Do not even walk on ice 3" or less in thickness. However, even at a 9" - 10" thickness, there may be unforeseen hazards such as a flowing current underneath that is ceaselessly weakening the underside of the ice.
In this instance, even the thickness is not a good indicator of safety, as the ice could collapse at any time. In general, the rules for ice thickness measurements are: 3" 7 cm new ice - KEEP OFF 4" 10 cm - suitable for ice fishing, cross-country skiing and walking approx.
Understand that ice strength is not the same everywhere, not even on the same body of water. The strength of ice is also affected by factors other than color and thickness.
Also take into account: Location of the ice: is it on a pond, a lake, a stream or is there evident flowing water underneath it? Is there a flow into or out of the water body? This will give cause for concern. Constitution of the water: is it fresh water or saltwater? Sea ice tends to be weaker and needs greater thickness to support the same weight as fresh water. See the External Links below for more information on exact measurements. External temperature and season: temperature changes constantly.
Beware microclimates in the local area. Mid-winter ice is bound to be a lot stronger than spring ice which is subject to rapid thawing and warming bouts of sunshine. Size and depth of the water body: larger bodies of water take longer to freeze than smaller ones. Presence of snow on the ice: snow can warm up the ice because it acts as an insulator; ice under snow is generally thinner and weaker than ice without snow.
Weight on ice: what are you putting on the ice? Just you or you and a vehicle? There is a big difference in the weight distribution between a body and a snowmobile with said body on top. Find alternatives if in any doubt. Skaters can always find a rink or a supervised lake area; snowmobilers and skiers can always stick to trails on land in place of crossing ice; walkers can keep off the ice and continue with their snowshoes along the trail.
All out-goers should carry emergency supplies no matter how long they plan to be out nor where they plan to go. Yes No. Not Helpful 12 Helpful Not Helpful 8 Helpful No, anything under 4 inches should be avoided at all costs.
Even if it is above 3 inches, you should have safety gear. Not Helpful 4 Helpful Not Helpful 14 Helpful It all depends on the outside temperature and lake water temperature. There may be flowing water, natural springs, methane deposits and other factors that cause thin ice in areas. Not Helpful 6 Helpful Not Helpful 24 Helpful I want to take my kg Hummer ice fishing. What would be a good minimum blue ice thickness?
About inches would be good, but it is not recommended. Not Helpful 21 Helpful Yes, it is natural for snow to weigh down ice causing pools of water. I have seen this as deep as 3 feet. Be cautious and stay clear of these areas, it is sometimes hard to see them with a fresh snow cover on top. Not Helpful 26 Helpful I want to ice fish on a local reservoir, where the water surface moves up and down several feet.
Is it safe to fish on if the ice is 6" thick but not in contact with the water? It can also be suitable for a Hummer or an ATV. Not Helpful 49 Helpful 2. Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered.
Two can cross uncertain ice with some margin of safety by sliding a canoe between them. Don't forget paddles. If the ice gives way, you'll need them. Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0.
In the occasion you must cross the ice, the best way to cross is to get on your hands and legs and straddle across. Think of how a lizard moves almost, shifting your body weight evenly across your entire figure. It is a good idea to bring a long board or pole. If it starts to crack--and sometimes you get a second or two warning--lay the pole flat on the ice and use it to distribute your weight.
Be aware that repeated vehicle tracks or crossings may weaken the ice. Paths should be varied regularly. Be responsible for others' wandering off. If you are the designated authority for a school, sporting outing, etc. Ensure that there are plenty of markers laid out so that skaters etc. There should also be someone with first aid training on hand, along with safety equipment.
Dog sledding on ice is slightly safer as dogs can sense cracking ice. Still, do not take any risks and be as prepared for mishaps as any other winter sport. If you must go skating on thin ice literally , ensure that the water depth is shallow i.
If it breaks through, you'll be soaked and cold but able to step up and out of it and haul yourself back to shore feeling very sheepish. Do not try this with children, however. Use a 5 inch or more drill bit to drill through the ice if it's clear.
Found an answer by Minnesota's Department of Natural Resources. For new, clear ice, 4 inches should be good for ice skating or any activity involving just a person's weight. They recommend double that thickness 8 inches for white ice which has about half the strength. I'm going to be using cm for this piece because they're more precise and because I'm used to them, imperial readers just keep in mind an inch is close to 2. It depends heavily on all sorts of other circumstances.
It also depends a bit on your own size. If more cold weather is expected it might also be good to stay off the ice just for the sake of the ice, so everybody gets to enjoy it in another one or two days. Over here in the Netherlands outdoor natural ice skating clubs typically open their rinks when there's 7 cm of ice. That's a controlled environment with safety officials and limited depth, but there are a lot of people on the ice, and typically the only incidents happen at the sides when stepping onto or off of the ice, that's where the layer is thinnest and breaks the easiest.
By the time those rinks open natural lakes are often already swarming with skaters, because we know it will thaw out quickly again, risks be damned. So about 6 cm usually holds, even though weak spots will come through quickly and you might have to go ashore for small parts of the route. The ice is seen as solid as houses for skating purposes by about 15 cm, when an "elfstedentocht" can be run. Some rinks can run with as little as 1 or 2 cm of ice, but those are just a thin layer of water on top of a solid surface.
The ice itself wouldn't hold a person. In all fairness I think the other question you link is a better way to approach skating than this one. Don't overemphasize the importance of thickness. Check out the ice for yourself. Is it nice smooth fresh black ice? When you test it, does it hold? When you step out on it, does it crack a bit to set but then seem solid? If there's slushy parts, do they seem superficial, or could those be or quickly become holes? Are the weak parts positioned in such a way that you can take them one person at a time and with some speed?
If you're unsure about your ability to judge this, try to find someone with some experience you can take on a trip. That's always a good option if available to you. Signal for help. You can help when help is most needed. Give to the Red Cross.
Ice Safety. Currents, tides and other moving water. Chemicals including salt. Fluctuations in water levels. Logs, rocks and docks absorbing heat from the sun. Changing air temperature. Shock waves from vehicles traveling on the ice.
Ice Colour The colour of ice may be an indication of its strength. Clear blue ice is strongest. White opaque or snow ice is half as strong as blue ice. Opaque ice is formed by wet snow freezing on the ice.
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