THE BUBBLES ARE PLAYING HIDE & SEEK
The lake is currently 100% snow-covered after a series of spring storms. Finding the bubbles will take some work.
Based on ice conditions checks from April 3, 2023.
It's April, and this will be the last update of an amazing bubble season.
Spring may be here but Mother Nature hasn't got the memo yet. As recent series of storms has completely covered the lake in a thick layer of snow, over 15 cm deep in places. The constant variation of temperatures (down to -20 overnight, and above 10 during the day) means the snow is very crusty, making it fairly hard to dig through. It will take some work finding the bubbles until the wind picks up again and blows all of that snow away. For the time being, you will need to dig and scrape in order to find them.
Where to Go
The best spots to find the bubbles and areas of concern are the same as in our last few updates.
As the days get longer and warmer, make sure you are up to date with your ice safety knowledge prior to venturing out on the ice. Remember that the Red Cross recommends an ice depth of at least 15 cm when walking alone, or 20 cm when part of a group. Stay safe, and enjoy the remainder of the bubble hunting season!
Head Out With A Guide
Make the most of your adventure and head out with a guide. Nordegg Adventures offers guided tours on Abraham Lake from November to April. Snowshoes, ice cleats and kicksleds are also available to rent in Nordegg.
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FAQ
Is it safer if I stay close to shore? Most accidents happen on the shore and near the shore where the ice is the weakest.
What will the conditions be like tomorrow? The truth is that we don't know. The weather is unpredictable and conditions change quickly. Case in point, earlier this week the forecast only changed to include rain an hour before it started raining. Until then we were forecasted to have a nice sunny day. What we can share is what we saw that day to give you a starting point as you plan your adventure.
How come I didn't see bubbles while you posted some from that day? We get this question a lot and it usually depends on where you went. Abraham Lake is a large reservoir and conditions can be drastically different from one end to the other. The Nordegg Adventures guides sharing these updates are on the lake daily and know where to go depending on the conditions. If you're heading out on your own, use the information we share as a starting point and give yourself plenty of time to explore different locations if conditions at your first choice are less than ideal.
Plan Ahead to be Safe
Please make sure to follow a few simple tips to be safe on your next adventure:
- Know where you are going. We're seeing a lot of people putting themselves into dangerous situations simply by being in the wrong place.
- Don't get stuck. Parking lots and access are not always maintained. Driving down to the lake is a lot easier than driving back up. If you have any doubts, park at the road and walk in.
- Be prepared for the weather. It's cold and windy on Abraham Lake. Dress warm and bring extra clothes in your vehicle.
We share more ice safety information here. If you are not familiar with ice safety or Abraham Lake we recommend booking a tour with local guides.
Ice Safety
We share this information to help visitors to the area plan their trip. This represents the conditions we have observed at a specific point in time. Ice safety depends on many more factors than just ice conditions and anybody going on the ice should have the knowledge and experience required to assess the risks, or should consider going with a guide.
