Lake Ice Safety
Posted on | December 27, 2007 |
Here in the land of 10,000 lakes (Minnesota) not a winter goes by without a news story about how someone lost their truck or snowmobile due to thin lake ice.
Don’t let that happen to you!
Before venturing out on a frozen lake or pond keep in mind: There is no such thing as 100 percent safe ice.
Here are a few tips from the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. (I also checked out the recommendations from other states and they’re about the same):
Recommended minimum ice thickness
- 4″ of new clear ice is the minimum thickness for travel on foot
- 5″ is minimum for snowmobiles and ATVs
- 8″- 12″ for cars or small trucks
(Remember that these thicknesses are merely guidelines for new, clear, solid ice. Many factors other than thickness can cause ice to be unsafe.)
Other TipsÂ
1. Check for known thin ice areas with a local resort or bait shop.
2. Test the thickness yourself using an ice chisel, ice auger or even a cordless 1/4 inch drill with a long bit.
3. Refrain from driving on ice whenever possible.
- If you must drive a vehicle, be prepared to leave it in a hurry–keep windows down, unbuckle your seat belt and have a simple emergency plan of action you have discussed with your passengers.
4. Stay away from alcoholic beverages.
- Even “just a couple of beers” are enough to cause a careless error in judgment that could cost you your life. And contrary to common belief, alcohol actually makes you colder rather than warming you up.
5. Don’t “overdrive” your snowmobile’s headlight.
- At even 30 miles per hour, it can take a much longer distance to stop on ice than your headlight shines. Many fatal snowmobile through-the-ice accidents occur because the machine was traveling too fast for the operator to stop when the headlamp illuminated the hole in the ice.
6. Wear a life vest under your winter gear.
- Or wear one of the new flotation snowmobile suits. And it’s a good idea to carry a pair of ice picks that may be home made or purchased from most well stocked sporting goods stores that cater to winter anglers.
- It’s amazing how difficult it can be to pull yourself back onto the surface of unbroken but wet and slippery ice while wearing a snowmobile suit weighted down with 60 lbs of water. The ice picks really help pulling yourself back onto solid ice.
- CAUTION: Do NOT wear a flotation device when traveling across the ice in an enclosed vehicle!
Read more about how to help someone who’s fallen in or how to get out yourself…
Thanks to the Minnesota DNR!
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