Lake Pepin Open???

[Dave Z]

Is Pepin open? I saw this pic on the MPR web site today and I'm wondering if it was taken recently? From the MPR Photos of the week:


http://minnesota.publicradio.org/displa ... -the-week/

[JRN]

I WAS HOPING THERE WAS A VIDEO! I want to see that puppy in action. Another windless day alternative? The last two days of winds make it all the more frustrating for achance to ride. H2o, but not quite solid OR liquid!

[Geo]

So IS Pepin open, or not?
Mississippi is open upstream...

[surfalex]

I want to know as well....

[mdh01]

Looks like Pepin is still iced over at least is at Lake City...

http://www.mvp.usace.army.mil/navigatio ... pageid=188

Mark

[Dave Z]

C'mon Pete fill us in!

[Pete]

http://www.mvp.usace.army.mil/navigatio ... pageid=188

Sooooon!!!!

[SeaBoo]

Hmmmm. I wonder? When I was at Frontenac St Park on New Years I saw a whole lot of open water and figured it wasn't going to ice completely over this year and to put aside thoughts of kiting. I usually wait until New Years to trust the ice but not this year. But I'm curious now. I'll head down this weekend and take a look. I'll post back what I see. I'll count the trucks on the ice...a sure indicator of ice safety.

[cericson01]

I flew over Pepin a couple days ago and saw no trucks on the ice and only one small area about the size of a football field of open water.

Chris

[SeaBoo]

Thanks Chris, That's about what I figured. It's not really a lake per se, but a river and with the streams that flow into it, there are soft spots even in a good winter. Maybe next year unless we get a really good stretch of sub zero temps. Not likely

[ksm]

I am visiting Rochester in May. It seems Pepin is closest good kiteable area?
How is wind and water in that period, usually?

So far I could only find windsurfing photos, so probably it is chalenging launch?
I am experienced in very tough locations and would enjoy some kite company.
Anyone kite there?

[SeaBoo]

I've only kited on water a couple of times and it was on Pepin. Once in the bay at Bay City but the wind has to be a good direction to hit just right. The second time was from the first wayside south of Maiden Rock. That was nicer. Both bays are shallow. Bay City has a clay bottom so it's kind of slimy feeling. Maiden Rock was mostly sand and good. Hope this helps.

[Pete]

Not much kiting happening on Pepin but is certainly doable from 'most' launches. Especially if you have experience with tricky ones. May is prime time! Just not many kiters in this vicinity. That said...it's still covered with ice. Just a sliver of open water out beyond the rest area north of Lake City...but not for long. This picture is from today.

[ksm]

Thanks,

Great to hear May is the prime time, so it will be windy most days?
When windy in that period is it more 12m or 15m weather?
What is the most reliable weather site?

[Pete]

Windy most day? No. Just have to keep an eye on the forecast. The launches on Pepin are wind direction dependent. Kite size would be dertermined once you get to the launch. You'll need to be a drift/self launch rockstar. Mostly us windsurfers ripping around.

When its blowing SW we go to Cannon lake in Faribault: http://www.lakawa.com/lakes/cannon.html

Good wind forecast lnik: http://www.iwindsurf.com/windandwhere.i ... model=true

Pepin launch link: http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?hl=en&ie ... a97ab&z=13

[Geo]

Still iced in?

[ksm]

Great info thaks!
Self launch rockstar. ha ha. OK, time to bond with windsurfers than.

[Pete]

Still iced in?...I don't know. I doubt it. I'll be heading that way on Tuesday and will check it out.

[BSMITH]

It was still frozen on Sunday.

[Pete]

Some open water north of Lake City but...