Pursuit Adventures

We get a lot of people asking us if Abraham Lake is frozen. The Preacher's Point area has been frozen since late October but the rest of the lake is still open water. The lake usually freezes in mid to late December, some years as late as January. Keep in mind that ice conditions are variable at the moment with the warm temperatures we have been experiencing. There are a lot of great spots that can be accessed safely but while doing ice checks for our tours yesterday we were finding some areas that are best to be avoided, especially over the main river channel. All photos are from this week.

Playing on the ice after dark... Preacher's Point - November 24 2020

This is the second post in a series about #icebubblesafety on Abraham Lake we've put together to help those planning to head out on their own. The link to the first post about safety on the shore is in the comments. Abraham Lake is a hydroelectric reservoir on the North Saskatchewan River. The water fluctuates throughout the year as electricity is produced, helping create the ice bubbles and the great ice features along the shore.... The difference between the high and low water level is around 30 to 40 metres. That's 2 to 3 times the size of the tides on the Bay of Fundy. The difference is that unlike the tide, the lake level changes from high to low over the course of 6 months where the tides happen over 6 hours. On Abraham Lake the highest level happens in late September while the lowest level is in May. During the winter months the water level continuously drops. It's a common misconception, often shared on social media and in the recent article by the Red Deer Advocate that the level fluctuates up and down on a daily or weekly basis, depending on how much water the dam is releasing. You can see on https://rivers.alberta.ca (look up the station Bighorn Reservoir - TAU) that the level drops faster when more electricity is produced, for example during a cold snap, and at other times stay constant or decrease slowly. It doesn't rise significantly until the spring runoff starts in May. As the lake level drops it leaves ice on the shore, as we discussed in the last post. It can also create a dangerous situation where there is an air gap between the ice and the water, increasing the risk of falling through and making it harder to get out. This happens mostly in areas where the shore is steep. A good place is to see this in action, without going on the ice, is at the Allstones Lake Staging Area. You can see the broken ice blocks on the steep banks and in the days after a large release of water at the dam you can watch the ice collapse. Another thing to look for is small bays and concave shorelines, like the one in the picture, which create a similar risk and are best to be avoided as well. Reduce your risks when you head out on the ice by choosing locations that have a gentle slope like the areas between Hoodoo Creek and Cline Creek and avoid areas with steep banks like the area between Allstones Creek and Windy Point. In the next post we'll take a look at ice safety when heading out on the lake. David Thompson Country Travel Alberta Rocky Mountain House Search & Rescue RMH Visitor Information Centre . ' , .

Can we still see the bubbles? Definitely. The ice is cloudy or snow covered in some sections of the lake but thanks to the strong winds over the past week we're still finding some great spots on our tours. These shots are from February 15, 2020.

We've had a lot of questions from people planning their Abraham Lake adventure after the post from Rocky Mountain House Search & Rescue and the rather sensational headline from the Red Deer Advocate. One of the unintended consequences we've seen after those stories is people avoiding the safer area where the hole is and going to more dangerous sections of the lake instead. We love seeing people enjoy Abraham Lake. Unfortunately, there isn't a lot of information available for ...those going without a guide. We'll share some tips over the next few days on how to safely plan your trip to the ice bubbles. Almost all the incidents involving the public that we witness while guiding happen on the shore, not on ice that has water underneath. Once the water level drops, the ice sits unevenly on the ground below. That creates some amazing ice features with crazy lines mixed in with the ice bubbles. The picture of the hole with overhanging ice is an extreme example of what you need to watch out for when you access the lake or if you choose to look for ice bubbles without going on the water. The ice that sits on the rocks gets brittle over time. What we often see is the ice breaking as you walk, not into a deep hole but just enough to make you trip and fall. The other common thing is slip and falls in areas where the ice slopes down. Both are easy to prevent or at least reduce the risk of injuries. First, wear proper ice cleats rather than the ones designed for city sidewalks. We recommend the Kahtoola Micropsikes or the Hillsound Trail Crampon. Second, use a hiking pole to help with balance and to check if the ice is solid. Finally, look around and choose your path accordingly. Walk on rocks or clear ice whenever possible avoiding snow-covered areas where you can't see what's underneath. Avoid going down areas that are too steep to walk down easily, they'll be even harder to get back up In the next post, we'll take a look at the water level fluctuations and the potential for an air gap between the ice and water. #icebubblesafety David Thompson Country Travel Alberta Rocky Mountain House & Clearwater County Visitor Information Centre . ' , .

It's been a season of extremes with unseasonably warm days and -40C temperatures, crazy snowstorms and eerily quiet days but we're still having fun on Abraham Lake. It's not too late to join us for an ice walk or a snowshoe tour to the Cline River canyon this season.

We are looking to add to our team! Are you interested in sharing your love for the winter with others? We would love to hear from you. Send us a message, apply to the job posting or email Danielle - [email protected]!