If you have a boat and you plan to vacation in the Adirondacks you’ll doubtless have many questions.
- Are you allowed to bring your own boat?
- Does the place you are staying have docks available for guests?
- Will the dock accommodate your size and type of boat?
- Is the dock private or shared?
- Where is the nearest boat launch?
- Where is the nearest marina?
- Are there any special regulations in effect for your boats?
One thing that many people don’t know to ask is when will the dock be available?.
Ice-Out
Over the years there have been occasions when the ice melts later or more dramatically than during other years. For several lakes such as Schroon and Brant in particular, this can mean high water until as late as July, which in turn can mean that private docks may not be able to be placed into the water until the level has settled. During some years, this can mean that you won’t be able to use the dock until as late as sometime in July.
Most of the time on lakes ice-out is a gradual process where the most obvious telltale is the amount of open water. It’s frequently a slow, quiet process. On the other hand, ice-out on a river may be anything but.
On rivers, ice-out can sometimes result in huge ice dams forming as massive blocks of ice jam up in narrow spots that back up and flood the surrounding lowlands upriver from the dams. These can flood roads and cause road and bridge closures that can severely impact access to the area. When these dams break loose it’s often much more dramatic. I’ve heard it described as sounding like a freight train when countless tons of massive ice blocks scour waterfronts clean sometimes resulting in smooth walls of ice along the edge of the river that can be 10 or 15 feet high or more. This tends to occur on the Hudson River but not on the Schroon.
Dock Installation and Removal
Whether your stay is on a lake or a river, the timing of ice-out can mean that if you’re renting an individual home, the timeframe for the owner to have their “dock guy” put the dock in the water may vary widely too, since late spring storms coupled with a late ice-out may mean that there are a lot more docks to get in the water in a shorter time. This can mean you may have to wait a while before the owner is able to put their dock in since there are limited number of people that can do this. This is something beyond the control of the owner, so it’s a great idea to check with them up front before you rent.
A similar situation may occur in the fall. Early freeze or snowfall may make it necessary for them to get the dock out of the water earlier than planned.
Remember that when a dock is placed in the water is entirely up to Mother Nature, and while the docks may be in as early as May, it’s entirely possible that it may be as late as July and/or removed by early October.
Always check with your destination to find out the details before you go!