Observations from Ellesmere Island suggest that the connection between surface and subglacial drainage on a predominantly cold glacier is made abruptly by hydrologically-driven propagation of fractures from the surface to the bed. Where ice is 150 m thick, water ponded to a depth of 6.9 m within a supraglacial stream system before establishing a permanent bed connection. Multiple premonitory drainage events preceded the final drainage of ponded water, implying that fracturing is necessary, but insufficient, to establish a permanent link between surface and subglacial drainage. Refreezing of water that penetrates the first fractures to form may reseal the connection, while flow resistance within the subglacial system may delay the onset of continuous through-flow. A large volume of ponded water is required to enlarge fractures sufficiently by melting to maintain continuous drainage, while feedbacks between subglacial hydrology and ice dynamics may assist in maintaining the connection and initiating subglacial outflow.