Wake up groundhogs! The ice out reports for Algonquin Park begin!

The shadows are getting longer every day.

Ice out bloggers must be telepathic. Or at least, "on the same page." As I drove along Hwy 60 yesterday afternoon, admiring the snow covered lakes in Algonquin Park, it occurred to me that I better start gearing up for another fun season of ice-out blogging.

I stopped at Smoke Lake, took a few pictures and thought about posting them today to help people get in the "ice out" frame of mind. I can tell you, it will take me a while to start thinking spring, having just returned returned from four days of amazing skiing at Jay Peak, Vermont, where I participated in a social media experiment called the Northeast Ski Blogger Summit.

This morning I discovered that I had been scooped! The other regular (and highly dedicated) ice-out blogger is Jefferson Ridpath, a Canoe Lake cottager. His site is completely focused on the Canoe Lake ice-out, and you can even enter his "ice-out prediction contest."

As the photos will tell you, Algonquin Park is still firmly in the grip of winter but it is never to early to think spring and get your water taxi booked for spring trout fishing season in Algonquin. If you haven't followed these ice-out reports before, feel free to read tales from previous seasons by clicking here. If cabin fever has you gripped, hop in the car, drive in our direction and enjoy some skiing and snowshoeing on the many lovely trails in and around Algonquin Park.

Smoke Lake on March 8, 2011. It is still winter up here!