Unusually warm winter makes ice activities risky
IN THE CITY
It seemed to take a little longer than normal to get here, but winter has finally arrived. Although our Northern Maine winters are cold and snowy, it’s those very conditions that provide the opportunity for a multitude of wonderful activities not possible to many other places.
Whether you enjoy ice fishing, snowshoeing or snowmobiling, you will inevitably encounter a stream, lake or pond which is covered or partially covered with ice. Is it safe? Knowing the answer to that question, could save your life.
Unfortunately, finding that answer is not as simple as it may seem. You may think you can tell if ice is safe or not just by looking at it, by its thickness or from the temperature outside. However, it is actually the density of the ice that is most important in determining its safety. There are several other factors involved in determining ice strength. Aspects include water depth, water current, water chemistry and of course load distribution. Snow cover also acts like a blanket, insulating the water below and often resulting in thin or poor ice quality underneath.
Don’t make the assumption that since there is snow on the ice, the ice is strong. It can take two to three weeks of temperatures below freezing to make ice capable of supporting large amounts of weight on a lake. You may find one spot that has 4 or 5 inches of strong ice and open water only yards away.
If the only ice you tend to slip on is in your doorway, then all you need is a little ice melt for your steps, an ice pack for your rear end and maybe the phone number to a good chiropractor.
For those that are able to venture out on a frozen playground, I offer a few tips to help avoid taking an unplanned swim.
Assuming temperatures are right, first check the ice. Clear, blue ice is typically the strongest, while white ice many times is mixed with snow or has air bubbles and tends not to be safe. Using an ice pick, check the depth of the ice. You want about 3-4 inches of ice before you head out on it. Less ice may support a person, but with the difficulty in determining the density it is best to err on the side of caution. You will want at least 6 inches of ice for a group or for activities like ice fishing and snowmobiling. And those of you that choose to venture out on ice with a vehicle, at least 10 inches of quality ice is needed to support that kind of weight. Of course you will need to consider if you really want to risk turning your SUV into a life-sized fish bowl ornament. Good luck explaining that to your insurance company.
Dozens of ice related accidents occur every single year in Maine, many of those ending in drownings. So the next time you are out on the ice, have fun, but please use your head and remember when it comes to ice safety, if you don’t know, don’t go.
Chris Beaulieu is director of Presque Isle Recreation & Parks. He can be reached at 764-2545 or via email at cbeaulieu@presqueisleme.us.
