Otter Lake

Wed. 21 January:  Otter Lake

Setting out towards the lake

What better than a brisk walk across a frozen lake to clear the lungs?  And Otter Lake was stunningly beautiful, under a dark blue sky and brilliant sun. 

After several weeks of below-freezing temperatures, there was no doubt about the ability of the ice to hold our weight.  We could have driven a truck across it.  Nevertheless, to the unaccustomed, it was a little unnerving to be standing out there on the wide lake, hearing the regular rumbling sound of the ice cracking as it contracted in the cold air.

We followed the shoreline of the lake, with views of the beautiful lakeside homes; views normally reserved for boaters in summer; but even better in winter, with the bare trees no longer hiding many of the most secluded cottages. 

Some of us were wearing snowshoes, and others just cleats on our boots.  Either option worked today.  There was very little snow on the lake, and many large patches of shiny ice.

We passed one island which was connected to the shoreline by a short causeway.  A modern cottage was nestled in the trees on the island.  After a couple of wide bays, we reached a point where the water had unfrozen then refrozen, creating a pool of large snow crystals lying on the surface of the ice, in the shape of fern leaves.

We sped back along the ice, this time cutting inland of the island, across the causeway, and back to our starting point.  The slightest easterly breeze felt cold, and a stronger wind would have made this a chilly return.  But we could hardly have chosen a better morning to take a stroll out into the Canadian winter.

Note:  single-click on the first picture above to scroll through the photos separately

Statistics:

Total Distance:         4.8 km (snow-shoe)

Height Gain:             Negligible

Time on Trail:          1 hr. 37 mins.

Start:              10.09 am

Finish:            11.46 am

Temp:            Minus 17 rising to Minus 13C

Weather:        Cloudless, no wind

Otter Lake

Lakeside "cottage"

On the ice

Looking out across the lake

We walked around a couple of bays

This area had melted then refrozen...

...causing some interesting ice crystals like leaves

The ice was solid

Heading back 

Cracks in the ice caused by contraction.
We could hear the cracking sound across the ice

On the lake

One of the islands on Otter Lake

An awesome expedition