This was my third attempt to try to find the methane bubbles. The previous two attempts were unsuccessful as the first time around proved too warm, so the ice was already melting. The second, we had snow covered surface. I also had troubles finding exactly were to pull over to photograph the ice surface. This time I was lucky and was able to finally see them and have a venture out onto the lake. I’ll add some descriptions of where I stopped and will later add a map once I pull the coordinates from my GPS. I drove along Highway 11 from West to East.
Stop 1: Just west of the Cline River Crossing. Small gravel road down to the Lake
The lake at this location was quite shallow, but you could see the bubbles near the shore. The last time around this was covered. The ice was super clear and you could see the bubbles coming up from the lake bed. I walked further out onto the lake and the ice took on more of a turquoise colour.
Amazing Ice Colour near Cline River
Bubbles and Cracks
Stop 2 & 3: Belly of Abraham
The second and third stops were quite close together. East of the Cline River Crossing there is a straight-ish stretch of road with a deciduous tree stand. For stop 2 I parked on the shoulder of the highway and walked towards the lake. This time out the ice by the shore was starting to break up so I didn’t bother walking out – but judging from other photos I think this may be a good stopping point earlier on in the winter. Stop 3 is slightly further east of this. The highway starts to go uphill a bit. As you drive up you’ll see a gravel road/access running along side of the highway . Once you reach the top you can see where people have been turning to get to the access road. The ice here wasn’t as clear but you could still see some of the larger stacks of bubbles through a cloudy surface layer
Directional Bubbles
Some shots from my previous visits to Abraham Lake
Sunrise Ice Reflections
Sunset at Belly of Abraham
Wildlife at Windy Point
