{"id":28879,"date":"2017-03-29T06:18:33","date_gmt":"2017-03-29T10:18:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/huntsville.dopperonline.ca\/?p=28879"},"modified":"2017-03-31T09:00:12","modified_gmt":"2017-03-31T13:00:12","slug":"ao-annual-ice-out-contest","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/doppleronline.ca\/huntsville\/ao-annual-ice-out-contest\/","title":{"rendered":"Can you predict the future? Give it a shot in AO’s annual ice-out contest"},"content":{"rendered":"

The air is warmer, the sap is running, and the Canada geese are flying \u2013 all harbingers of spring. But for many, spring hasn\u2019t truly arrived \u2013 despite the date on the calendar \u2013 until the ice is out.<\/p>\n

What date that happens varies from year to year depending on how harsh the winter has been and how quickly the temperatures begin to rise. Predicting ice-out date is part science, part luck and all fun, says Algonquin Outfitters (AO) marketing manager, Randy Mitson.<\/p>\n

The retailer holds an annual ice-out contest with the winner or winners \u2013 anyone who correctly guesses the ice-out date \u2013 receiving a $25 coupon toward a canoe rental and the chance to win a $100 AO gift card. (If there’s more than one winner, a name is drawn for the prize; a single winner gets it automatically.)<\/p>\n

The ice goes out earlier on some lakes than others so AO measures it on Algonquin Park\u2019s largest lake, Lake Opeongo. The date that an AO water taxi<\/a><\/span> can safely navigate from the dock at the south end of the lake to the top of its north arm is declared the winner.<\/p>\n

In the past, the ice has gone out on Opeongo as early as March 29 (2012) and as late as May 15 (1972) \u2013 the average is April 20. On March 27, the ice on Opeongo was estimated to still be 20 inches thick.<\/p>\n

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Courtesy of the Friends of Algonquin Park. Click the image to see their ice-out page<\/p><\/div>\n

To help with your predictions, AO provides past ice out data and regular reports<\/a><\/span> with pictures \u2013 that\u2019s the science part. You have to enter your guess<\/a><\/span> on the AO website before it becomes obvious when the ice-out date will be (this year, before April 9 or earlier if the ice starts to melt fast) \u2013 that\u2019s the luck part. And then you get to dream about and plan for your summer paddling trips<\/a><\/span> while you wait to hear if you\u2019ve won \u2013 that\u2019s the fun part.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s an exciting way to celebrate the arrival of spring and the start of the paddling season,\u201d says Mitson.<\/p>\n

When else do you have a shot at accurately predicting the future? Get your guess in at algonquinoutfitters.com\/2017-algonquin-park-ice-contest<\/a><\/span> before the contest closes.<\/p>\n

This is a sponsored story paid for by the featured advertiser<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

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