When ponds freeze

[daugen]

temp is going down to ten tonight, ten tomorrow night, 9 the following night, hmmm. It's skating time soon, well for the younger crowd. And it's the time kids fall through ice and drown, very, very sadly. And adults too.

How many days of sub freezing weather do you need to safely walk on your pond? I'm sure size and water flow is a big factor here.
I loved to ice skate when I was little, we had a canal next to the Delaware River, and there were red wooden bridges over the canal to River Road, and you could tell how far down you had skated by the number of red bridges you had passed.
But we pretty much knew that being the first out there was very risky.

How thick does ice need to be? And when do you let all the neighborhood kids skate on your pond? i think some safety rules and tips here would help us all.

 

[k0ua]

This might help a little

How to Know When Ice is Safe: 10 Steps (with Pictures) - wikiHow

 

[rekees4300]

How thick does ice need to be? And when do you let all the neighborhood kids skate on your pond? i think some safety rules and tips here would help us all.

I think about 4 inches minimum but you need to be careful because the ice doesn't always freeze evenly on the whole pond. I would NEVER let neighborhood kids on my pond ... just opening yourself up for a lawsuit.

 

[newbury]

I like my ice in cubes a little less than an inch on a side.

And don't let the kids skate until it's frozen solid.

 

[daugen]

This might help a little

How to Know When Ice is Safe: 10 Steps (with Pictures) - wikiHow

great stuff. The depth numbers can be so misleading...one person or six adults going down on the same patch in a pick up ice hockey game? I'm thinking five inches minimum.


3" (7 cm) (new ice) - KEEP OFF
4" (10 cm) - suitable for ice fishing, cross-country skiing and walking (approx. 200 pounds)
5" (12 cm) - suitable for a single snowmobile or ATV (approx. 800 pounds)
8" - 12" (20 - 30 cm) - suitable for one car, group of people (approx. 1500 - 2000 pounds)
12" - 15" (30 - 38 cm) - suitable for a light pickup truck or a van

 

[tcartwri]

I use a cordless drill with a spade bit to test the ice. 4" of solid ice, not including rotten porous surface ice, is my minimum.

 

[GYPSY]

frozen lakes/rivers/ponds are for polar bears and penguins, ice freeks me out completly regardless how thick it is. i stay off that stuff till i can go in with shorts and a beer in my hand.

 

[daugen]

frozen lakes/rivers/ponds are for polar bears and penguins, ice freeks me out completly regardless how thick it is. i stay off that stuff till i can go in with shorts and a beer in my hand.

now there is a very wise man...

 

[MIKE R]

I would say at least 8" to feel safe on it. I've seen a neighbors garden tractor go through the ice before. Got hung up on the snowblower and didn't go all the way down. Most of the pond was over 12" thick but one spot was poor ice.

I try to stay off of ice that has flowing water below it.

The thickness' the daugen posted are a good reference as well as common sense.

 

[MossRoad]

I've been ice fishing for 40+ years, so here's my 2 cents....

I've seen extremely strong ice that was only 2" thick.
I've seen extremely weak ice that was 10" thick.
I've seen 10" of good, solid ice under my feet and put my foot through only a couple feet away.

The bottom line is there is NO completely safe ice. You have to use your head, follow some general guidelines, and have a plan for failure.

For example, if I go fishing with a group, send the fat man out first! :cool2: Just kidding. I carry a throw bag. Its a rope in a bag with the end sticking out in a loop. Grab the loop, throw the bag and the line pays out without tangling. Aim past the victim so the rope lands over their shoulders. Highly affective and I recommend that anyone that has a pond for winter sports have one hanging in a hutch by the side of the pond. And show your kids how to use it and make them practice a few times at the start of each season.

If I go on the ice by myself, a throw bag isn't going to help me. So, I drill a test hole at the water's edge and then every so often on my way out to check ice quality. Also, as I walk along, I carry my ice auger crossways to my body like I'm going to cross-check someone. If I go through, chances are the auger will be wider than the hole and I can use it to stop me from going completely under.

Also, carry spare car keys in your pants pocket, NOT YOUR JACKET OR COVERALLS. The last thing you need is to survive falling through the ice only to find your keys were in your jacket and fell out. You won't be able to get into your car to warm up.

Ice picks are also handy. The have a strap that goes around your neck and they hang on your chest. If you fall through and the ice is slick and not snow covered, you won't be able to get a grip to get out. The ice picks let you get a grip to pull yourself out.

My personal rules of thumb are.... 4" of good hard ice by myself or a friend a few feet away, but not a group close together. 5" for a group. 6" for your car. 8" for my car.