McCarthy Ice Skating Maze

Leah skates on the ice skating maze she and her mother Hannah Rowland created in McCarthy. Photo by Hannah Rowland. ten = ice

By Hannah Rowland

This January, when we had just received our base layer of snow to start enjoying snow sports, the weather took a turn for the “worse” and warmed up. Thankfully, it did not get warm enough or rain enough in McCarthy to take away our snow, but the conditions were bad. If we put tracks in it while it was warm, it would not be as nice as if we had left it alone for the warm spell. 

Last winter there was a solid group who were keeping up with the ice conditions of the swimming hole, but no one had taken it up yet this season. A friend had also mentioned they spotted some waxwings near the swimming hole, so I was thinking a trip there might be fun. 

After a few minutes of digging; I found the condition of the ice to be quite fair. I decided I could be more efficient if I shoveled a loop instead of trying to clear an entire circle. Our loop took shape. 

Leah helped make quite a bit of fun shortcuts, and Ida mostly played around while we worked. It helped that it was warm outside instead of our usual January of too cold to enjoy over 20 minutes of outdoor play. At one point the girls were so warm they even took off their coats. Ida spotted the waxwings first and we enjoyed watching them and the beautiful sunset before heading home.

After two days of shoveling, we were able to skate on a full loop of somewhat smooth ice, but there were some indents due to some groves made by early snowmachine travel and snow. With Leah’s shortcuts placed here and there it resembled something like a maze, except there were no dead ends. 

We had a couple days after this where it did get normal January cold, but then it warmed back up, even more than before. For the first time, I was excited about this warm winter weather, because for the ice, it meant it could be perfectly smooth again. We spent more days shoveling the ice path in the snow to place a whole new loop at the end of the first one.

The next time we went to work on it, the ice showed signs of having a top layer that was melting. After completing the new loop, we were eager for the weather to turn cold again and for the ice to freeze smoothly in its path. It took a few days for the temperature to be cold enough to freeze the ice solid, but within a week it was solid and smooth. 

For the next couple of months, while also getting on the snow to sled and ski, we made many trips to our ice maze to go skating. Leah has progressed in her balance on the skates quite well and I soon learned it’s better for Ida to stick to skiing in the snow outside our loop so I don’t need to bend over to help her balance on skates. Ida loves to ski so this works well for both of us. 

Ice skating has always been a fun recreation for me, but this winter I found it was also a way for me to get some faster paced cardio in. Because the loop was fairly small, I could see Leah and Ida from any point, and I found it is easier to skate faster on a small loop than to ski faster on a small loop. 

Each time we arrived at the swimming hole, there was a little bit of snow to clear off. I was pretty good at bringing my shovel or broom with me most of the time, but in late March since it hadn’t snowed, I didn’t bring the shovel or even the broom along and there was lots of windblown snow that had been blown into the loop. 

At first, I just skated through the snow because it wasn’t too deep for the blades, but it soon became clear that if I could clear the snow it would help it to be in better condition longer. I first tried to use my skate blade like a shovel and move my foot sideways, but was not very effective. 

I finally figured out I could use a sled I had brought with us as a “shovel.” As I was pushing the sled along the loop, the snow piling up in the sled and then pausing to empty it out, I heard the voice of “Flynn Rider” in my mind saying: “This is the strangest thing I have ever done.” But it was better than not shoveling at all. 

Up until the middle of this week, the ice was still smooth, and we had lots of fun times skating on our little ice “maze” this winter. But the nights are getting warmer as well as the days and even in the early morning, the ice is not thick enough to skate on anymore. 

This winter has surprised me with how the little snow we do have is lingering longer than I thought it would, but our winter season was nearly shortened by a whole month compared to the last few years of great skiing through April 20, and snow on the trails through Mother’s Day. 

Both girls improved in their balance and abilities on skis this winter and Leah also enjoyed ice skating and even downhill skiing a few times. I am thankful for the mosquito free season of gliding on the ice and snow, having fun adventures with our family. And I am looking forward to friends coming back for the summer and to the hiking and biking we can enjoy. Happy Spring.

Ida and Leah Rowland enjoying time outside while creating an ice skating maze. Photo by Hannah Rowland. ten = ice