Just a FYI to you and everyone, pretty sure Haws Point doesn’t just get a pressure ridge. I can account reading about a lot of four (or six) wheelers getting stuck or going through around that point (read about warm springs? Maybe just shallow and warmer spot?).
In response.
A pressure ridge can clearly be seen on the posted pictures. I will maintain that in this case, there were no “warm springs” that caused this accident. Pressure ridges can occur anywhere, but they very commonly do start where land sticks out into a lake. There often is one around Haws Point, heading either back towards the marina or heading out towards the narrows. There also is one that seems to appear every year in the area of the campground point before you go into east Portal bay. That one is there now. Last week, it was kind of scary to cross. As I stated before, please use caution around any one you encounter.
While you fellers can conjecture about warm springs at Haws, there is one area that does seem to have consistently thin ice and has claimed several sleds and ATV’s over the years. That is near the island before you go into Renegade. I don’t know if there truly are springs there, if it is the water current or some other factor, but that area seems to claim one or two vehicles every single year. I do recommend giving that island area a wide berth if going to Renegade.
Thanks for that tip I will be wary in that area. Also the island area mentioned in the last post is the old dam spot I mentioned it does have some funky juju going on there it’s a lot thinner ice than the surroundings. Seen sleds go through there last spring. So that’s a good warning to not cut that corner hang wide into the main body of the reservoir. Thanks all for the tips and warnings I hope to get smarter so I don’t get into problems down there. Thanks J
Just a FYI to you and everyone, pretty sure Haws Point doesn’t just get a pressure ridge. I can account reading about a lot of four (or six) wheelers getting stuck or going through around that point (read about warm springs? Maybe just shallow and warmer spot?).
In response.
A pressure ridge can clearly be seen on the posted pictures. I will maintain that in this case, there were no “warm springs” that caused this accident. Pressure ridges can occur anywhere, but they very commonly do start where land sticks out into a lake. There often is one around Haws Point, heading either back towards the marina or heading out towards the narrows. There also is one that seems to appear every year in the area of the campground point before you go into east Portal bay. That one is there now. Last week, it was kind of scary to cross. As I stated before, please use caution around any one you encounter.
That point by the campground has either open water or at least thin ice every year, with or without a pressure ridge. I think it is a result of the water being only a few inches deep, for an extended distance, near that point and the sun warms the sand/mud on the bottom there, which in turns raises the temperature of the water directly above it. I could be entirely wrong, but if I am it won’t be the first time and likely not the last time I have been wrong. There is always a pressure ridge close by that also adds to the danger.
If interested, I thought I would just post this up regarding all this pressure ridge talk. Being a Flaming Gorge addict during ice season, I found this to be a good read regarding pressure ridges. The ridges on the Gorge are no joke!
Just a FYI to you and everyone, pretty sure Haws Point doesn’t just get a pressure ridge. I can account reading about a lot of four (or six) wheelers getting stuck or going through around that point (read about warm springs? Maybe just shallow and warmer spot?).
In response.
A pressure ridge can clearly be seen on the posted pictures. I will maintain that in this case, there were no “warm springs” that caused this accident. Pressure ridges can occur anywhere, but they very commonly do start where land sticks out into a lake. There often is one around Haws Point, heading either back towards the marina or heading out towards the narrows. There also is one that seems to appear every year in the area of the campground point before you go into east Portal bay. That one is there now. Last week, it was kind of scary to cross. As I stated before, please use caution around any one you encounter.
That point by the campground has either open water or at least thin ice every year, with or without a pressure ridge. I think it is a result of the water being only a few inches deep, for an extended distance, near that point and the sun warms the sand/mud on the bottom there, which in turns raises the temperature of the water directly above it. I could be entirely wrong, but if I am it won’t be the first time and likely not the last time I have been wrong. There is always a pressure ridge close by that also adds to the danger.
You are correct, especially later in the season. As I recall, you watched me get my boots soggy over there on a late season trip together. When the temps are cold and ice is building with hard edges, the ridge is the biggest threat there. Later on, both become a notable threat. I suspect it may be the same mechanism that may cause Haws to be risky at times.
Oddly enough, that island spot by Renegade seems to be hazardous all the time.
I can tell you were the thin spot is located as I went in one year with an ATV. It is right where the old dike is located (not the dam). On the west side. ( so this is where it narrows, heading south from Haw Point before it opens up into the meadows).
I went through on the 3rd weekend in February & it was 20 below when we left the parking lot. When I went through there was an inch of ice covered with about an inch of new snow. So there was no way to see it coming. The rest of the reservoir had 20-inches of ice. There is a warm spring located here & most years I don’t think it freezes.
Since going through, I have learned you never parallel the shore close to shore. Always travel out in the deep water where the ice is not affected by shallow warm springs. There are several of these warm springs all over the reservoir. These is another location in the narrows that has eaten several snow sleds.