Dawn turned into morning quickly. It was nice to be out in the warhorse again. We slipped out of the small lagoon and raced through the cold morning air out to the ice shelf. There we sat. I listened to the ice crackling like mouth full of pop rocks. I dug around a bit in my gear to get out the video camera. I didn’t want an image, but it was the only way I could record the sound. I’m not sure it’s really something you can capture. As I paddled off again I pushed up my speed. My wake slowly built up a roll in the thinning ice which chased behind me as the popping and cracking increased to a surprisingly loud volume. Near the western shore of the lake I followed a lead for a bit until I realized I would not get around the lake just yet. I had to back peddle and occasionally give myself paddle space by breaking the ice on either side of the boat. Soon I had come back far enough to turn the kayak in about 20 feet of space between Ice and boulders.

I followed the eastern shore as well and again was met with a wall of ice that was just thick enough not to let me pass. Here I took time to hold my little camera down below the surface and for the first time, see what the lake ice looked like from below.

Before heading back into shore, I stopped my boat in amongst some floating ice that reminded me of a giant ice filled soda glass. I put on my 5mm hood and was quickly reminded how un-comfortable they are. Then just as the park ranger was driving down to the landing about 20 yards away, I dropped below the surface. For a moment I just hung there feeling nothing. But soon I could feel a chill in my shoulders as the cold reached through my drysuit. My forehead began to burn. I reached forward and set up my roll, then slowly rose to the surface. Ice water ran over my eyes and down my face as I slipped off the hood. I quickly paddled back through the lagoon and to the Jeep. . . thankfully the heater works!!