Zumbro - spots to watch - driving out?

[smallieobsession]

Just curious if Zumbro is still safe to drive straight across to east shore from Ponderosa access. First year on the ice there and I'm leary of possible current creating some weak spots with the warm weather. Figure someone that has more experiance out there than I could clue me in on spots to avoid (already know to stay clear of fishermans Inn and south).

[CrappieJohn]

The ice will be safe there if you go out of the Ponderosa restaraunt access. I would not suggest the campground access as it will run you too close to the dam. There is water on the ice at the access you need to take, but the ice is good. I'd be cautious of going much further than the highbanks right now, but the slushy travel might prevent getting that far down anyway.

[Uncle Grump]

CT

Can you clarify these accesses a bit? By Ponderosa campground access, do you mean the DNR access?

Where is the resturant access? Is this one a 'pay to play'? If so - where does one pay the tresspass fee and how much is it?

Thanks

UG

[CrappieJohn]

UG.... when I speak of the Ponderosa access, I speak of the one found directly behind the eating establishment and NOT the one at the campground/dnr boat ramp.

To find the one at the eatshop, you need to enter the parking area NORTH of the building and as far as I know there is no collection for access. I've never seen a place to collect money at that spot.

I have never personally used the dnr access in the winter....rumors of iffy ice cause by the water's interaction with the dam. I don'tknow....just never chanced it. The access at Fishermans I hear is still being used by some, but I won't use that either with the recent heat and melt water. That area will have open water in it within just a couple weeks to a month.....just not worth the chances.

[Dan Thiem]

I went down to the resturant access tonight and I didn't see any cars or tracks going out on the lake. I did see a camper that got pulled from out on the lake all the way to the ramp but stopped just before going up it. There is a big patch of ice with no snow on it right at the base of the ramp. It looks as if it was a huge piece of open water that refroze. Too freaky for me to try.It doesn't look like anybody has been coming or going out at that access.

I didn't go up to Fishermans Inn and see how that was but I can't imagine that would be any better.

I'll wait and see what is going on out there this weekend.

[Down to Earth]

Thanks for the heads up Dan. With the warm weather and the current of Zumbro tricky ice situations will definately be the way of things from here on out probably.

[smallieobsession]

I stopped by the Ponderosa access on Sat afternoon just to check it out. There was a lot of standing water at the bottom of the ramp and I was thinking it was in fact open water but as I was sitting there checking it out, a couple trucks came off the lake and up the ramp (and through all the mud leading to/from the ramp).

Obviously then it wasn't open water and there must of been plenty of ice still. I guess I'd be willing to drive out again but only in the tracks of someone else I saw drive on on it ahead of me;-)

[Uncle Grump]

CT, Dan, Andy, Smallie...

Thanks for the info. Appreciate it.

UG