I went out Wednesday to check out Hambly Lake which is just south of Verona and accessible from Portland Conservation area. Ice conditions were marginal: about 5 inches total but the 5 inches included 2 inches of slushy crap as the top layer which leave roughly 3 inches of black ice beneath. Yikes! I didn't venture as far as I had planned because I wasn't inclined to walk through major slush patches further out, I caught some small perch in about 21 fow. Tuesday night had been down to -3C so there was some firmness to the slushy layer but still dicey. Ice definitely not safe for ATVs. Ice will be worse Thursday and Friday due to warm temperatures. Hopefully the colder weather starting on Sunday will improve things.
I stopped and had a look at Verona Lake on the way home: plenty of big slush patches, no huts out, no people out.
The ice access from car to lake at Portland Conservation area is a short walk but brutal if you are pulling a sled. It is steep and narrow with small gaps between trees and boulders.
btw I was wearing a pfd and I had a spud in one hand and a screw driver (ice pick) on my other wrist. Be safe out there.
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