Ice Cutting Winter 2009
Larry Cutting Ice
Pulling the First block
Ice Cutting Team 2009
We are ready for your most important summer need. Ice has been harvested for keeping the groceries fresh and your drinks cool. Over the Christmas break we were able to harvest fourteen tonnes of ice in about three hours. The temperature was minus 15 degrees celsius with a stiff wind. Larry’s chainsaw kept freezing solid and had to be thawed before more cuts could be made. Even with minor delays the job went quickly with many hands to help. We did invite a few farm boys to go “ice fishing” and they eagerly accepted the challenge.
The first picture is Larry cutting the blocks loose with a chainsaw and a metal jig that is well over forty years old. The block he is standing on is the one he is cutting and I still do not have life insurance on him! Notice the spray of water as his blade reaches beyond the ice layers to the open water below.
The next picture is the first block being pulled from the lake. There is always a point where the block starts to pull you in before it commits to being pulled out. Each block weighs about 500lbs. The large block will then be cut into three smaller blocks that will be loaded onto sleighs and pulled by snowmobile up to the ice house. There the blocks are unloaded and stacked into position. Many of you have seen our summer ice house and know that it keeps all the fresh produce at a degree above freezing and is one of the reasons we can offer such great food at Caverhill.
The final picture is part of the ice cutting group. Haley, our new dog had dried out by this time after taking a quick dip in the lake and was happy to be in the picture. The standing blocks are extras that we created an “Ice Henge” with for New Years celebrations. Still energy to play after all the hard work was done.
Ice cutting is a historical event and I always think of the men and horses that supplied the ice for cities in California. Fourteen tonnes was just a drop in the bucket.
We are back to normal after the excitement of the holiday season. Record snow levels already bode well for lots of water this summer. Although temperatures have jumped from weeks of -30 to a high today of 0. Very strange weather patterns that I know many of you are also experiencing.
If you would like to comment on the blog or add a story and pictures of your fishing adventures “mouse” over the “No Comments” just beside the title and click or click on the title. A comment window should open up. I will try to post a few photos once a month.
Looking forward to hearing from you soon.
One of my best getaways was at Caverhill Lodge. Even though I don’t fish, I had the best time relaxing, hiking, kayaking, canoeing, chatting with Marlene and Larry, and of course eating. The place is amazing and the food of a 5 star restaurant. I heard the fishing is great and there are 15 lakes to choose from, but I was too busy doing everything else…
Great pictures of the ice cutting adventure…Wow! And to think I might have asked for an ice cube at some point. Just from the tap will be fine, thank you.
Tish and I find time to get to the mountains near Aspen. I like the Aspen area because of some terrific fishing there on some “gold medal” streams like the Frying Pan and did have one special day this Fall when I got one big rainbow and some smaller rainbows and browns. But nothing compares to those Kamloops at Caverhill. Though I prefer stream fishing, the fifteen lakes at Caverhill are nothing short of spectacular if you just like to catch lots of fish. My arms were sore for weeks afterwards after all the tossing the fly and reeling in the fish.
As far as reading material there is nothing like the books written by John Gierach who is a local fly fisherman and fly tier. “Standing in a River Waving a Stick” and “Sex, Life, and Flyfishing” is another one. There are several more. He weaves a story with some of his great fishing experiences and keeps you entertained. He actually lives in Lyons, Colorado just up the road from us and enjoys the life of the fisherman. Lots of great stories. I’ll try to remember to bring a couple with me on our next trip to Caverhill.
Steve and I are talking about coming together this summer without the spouses, so we’ll be back to you soon.