VII to delay start of season

[johnhens]

From Rolf Peterson:

The Voyageur II from Grand Portage is the first commercial boat that heads to Isle Royale. It will be delaying it's first trip from May 3 to May 14 because of concerns about where all this ice is going to travel (depends on the wind).

[Lucky Chicken]

wow... does that happen often?

[Kevinl]

I was hoping to do the first boat this year, but had to schedule it for the 14th to fit my buddy's schedule. Now I'm on the first boat! Yay! There's just something special about that first trip across.

Thanks for sharing John.

[johnhens]

wow... does that happen often?

First that I am aware of. Last year there were issues getting into Windigo and McCargoe due to ice. The VII was ready to go.

[Midwest Ed]

This has been a near record winter for Lake Superior ice. It has to go somewhere before smaller craft can risk collisions. The snow on the ground is also still at very high levels. Even after last week's warm spell there is still 49 inches on the ground in the Keweenaw (down from a season high of 55 inches just 5 days ago). And there is a big storm expected this weekend, scheduled to deliver 12 to 18 inches of new snow. Last year at this time the ground cover was 40 inches and the park was delayed in it's full opening. Let's hope for a warming April.

[treeplanter]

........ Let's hope for a warming April.

The good news is that the average temperatures are steadily increasing. The bad news is that the Climate Prediction Center is forecasting a cooler-than-normal April. The Coast Guard has already said they expect to see ice on Lake Superior in June this year, if it stays cool.

[philranger]

Sounds like swimming should be fun this year.

[tree rattt]

Only a couple of weeks to go till first boat....looking at the satelite images the island is still pretty iced up! At the rate the weather is going is it going to be ice out by the 14th? Or is mother nature going to promote us all to the first boat in june? What a winter!

[alecto73]

Anyone heard an update on the 5/14 trip and the ice?

[Lucky Chicken]

the satellite images make the lake look a lot cleaner this morning than it did a week ago, the island still looks iced in.

The best update I would expect will be from the first boat to the island that was to leave today with USCG icebreaker escort. I haven't heard anything from their trip yet.

Edit: apparently first trip delayed till Wednesday

[alecto73]

Starting to consider eating the ferry fee. I am not into snowshoeing. My buddy is already bailing.

[Lucky Chicken]

there are places showing bare already... I would wait to get an island report... but its not really my decision, consider it an adventure!

Here is NOAA's snow depth report, I check it on occasion to see how the melt is going... it is a foot lower than it was 3 or 4 days ago.

http://www.nohrsc.noaa.gov/interactive/ ... &js=1&uc=0

[Redbad]

Looks like Rock Harbor and Washington Harbor both have ice cover according to the MODIS satellite imagery on May 5:http://coastwatch.glerl.noaa.gov/webdat ... 3.250m.jpg

I believe that historically (possibly through the early 1980's???) ISRO did not open until mid-to late May, so this year looks to be a throwback year.

[fonixmunkee]

I drove past the VII sitting in dry dock in Duluth yesterday. It's still wrapped and sitting there, waiting to start it's season.

I would guess that as long as the Duluth/Superior harbor entries are blocked in with ice, it will be hard for Capt Don and crew to even get up to Grand Portage, let alone Isle Royale.

[Kevinl]

If it leaves Grand Portage, I'm on that first boat. Watching closely.