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Madeline Island Ferry Service is Shut Down & Windsled Service Begins!

The word is out that the Madeline Island Ferry Line has ceased making trips between La Pointe and Bayfield due to seasonal ice buildup in Chequamegon Bay. The ferry Island Queen typically stops making trips between Madeline Island and the mainland when the ice reaches a thickness of eight to ten inches.

The first windsled trips of 2008 were made last Thursday.

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According to one source, the ice is still not very thick and the windsled broke through the ice a number of times during the first few crossings. But with temperatures yesterday and today in the single digits (with below-zerowindchill figures), it is expected that the ice will thicken during the coming week. It takes twelve inches of blue ice (clear ice) to support automobiles.

We'll keep you posted on when the ice is thick enough for an ice road. Typically this takes a couple of weeks following the suspension of ferry trips.

Posted by Eric Kodner CRS, ABR, e-PRO, CLHMS, Madeline Island Real Estate Wisconsin on 01/30/2008 02:29 PM

Comments (12)

madeline island, la pointe, bayfield, chequamegon bay

Originally posted at: Madeline Island Real Estate Blog: Madeline Island Ferry Service is Shut Down & Windsled Service Begins!

12 Comments on Madeline Island Ferry Service is Shut Down & Windsled Service Begins!

JAN

2008

Brrrrr!!! Sounds like a cold ride! Your area is so much different than here in Fort Worth. It would be fun to learn to live somewhere different.

Linda, the windsled is actually a pretty comfortable ride. It's a bit noisy, but the cabin is enclosed and heated, so passengers don't suffer much during the short trip across the ice.

JAN

2008

Eric!

Ahhhhh yes....winter is FINALLY here!

Steve

Obeoman

Steve, we're getting the deep freeze treatment in Minneapolis-Saint Paul and western Wisconsin right now!

How was the blogging seminar the other day in Madison?

FEB

2008

Eric,

I hadn't been by for awhile, so I came over to comment. You really need to visit Tucson again, especially when it's this cold there. LOL

Mike in Tucson

Hi Mike!

If I could get out of town for a week or so, I'd love to visit Arizona!

FEB

2008

Hi Eric, I have never seen a windsled--can you post a picture. Sure wouldn't want to be the first rider across to test the ice!

FEB

2008

A windsled, hmmm? Now I lived in Appleton for about three years when I was a small child, even went to kindergarten there but I don't recall any windsleds. What do they look like and how do they work if you don't mind my asking? Most of what I remember about Wisconsin is the cold and snow. You should definitely think about heading south when it gets that cold, just don't bring it with you. <<<smile>>>

FEB

2008

Rich, I'm working on getting a windsled photo. I had one, but can't find it for some reason..

The windsled is like one of those fan-powered boats in the Florida Everglades. Ours has an enclosed cabin for passengers (it's cold up here!) and uses an enormous fan to push the craft across the ice. The craft also has skis, floats and wheels, enabling it to keep moving whether the ice is intact or not. If the craft breaks through the ice, the hull has postive floatation, so it's very safe.

FEB

2008

I too want to see a picture of a windsled... what the heck is that? I'm envisioning a huge kite pulling a sled. haha

Georgina -- I added a windsled photo above just for you! If you check out the rest of my blog, I have a couple other posts that talk about what it's like to ride the windsled and how it's designed.

That's pretty amazing - never heard of one before. Thanks for the info.

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