Ok, we all have our ways of figuring out when the ice on Rock Lake will be free, and several organizations have their own contests that award prizes to the first person to identify the date that the freeze out is on other lakes in the park. Seeing as Rock Lake is the main concern for the Spring 2008 AA opener event, I've decided to host a contest on how can correctly predict the day Rock Lake will be ice free and accessible by canoe.

He's what I'm proposing.

Anyone can make a guess as to when Rock Lake will be ice free, and hence may enter one prediction vote on the ice freeing up date.
Once you cast your vote, it is final (where have I heard that before?!?!?!)
The person who is closes will win.
In the event that more then one person selects the winning day, the winner will be selected by whom cast their vote first.

Here's the good stuff:

1st prize; a 6 pack of Steel Back Beer (yes it's bottled in a plastic bottle)
2nd prize; a AA canoe size sticker decal if I can make one from the iron on model
3rd prize; get first pick in a teams snowball fight.

But note: while anyone can play, and there is no entrance fee, or skill testing question at the end, all prizes must be collected by the Saturday Night festivities of the Spring 2008 AA Opener.

So let the melt begin!

(All prizes are donated by Proppe's Paddles http://algonquincanoeing.blogspot.com/, as a way of saying thanks to everyones hospitality and encouragement during the last few months. With out AA, I think I might have gone stir crazy these past few months, as the long, cold and snowy winter was really staring to get me down, but in reading so many wonderful posts, exploring others trips by visiting their trip logs and by seeing so many beautiful images of our park I now know that I have so much to look forward to!

While I guess I can't vote, being the person holding the contest, let it be known that my prediction is April 23, 2008

Cheers to Rock Lake Melting!

Jeff

I still say Apr 20 (Same day as Canoe Lake )

Jeffrey

Hey Jeffrey,

I heard you were at the last AA outing. Are you planning on attending this one as well?

Hope so, more the merrier.

Jeff

Possibly with Markus . It should be fun, I've never gone canoeing in the spring before. It'd be nice to meet some new folks and see some of the people I met last fall again..

Jeff

Sad to say, Ice out won't be till 1 May


That being the case, the 6 pack I will win might as well be
consumed by those present as my gesture and donation to the AA opening
seeing I can't be there

Rac n

I think the ice will be off Rock Lake about 1 minute before I arrive on
April 25th!


Bo

The ice is gone here. They cut power, There's a fire behind my place, around the corner. Superburger is up in flames!!
ahhhh!

I'm voting, and hoping, for Apr. 24, - the same as my vote for Canoe Lake.
But I wouldn't be surprised if it's later than that

Stainless

I am with Racoon on this one. I can still see ice on the Bay of Quinte and the park is usually 4 weeks behind. The weather is calling for below normal temps for the next couple of days in Whitney and things not warming up until the middle of next week. The long range is looking like another couple of days of below normal temps thrown into the mix during the week of the opener.

I am booked to go in on May 06 for 11 days. Although I am reasonably optimistic the lakes will be clear by then I prefer the ice be off the water at least a week before I am on it.

I am predicting and hoping for April 30. And if I win and the AA group meets up a little later on Rock Lake, Bo, I think I owe you a couple from our meeting on Sec. Enjoy and share it with the Rock Lake group. I hope I am wrong and you all have a great weekend.

Coach

Not all those who wander are lost - JRR

I'm still cautiously optimistic.. lets say April 24.

K

Well if, IF the ice isn't out by the 24th, I'll just camp at the campground.
Here's hoping to it being gone!

here's 2 pics from last nights fire;

Crappy picture, it was 3am, I was half asleep, stumbling around in the dark, found my camera and clothes
went out took a few shots...got home figured out why they were so dark...still had my polarized lens mounted...DOH!
I was very sleepy, and it was raining too.


From my window


Markus
Etobicoke, Onterry-airy-airy-Ohhh!

Ice Out = April 28th this year. My prediction.

Sal

Hope yer right as that's the day I'm heading in!!

As always, your photography is great, and YES we will be chatting about a possible exhibit, even if it KILLS me, but I still don't have you down for an ice out date on Rock Lake


The clock is thicken my friend, and I'd hate for you to be last to be selected to a snowball fight team.

FYI. Even if Rock Lake is not open I sat we all star at the campgrounds of Rock Lake a make a weekend of it anyways!

Cheers...

Jeff
http://algonquincanoeing.blogspot.com/

I think your monitor is better than mine..heh heh.

I figure rock lake around the 28th...so I'll camp at the campground on Rock Lake.

Markus
Etobicoke, Onterry-airy-airy-Ohhh!

So tell me, do you have an iChat account or IAM? If so, I wouldn't mind adding you to my list, as everyone sais you are very wise!

If you don't want to post it publicly, I understand, but perhaps you could e-mail it to me directly

Jeff