Closed

This site is back in operation.

Upgrades

Upgrades at north sandy beaver flats and Guest Road.

Update

There will be some construction on the cottage road at the south end of Clarke Road today, Friday Aug. 9.

Construction delay

No road construction this week, Aug.8 and 9.

Construction

Please note that Clarke Road will have some construction on Thursday and Friday of this week, Aug 7 and 8. 

Theft

A shed beside a cottage along Clarke Rd was broken into and a Stihl whipper snapper and trolling motor were taken.  This was reported to Minden police at 705-286-1431. 

Cottage photos

On June 29 this year, a company hired a helicopter and took photos around our lake.  They were going around to cottages and selling the colour photos in frames by Larson Juhl.  Very nice photographs.
   They advertise that you can view your photos at www.skyphoto.ca.  they can also be contacted at info@skyphoto.ca.
    The company puts the photo in a premade frame as you write your cheque.
     Jack Ramsey was the person who came around.
     Ontario phone 705-499-3080.

Turtles/blackberries

Blackberries are in bloom-any easy way to find where you will locate them for picking, especially along the new road.  For the past 3 days turtles have dug holes on the causeway for egg laying.  The one above was in the process of returning to the lake after a long walk along the causeway.  Blackflies seem gone, but replaced by deer flies and horseflies. Bancroft radio says a change of frost tonite!

Blackflies

Blackfly season has started.  Hopefully the dragonflies are not far behind.

Road and leeks

Leeks are out.  Bulbs and leaves are edible.  Some mud at the entrance of Guest Road.  Road is drying up very well.

Hello beavers

Beavers are once again challenging us to make them move.  It usually takes 30 days of daily, sometimes twice a day, clearing the culvert and letting the water flow freely.  You are welcome to use the shovel or your bare hands and assist if you are passing by.
Road greatly improved.  Just a few areas are muddy and can be passed with caution.

Water level

The lake is 20.5 inches below the high water mark this spring.

Chronology

Now that spring is here, this is the lineup:
Racoons, chipmonks, mice, ants, trilliums, blackflies, dragonflies, mosquitoes.

Road drying up nicely.  Several 4 wheel vehicles drive the length.  Just a couple of spongy area.  One gigantic washout that can be avoided off to the side.

Water drop

The lake is 10 inches below the high water mark from last week.

Ice free lake

No signs of ice on the lake.

Maple hill

This washout on maple hill is very dangerous and very probably impassable for a vehicle.

 Most of the road is drying up very quickly, but rain scheduled for tonight.

Ice quickly disappearing.  About one half of lake is ice free. Drifting ice is approximately 1 inch thick.

Lake down

The lake is down 5 inches from high water level.  Main part of lake still holding together.  Fishing 'on' the causeway still available.

Maple hill

The road looked normal, then it just caved in and out ran a stream of liquid mud.

Mud and washouts

Several vehicles have come part way on the road but decide to turn back.  Good decision since a few areas are difficult.  Maple hill has a few areas that become sink holes of 'quicksand' when even a light ATV goes over them; the soil is 'loaded' with water.  But most of the road is in normal conditions for this time of year.  All culverts are working better than ever.

High water

High water has flooded over the causeway.  The main body of ice on the lake has not shown any signs of cracking and drifting as of this morning.

Guest Rd.

Runoff on Guest Road

Lake

Some melting along edge of lake.

More mud

The road from mill hill to maple hill is snow/ice free.  Maple hill partially snow/ice covered.  Almost all of Africa Trail to the island snow/ice covered.  Clarke Rd south of Africa Trail snow/ice free.
High hill at Africa Trail beginning (photo above), rutted big time.  Two gates logging road (also called 4 corners), becoming sink hole mine field (top photo)

Snow,ice, melt

Several days of snow, freezing rain and wind have brought down a few trees in the forest.  Melt is going well and all culverts seem to be operating correctly.

Endless winter

Some melting along the edges of the lake.  Causeway and maple hill still with some snow/ice.  No problem with ATV travel.

Washouts

About 2 inches of rain during the night caused some minor washouts.  Mill hill has a few deep ruts, passable with caution.

Maple hill

Frost starting to come out of the ground in certain areas.

Ice 'n mud

More mud appearing.  Runoff starting in some areas.

Snow 'n mud

Road in transition.  Most of road from mill to island is slushy snow during the day.  Some rutting of snow due to motorized traffic. Runoff starting in several sections.  The next several weeks could be difficult for travel on the road.

Fresh snow

Fives inches of powder snow over the last 2 days slowly being packed with snowmobile traffic between Elephant Lake and Clarke Rd to old road to Baptiste trail.  No sap flow.

Snow packed road

Cold weather and snowmobile traffic has packed the road from the island to mill hill.  Great moguls on maple hill.  Lake frozen solid again, snowmobile traffic continues, especially from  Elephant Lake, along Clarke Rd  to old road and down to Baptiste Lake. No sap flow.

Road transition

ATVs can travel from island to mill, although some difficult areas on the hills.  Still snow on the road for snowmobiles.  Lake has lots of water and no snowmobile traffic seen. No sap flow for the last 2 days.

Maple sap flow

Lots of sap flow.

Parking at maple hill

This is not a cottage association issue, but if you are going to park at the top of maple hill you are going to have to make special arrangements.

Road plowed

The road is plowed to maple hill. 

Soft snow

Lots of soft snow.  Snowmobile traffic between lake and old road.

Bumpy ice

Ice not the best for skating.  North of the causeway is  better than the south.

Transition lake

Cottage road from mill hill to maple hill solid ice, no exposed gravel.  Top of maple hill to lake still snow covered.  The 1 to 2 inches of water on the lake from yesterday has about 1/4 inch frozen on top but liquid underneath.      Lake may not be good for skating due to strong winds during the night.

Rink rain

Steady rain could lead to great skating on the lake.  Ben Johnson speedway might be excellent.

Snow road

Lots of snowmobile traffic on the cottage roads.  About 6 inchs of snow on the weekend.

Lake/skating

Lake is frozen but rough in many places.  North of the causeway seems better for skating due to less snowmobile traffic causing roughness. Original rink has shrunk, but skatable.

Road/lake

Vehicles travelling mill hill.  Lake slowly freezing.  Maybe good skating later in the week.

Yuk

Road from top of maple hill to the public turnabout is a mix of ice and exposed gravel.  Road from top of maple hill to the island still snow covered.