Each year when Gorgeous Gorge froze I'd notice spots in the ice like the first picture. At first I thought maybe a deer or coyote had crossed on the ice and I'd look for track patterns. Seemed strange to me that an animal of that size would try to walk on such thin ice. As the ice thickens up each year, the spots disappear. This year as the ice was forming we also had a snow storm. That's when the pond circles below became visible. What I think is occurring isn't something above the ice but below. The water table is close to the surface of the gorge and relatively warmer water is seeping up in spots. Just warm enough to melt light ice. There is no current in the gorge so the water doesn't quickly mix. The same phenomena could also be caused by submerged decomposing vegetable matter which would make bubbles of warmer water but I don't think that's it - that wouldn't cause such specific spots and after cleaning out the pond a few years ago I don't think there is enough decaying junk in there.
Each year when Gorgeous Gorge froze I'd notice spots in the ice like the first picture. At first I thought maybe a deer or coyote had crossed on the ice and I'd look for track patterns. Seemed strange to me that an animal of that size would try to walk on such thin ice. As the ice thickens up each year, the spots disappear. This year as the ice was forming we also had a snow storm. That's when the pond circles below became visible. What I think is occurring isn't something above the ice but below. The water table is close to the surface of the gorge and relatively warmer water is seeping up in spots. Just warm enough to melt light ice. There is no current in the gorge so the water doesn't quickly mix. The same phenomena could also be caused by submerged decomposing vegetable matter which would make bubbles of warmer water but I don't think that's it - that wouldn't cause such specific spots and after cleaning out the pond a few years ago I don't think there is enough decaying junk in there.
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