Photo: Sean R. Heavey

Good morning again from below Fort Peck dam near the Missouri River. We had a long but fun day on the ice. We decided to move base camp from the marina landing to Duck Creek, the 2020 DN North Americans’ launch site. There was a rough ice area between the launch and the black ice that would have been difficult for the C Skeeters to push through. (DNers who used the south launch on Black Lake in Michigan at the U.S. Nationals will understand. It was challenging moving a DN through the minefield; imagine pushing a C Skeeter.)

We had plenty of willing and capable help to figure out the logistics of the move. Sean and his friend Dave carefully towed Daniel and Pat across the rough ice and around a heave. Once on the black ice, the sails remained rolled up on the planks, and they sailed using only their masts to the new launch.

The wind finally subsided enough later in the afternoon for some sailing and photography. A line of snow squalls on the other side of the lake provided an artistic backdrop.

After a dinner at the Gateway, we went back to the ice so that Sean, Dave, and another friend of his, Carlos, could experiment with lighting effects for night photography. Underwater flares were cool to watch, but they didn’t provide enough light for these photographers’ vision.
Sean, Dave, and Carlos brought out a host of specialized lights and rigging. We’ll be on the ice again tonight and hoping for a clear night sky with visible stars.

The winds are conducive for C Skeeter sailing at 12-18 mph with a 30F temperature. Pat is cooking up some eggs, and I’d better get ready to go to the ice. We are also expecting some Montana sailors to arrive this afternoon.

Here’s how Lake Mendota compares to Fort Peck Lake.

The playground, scoured by 55 mph gusts on Monday.

Good morning from the shores of one of the dredge cuts leftover from the Fort Peck Dam construction in Montana. We’ll be heading to the lake when the sun rises to set up the boats.

On Sunday night, we arrived in Minnesota to pick up Pat and his C skeeter. Of course, this being iceboating, Daniel’s boat needed a few adjustments to the cascading block system. Then the trailer had to be painstakingly packed to avoid any other component rubbing and potentially to destroy the bubble canopies. Happy to report that all parts arrived in excellent conditions.

We drove all through the night towards the setting moon, practically the only traffic on the interstate through North Dakota. We met up with Sean Heavey in Glasgow at breakfast as the high wind warnings came to fruition and made a plan for the day.

Ice fishing folks braving the 55 mph wind gusts filled the landing we used for the 2020 DN North Americans. Pat and Daniel helped local DNer Tim Ogrinic wrestle his DN off the ice and checked into our house located 20 minutes from the landing. It was a day to scout for courses from the car and return to the Gateway restaurant for lunch, where we spent a lot of time in 2020.

We’ll be leaving soon to set up at the Marina landing. The ice more towards the dam has excellent potential. Stay tuned on Facebook and here for an evening report.