Living in Place

Red Tent on Ice

67 Comments

On Saturday, Clif and I took a walk to the Narrows Ponds to see if there was any activity on the frozen water. At 40°F, the weather was reasonably warm—for February—but as we would soon find out, a brisk wind made it feel much colder. Never mind. Clif and I are Mainers, and if we can’t stand a little nippy weather, then we don’t deserve our north-of-north status.

The Narrows Pond Road has some snow, but not as much as it often does this time of year. In February, the banks are usually much higher.

The closer we got to the Narrows, the harder the wind blew. Did I bring the half-fingered gloves so that I could more comfortably take pictures? I did not. Lulled by the balmy temperature on our house’s thermometer, I left the half-fingered gloves at home and wore regular ones. This, of course, meant I had to take off my gloves whenever I snapped a picture. As the old saying goes, we grow too soon old and too late wise.

On the Lower Narrows, there was only one ice fishing shelter—it can hardly be called a shack—and I have never seen anything like it. A smart-looking tent, the shelter gave the impression that the family had set up house on the ice and was going to stay there for rest of the weekend.

A quick look on the Internet was all it took to let me know that ice fishing tents are readily available at a range of prices. I’m not exactly sure why I’ve never noticed one before. Maybe it’s because I don’t walk on the ice anymore and therefore don’t see the variety of shelters?

Anyway, after having seen this snappy shelter on our walk, I’ll be on the lookout for others.

Today, my blogging friend Judy, from New England Garden and Thread, wrote, “I always find it interesting that there are people and houses out on the ice when you can actually see open water…”

Judy, it happens in Maine, too, and here is a broader shot that includes the open water and the red tent shelter, which is no doubt far enough away for safety’s sake. But still.

Ducks, who have no reason to fear thin ice, cluster on the edge and observe the goings-on.

Across the causeway, on the Upper Narrows, there is little open water, only a sliver by the road and culvert.

Oddly enough, there are no ice fishing shacks on this side. Just a wide expanse of snow-covered ice with two shadows watching.

 

 

 

 

67 thoughts on “Red Tent on Ice”

    1. BTW – If you are using an iPhone to take your photos – you can simply line up the shot with your gloves on and ask Siri to snap the photo for you. If using a Samsung phone, you can simply set your phone to ‘voice-activation mode’ and say ‘cheese’ when you want to snap a pic. I’m not sure why it took me so long to learn this simple trick!

      1. Thanks for the tip, which I will use with the next phone I get. My current phone, an old one, doesn’t take very good pictures, and I always use my camera.

  2. HI, Laurie – I absolutely love all of the photos that you have displayed here — especially the one with the red tent. That single shot alone tells so many stories. Thank you for sharing this with us!

  3. Wonderful photos. I can’t imagine feeling comfortable sitting around the red tent with all that open water in view, but I guess they know what they’re doing. Thanks for the pictures.

  5. I love the red tent! The color alone made me smile. The whole ice fishing thing is fascinating to me. I looked at that huge auger at Lake Winni and thought what is running through your mind when you stand up and start augering in the ice at your feet. 🙂 It’s fun that you can take your walk and see them. We have a reservoir close to us and usually see someone at least ice fishing when we drive by. I love it. 🙂

  6. We lived on a lake when we were kids. I was always fascinated by the idea that someone would want to sit out on the lake and fish when it was so cold. I never went inside an icefishing shack…maybe they were wonderful in there. We also had plenty of people that fished while sitting on buckets outside. One guy was out there every morning and there until evening many days of the week. My dad said his marriage must have really been terrible for him to choose to sit out there instead. 🙂 🙂 🙂 I love the red tent on the ice, but I too would not be out there if there was open water anywhere that I could see.

  7. I agree with other comments, thanks so much for taking the trouble to take these photos with your very cold fingers! You show me a world so very different to mine, especially the red tent in the middle of the lake! A delight to see, I hope they are enjoying their fishing/ camping weekend.

  9. Love the snow covered shot with your shadows and I’ve never understood the ice tents that are close to open water!! I’ve been seeing more of the tents the last few years and this year I’ve seen a few double tents that hold up to six people.🙂

  10. Goodness, you were warmer than we were! (I think our high was 37.) I’ve never found ice fishing compelling, I’d rather be moving to stay warm. 😉
    I’ve been enjoying the sunny days in-between storms, making sure to get out for a good snowshoe hike. I’m loving the crisp weather and the return of longer days. I like a REAL winter! 🙂

  14. I quite like fishing. However, I don’t think I’d like sitting on a sheet of melting ice dangling a line through a hole. I wouldn’t mind standing in firm ground taking pictures of shadows and red tents. Some good shots there.

  19. Great pics and I’m fascinated about tents or shacks in any form on the ice, and with or without open water 👍❤️ Thanks so much for sharing.

  20. Love the red against the snow – ice fishing – sounds like madness to me!
    Being so still at those low temperatures, brrrr! and however thick the ice beneath me was supposed to be, I couldn’t go there!
    Love the photo with your shadows – I’m waving back (i know you are taking a photo – but to me you are waving 🙂 )

  22. It is positively balmy here compared with your place but even so my fingers were very cold when I walked the dogs and I had thick gloves on! I admire the dedication to take your gloves off and take pictures! |They are lovely and sitting here in the warm seems the perfect way to view the snow!

  25. We haven’t even made it up to the freezing point for days on end — and they tell us it will be at least 11 more days before we do. It’s brr-cold here, Laurie. Love the photos you’ve shared. That red tent really stands out, doesn’t it? But I’m not sure I’d want to be out there that close to the water — can you fathom falling in and having your clothes freeze on you??

  26. The phrase “tempting fate” came to mind when I looked at that crew out on the ice. “Better thee, than me” crossed my mind, too. I wouldn’t mind giving ice skating on a lake, or even ice fishing, a try, but I’d have to be guaranteed the ice was a whole lot thicker. Open water? No thanks! I will say that red tent is as striking as a cardinal in snow — just beautiful!

    1. It’s probably fine away from the open water, but I would be leery, too. Anyway, my days of going on the ice are over. In my younger years, I used to walk all over the Narrows in the winter. Me and my dog buddy. Good times.

  29. Interesting to see more of the Narrows. I wish we had some, if just because I like the term. I’m not sure I’d fancy fingerless gloves, though. My fingers are always the coldest bits. I’ll vote for a shadow feature. Seeing yours together made me smile.

    1. The Narrows Ponds are two of the loveliest bodies of water in Winthrop. Clean and not as developed as other lakes and ponds are. A shadow feature might just be in the works.

  31. You live in beautiful country, Laurie. I have to say I got a bit weak in the knees when I saw the long shot with the lake and the tent on ice. I’ve seen one too many movies of people falling through. I’m sure they’ve done their homework and all is safe.

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