This has been a great winter. Soon after I bought some “nordic” free-heel ice skates the snow came covering the ponds and lakes. It stayed cold for many weeks and cross country skiing was the best in years. Then a few warm days and torrential rain ruined the snow. But the rain created great ice on the rivers and lakes of the area.
Three of us entered Lake Sunapee Sunday just south of Herrick’s Light and skated south on ice that was amazing in its variety. By the time we circled Great Island and returned, we had experienced beautiful smooth black ice as well as some rough ice. Everywhere the patterns and details in the ice fascinated us. The ice was anything but silent. It made low popping noises much like muffled firecrackers in the distance. This was a bit unnerving, but eventually I got use to it, sort of..
