Lakeside Dec. 14 at 7AM and 5 below zero - Pictures of the ice in front of Hodsons on the North Shore.
You can see the blossoms of individual ice crystals spread all over the surface . First a wide shot, then a more up close view and finally an individual crystal perched on a small stone that I took off the shore. Each crystal is likely started from a single molecule of water which sticks to some object and the other vapor molecules attach themselves to it until a visible crystal is formed which continues to grow in that one spot. This is ice formation by sublimation. The water going directly from vapor to solid skipping the liquid state. It is not that unusual a phenomenon, for example that is how snow is formed. However I have never seen so many huge crystals formed in one place or such large crystals. The surface of the black ice was covered with them and it was glittering in the sun like diamonds. The trees across the lake on either side of the channel leading to the canal were also covered with rime frost as you can see in the distance. I have never seen anything quite like it. -- Chuck Hodsdon
The Scribner Island is snow covered and you can walk from one side of the river to the Bancroft property over it. The animals have already found the trail and there are loads of tracks going across. For a deer it sure beats going all around, or braving the still thin ice.
Floating island viewed from the lake Floating island viewed from the Scribner
