Northern ice bridge frozen in time

Living and working on the Slybrook side of Eagle Lake is much more convenient after the lake freezes over and what some have called an ice bridge is carefully constructed.

In times past when Henri Ouellette and others farmed the land and raised their families, it made great sense to cross the lake by boat or horsedrawn sled in the winter because of the long 38-mile round trip looping around Eagle Lake.

Actually, Slybrook Road was impassable during the winter months and the lake trail was the only access people had to shopping in the village or to attend school and church services.

In 1968, Roland Toussaint first farmed the Ouellette Farm and then later converted the homestead to a recreational area known as the Cloverhill Lodge and Campground. He started developing a roadway over the lake during the winter as a convenience to his family and to his neighbors.

Unlike what one might think, that task is very demanding because the mile-long roadway has to be developed with a considerable amount of care. After starting sometime in mid or late December, a good foundation of ice is prepared – sometimes done by making well-placed holes in the ice to get more water up on the surface for a cold night’s freeze.

The resulting road has to be plowed very consistently to get rid of drifts and to smooth out slush that may have oozed out of crevasses. Eventually, a solid roadway of 12 to 18 inches of solid ice is formed that lasts well in the month of March.

Over time, the lake road has been used by many people for both business and pleasure. It has become something of an alternative to parts of Route 11 for people traveling north; and, for an increasing number of people who live on the east side of Eagle Lake, it is a quick way to get to town to attend to mail, town office services and to do some shopping.

Business in town surely picks up during the winter months. All realize, of course, that use of the lake road is at one’s personal risk.

The Toussaint family has maintained this ice road for more than 32 years at their own expense until this current season when Tim Saucier of the Eagle Lake Fire Department spearheaded a benefit supper that raised money both for the fire department and to help with the expenses of maintaining the ice road.

The supper was supported by many donors and was well supported by the townspeople. This shows how much this ice road has become important to everyone. Landowners, present and past, have allowed the use of their land for egress and access to the lake and now many are chipping in to help fund its existence.

As is often the case, some people are abusers. Through carelessness or because of disregard for others safety, they insist on driving their snow machines on the lake road, even though an alternative road is plowed out and signed off for snowmobilers.

This traffic has the effect of leaving lost metal spikes for automobiles to pick up. It also packs down snowdrifts before they can be removed causing unexpected bumps and uneven roadway.

Spikes also tear up the ice surface. Signs asking snowmobilers to not use the lake road are removed and discarded by vandals.

The ultimate abuse is, of course, the errant ice fisherman who stops and decides to drill a fishing hole or two on the road surface and leaving a significant hazard for the plow vehicle – causing damage to the equipment and endangering the driver’s safety.

Those who use and those who maintain the lake road ask that snowmobilers and ice fishermen refrain from inappropriate use of this facility. Safety and common courtesy require it.

Emelda Toussaint lives at Eagle Lake.