ICE OUT Ely Minnesota has OPEN WATER!

Yesterday (Friday) was a beautiful day and it was warm.  Haven't been able to say that for a while.  In the afternoon the wind began to pick up.  As the wind increased its velocity overnight Shagawa Lake succumbed to Spring - finally.  The official word on time that the ice went out will come in the Ely papers next week, but that is really of little concern, because we're free!

It is a much darker and grey day than yesterday, but that's o.k. too.

Yeah!

View of Shagawa Lake (NO ICE) from Grand Ely Lodge 2011

View of Shagawa Lake (NO ICE) from Grand Ely Lodge 2011

View of Shagawa Lake (NO ICE) from Grand Ely Lodge 2011

One of the cool things about Ely is that there are several web cams up.  Yesterday morning I looked at this one posted at Moose Lake.  The lake was full of rotted ice.  This morning... well look for yourself.  http://www.customcabins.com/webcam.html

Ely, gateway to the Boundary Waters is ice free.  Later, we'll give you an update on Burntside Lake which usually holds onto its ice longer than other lakes around Ely.

**************************BURNTSIDE LAKE UPDATE********************
Burntside ice has moved away from shore and ice is blowing up on islands but the big bay is still mostly ice covered.  That would  indicate that the big lakes of the BWCAW and Quetico are still in the same shape.  Maybe it’ll go out this weekend with the wind and the shift to the NW soon.  Stay tuned for up to the minute reports.   ---  Steve Piragis