Larsen Island Warnings and Dangers

This sign is put up to make sure you are prepared for adventure in the winter!! Once you go past this sign you are on your own!! The roads are not plowed on a regular basis although this year they are!! Everytime that I have driven the road they have been cleared but of course there is still snow and ice on them but not 2 feet!! haha

On the way back from our hike we came across a Suburban that had not been able to make a turn and he crashed through the snow berm and was stuck....There wasn't anybody around so I figured this guys vehicle would make a great VT photo!!! The truck still had dealer plates on it so the guy either was taking it for a test drive or had just bought it. The snow is jammed up underneath his truck that's why it looks like he should be able to drive out but he can't.

Some winters Anton Larsen Bay gets frozen over and other winters it doesn't. This winter it has but the temperatures have NOT been consistantly low enough to create thick ice across the bay. It sure looks frozen and you might actually make it across.......but you might not too!!! Don't do it!! The lakes and ponds in the area are safe this year but this is just a bay and has seawater with changing tides!! You can see the boat launch dock that won't be used until spring!! It is frozen in the ice!

The Anton Larsen Bay Road has a few Hair Pin curves in it. A couple of them are blind hair pin curves. This one is fairly near the end of the road and isn't a blind one but surely in winter you won't want to be speeding going into it or you won't come out of it!! ahaha

If you venture into this area in Winter be prepared for Temperature Extremes!! When we left our house it was a balmy 22 F about -6 C But when you got out for our hike it was down to -6 F about -22C with a slight breeze. For us it was a very comfortable hiking temperature but for some it may be quite cold. The temperatures in town vary alot even though the two areas are only 15 miles apart and we were at sea level for both readings. Actually up at the pass the temperature was +5 F and it got colder as we came down the other side of the pass and stayed cold. You can see the photo that was taken from my car thermometer this morning.

There will be certain spots that get very narrow where it's impossible for two cars to pass each other with speed. So in these spots hopefull both vehicles will have four wheel drive and they can drive into the snow a little each and pass each other. When there isn't snow on the ground there isn't any problem with this. As the road is wide enough.

In this area there are avalanches every year!! Most of the time they happen where people aren't enjoying winter activities but every once in a while they do happen near the fun areas. Snow machines are quite often the cause of the avalanches as the sounds vibrate through the hills and shake loose the snow that's at the top. If you are going to be doing these activities it is advisable to wear an EPRB. They are available at better outdoor stores. They may seem expensive at the time but what is your life worth?