Hey all,

I have been looking at doing a trip that would bring me across Artillery Lake in late June / Early July.
I've heard that the lake is notorious for being frozen in early summer.

Does anybody know when a typical ice out for Artillery Lake is?

Thanks Much
-Nolan

Hi Nolan -

I think late June would be problematic - early July probably okay but still with the possibility of ice delays.

You can see previous years on NASA's EOSDIS Worldview site - sometimes you have to skip around a few days to find a clear view. For example, basically the whole lake was ice covered in late June 2022. By July 4, the northern half was still iced in.

https://worldview.earthdata.nasa.gov/?v ... 3A36%3A27Z

The Northern Scavenger YouTube group is now posting a series in which they travel across Artillery, I think summer 2022. They experienced ice delays later in July.

-jmc

Thanks for the helpful information and resources JMC!

I worked at a lodge just west of there in the early 90's. One year we couldn't get in with the float planes until July 10 because of ice on the lakes. It can happen.

I think June is too early. I used to live on Great Bear, and no guarantee the ice would be gone mid-July.

in 2016 i made a script that collected thaw pictures from years 2012 to 2016
for great slave and neighbouring bodies,

if you want to see that collection, you can at this link
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/ ... 8dq7BVJbMI?

sample:

mid july for artillery and other slow thawing lakes in area,
that's where it's at
you inspired me to grab some close up pics of area,

2017 to 2022 thaw pics here, artillery and area,
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/ ... u5oZkieOEn
this is gods land.

if you download the pics and flip through them real fast.. Next, Next, Next..
while not taking your eyes off the lake,
you can see very specific changes occurring in that flip of a day, or so,

eg, you can see a specific part of a lake suddenly go black.
or a river suddenly push its flow through the ice,
so interesting/beautiful to see the transition, the patterns, and relative melt rates.

the moment when a remote lake opens up, there is nothing like it.
and the moment just before. man o man.
the waves wake up and lean into their fresh new rolls.
almost like they're learning to walk,
those first waves, there is nothing like those first waves.