DAWSON CITY – The Yukon River was full of loose ice of many different sizes when the ice pan broke up and floated away shortly after 5:30 p.m. Tuesday.

That left massive chunks of icebergs and enormous pans shoved into the space by the shore that had been flowing with open water ever since last weekend.

The ice pan made a number of tentative movements during the morning and afternoon.

It was surging and stopping as dozens of people walked the upper dike trail and focused their attention on the open leads and the mostly stationary jumble ice.

Some walked the lower trail as well, in spite of signs warning: “Flood advisory in effect. For your safety, access to this area is not recommended.”

By evening, the warning was not needed as the trail was mostly buried in ice thrust there by the big surge.

People who had parked vehicles on the ferry ramp – up to two dozen as one point last weekend – were told they must move them or expect to be towed.

On Tuesday morning, there were four canoes on the Dawson side of the river, indicating some people had made a late crossing by a combination of walking and paddling. River watchers reported seeing one other walker early in the day.

The packed ice raised and pushed by the big surge extends many metres out into the river.

Standing on the dike, one can hear the hiss of the ice passing north as well as the constant drip-drip-dripping as the ’bergs and pans continue to melt.

The IODE posted Facebook:

“The Yukon River in Dawson has broke! Official time the clock stopped was May 9th at 5:31 pm.

“Big congratulations to this year’s winner Laurie Munro of Dawson City with a guess of 5:32 pm. The next closest guess was hot on her heels at 5:33 pm. This year’s prize was over $4,000!

“All proceeds go right back into the community.”

May 9 has been the breakup date 11 times in the past: 1912, 1925, 1928, 1933, 1946, 1947, 1957, 1961, 1968, 1975 and 1997.