Some paddlers may have been surprised to see ice drifting down the Näkhų Chu/Ta Hîni (Takhini River) in late May, 2021, especially considering that the most popular paddling section of the river had been free of ice since early-May. In fact, the upstream portion of the Takhini River is usually ice-free all winter because of the heat released from Nakhų̄ Mǟn (Kusawa Lake; the deep water of the lake remains well-above freezing all winter because of its higher density – weight). Where was this ice coming from?
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The answer was found when driving further away from the Alaska Highway towards Kusawa Lake. This ice was not residual river ice from the Takhini River, but lake ice from Kusawa lake, pushed to the outlet by strong northward winds and forming an unusual, wind-generated ice jam at the lake outlet. Portions of this jam were gradually released down the river over the weekend of May 29-30, causing ice runs and minor ice accumulations in shallow riffles and along the banks.
This type of event is probably not dangerous to paddlers, but it can push canoes and kayaks to unintended directions. The chunks of ice, at and advanced degradation (melting) state, were making a beautiful crystal-like sound as they were hitting each other while drifting downstream.