base jumpers, surfers, skiers, snow & wakeboarders, there are alot of similarities we share with these other pursuits. Did you check out Tighes post of the kiters on the slopes who looked like they were descending on kites with super short lines? Way cool!! Jim N.

[Tighe]

Mahtomedi is pretty icy. We need more snow.

It is a bit better down in the SE bay, but I hit some slush under the snow in one area.

There is still enough to ride from snow patch to snow patch.