Frozen lakes and ponds

[ray1970]

What is it that draws people to walk out onto frozen ponds and lakes? I've never seen a frozen body of water and ever thought about walking out onto it. I'd be afraid of falling through.

[PSS]

Ice fishing?

[Jamnanc]

Cuz they lived in Minnesota and drove trucks on them for large quantities of perch?

[zteknik]

Ice fishing?
I catch more ice in my freezer.....[LOL]
I did some ice fishing back in NY in my youth, and now that I'm a bit wiser the shit I fished on was quite scary..

[cmailliard]

Done two ice rescues in my life. One good, one bad. I am the same way, I would not walk out on unknown ice without PPE.

[Irving]

I want to walk on every frozen pond I see. I don't though.

[glock21]

I love ice fishing but it's gotta be s minimum of 12 inches

[def90]

Cuz they lived in Minnesota and drove trucks on them for large quantities of perch?

I grew up in Minnesota.. Literally drove my car across the lake to school in the winter because it shaved off 3 miles. :D

Used to love ice skating just after the lake froze and before the snow came, you can skate along and see the bottom/weeds/fish and whatever else below you. Pretty cool.

Ice fishing houses in Minnesota:

http://media4.s-nbcnews.com/j/MSNBC/Components/Slideshows/_production/ss-110208-ice-fishing/ss-110129-minnesota-ice_12.grid-7x2.JPG

http://millelacs.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/fish_house_rental_mille_lacs.jpg

http://graphics8.nytimes.com/images/2008/02/15/travel/15ice600.1.jpg

[DEAGLER]

Had a friend walk on a frozen pond. Let's just say he walked home drenched.

[SideShow Bob]

You'd never get me out on ice, especially in a plow.......

http://www.thedenverchannel.com/news/local-news/tractor-falls-through-ice-on-evergreen-lake-rescue-in-progress

[ray1970]

You'd never get me out on ice, especially in a plow.......

http://www.thedenverchannel.com/news/local-news/tractor-falls-through-ice-on-evergreen-lake-rescue-in-progress

That's one of several stories like that I've seen recently. That's what made me start wondering why all of these people keep going out on the ice.

[OtterbatHellcat]

I did it once on a pond back behind our house when I was 12 or something. Rode my bicycle out on it for hours, had lots of fun doing it.

I also knew that it was only like six feet deep at the center.

[cstone]

30 days straight of sub zero temps for daily highs and maybe venturing out on the pond would be ok. That doesn't really describe the weather we've been having now does it?

Be safe.

[SideShow Bob]

I did it once on a pond back behind our house when I was 12 or something. Rode my bicycle out on it for hours, had lots of fun doing it.

I also knew that it was only like six feet deep at the center.

But how tall we're you then ? 4' 6" ?

[Great-Kazoo]

But how tall we're you then ? 4' 6" ?

Throw in the added weight of water logged clothing, not coming back up for air. More than once.

[Irving]

He's not even that tall now.

[SideShow Bob]

Throw in the added weight of water logged clothing, not coming back up for air. More than once.

And don't forget the sudden shock of getting submerged in near freezing water it would be considered lucky to come up once.

[Limited GM]

I did it once on a pond back behind our house when I was 12 or something. Rode my bicycle out on it for hours, had lots of fun doing it.

I also knew that it was only like six feet deep at the center.

You could successfully peddle a bike on ice???

[pileoshit]

[mcantar18c]

I love ice fishing but it's gotta be s minimum of 12 inches

I vote that glock21's title should be changed to "needs at least 12 inches."

[JohnnyEgo]

Must be some sort of genetic thing. My four year old was born in Florida and had never been close enough to touch a frozen body of water until we took him to Estes Park. All he wanted to do was walk out into the Big Thompson and jump up and down on the thin ice. I had to wrestle him back three times. By the fourth time, I was ready to let him have at it.

[SAnd]

You could successfully peddle a bike on ice???

[pileoshit]
You can't. Not really. But it was fun trying.

[OtterbatHellcat]

But how tall we're you then ? 4' 6" ?

Honestly, I was almost 6 ft tall at that time.


He's not even that tall now.

lol


You could successfully peddle a bike on ice???

[pileoshit]

Actually, after crashing several times, I went back to the house and put screws through the front tire for traction. (A sixth grader has it all figured out, ya know) It worked great until the screw heads popped holes in the tube, and the fun was over. BUT, I could do the indefinite "burnout"....I do remember that it was funner than hell at the time.

[glock21]

I vote that glock21's title should be changed to "needs at least 12 inches."

I knew I should have stayed out of this thread haha.

[Lex_Luthor]

My dog chased some geese flying over head out onto a pond. Then he broke through. I couldn't just sit there & watch him die so I went out & got him. Sprawled out a few feet away from the hole where he was & when I grabbed ahold of his paw was at the exact moment he gave up. I was arm, shoulder & head deep in the frigid water, so he must have been 2-3' deep by then. Pulled him up, backed myself back up, then pulled him the rest of the way out & we walked back across together. My ex was there, was on the phone with the fire department, & when we got inside she had warm towels for Brutus while I went straight to the shower.

[ray1970]

My dog chased some geese flying over head out onto a pond. Then he broke through. I couldn't just sit there & watch him die so I went out & got him. Sprawled out a few feet away from the hole where he was & when I grabbed ahold of his paw was at the exact moment he gave up. I was arm, shoulder & head deep in the frigid water, so he must have been 2-3' deep by then. Pulled him up, backed myself back up, then pulled him the rest of the way out & we walked back across together. My ex was there, was on the phone with the fire department, & when we got inside she had warm towels for Brutus while I went straight to the shower.

I really don't say this to be mean or to offend you so please forgive me. And I'll just make it clear up front I'm not an animal person, I don't have pets, and I've never owned a dog.

mod edit -not needed to make point

You put your life at risk to save a dog? I am just assuming the dog weighs quite a bit less than you do. He broke through the ice. You knew heading out that if he broke through there was an even better chance that you would probably break through. There's a short list of things I would be willing to die for and a dog isn't one of those.

Don't get me wrong. I understand the part about you couldn't just stand by and watch the dog drown in icey water. And I understand you probably had to do something to try to save him. I just don't think going out on the ice was worth the risk personally.

Hopefully you you can forgive me for saying you're an idiot. Honestly didn't mean it to be some sort of a personal attack.
[Beer]

[Lex_Luthor]

I knew then and now that it was easily the stupidest thing I've ever done. He's 70lb, charging across the lake at full speed - I assumed he was pounding the ice pretty hard. I knew that it was a pretty shallow lake, I'd seen it quite low before. I also resolved at the time (and told my ex when I started across the ice) that if I fell through, my first priority would be to get myself out & I would have to leave him.

No offense taken, I knew exactly how stupid it was. And yes, I did risk my life to save my dog. And in that instant, he knew it too.

[ray1970]

Glad you weren't one of those people we see on the news. [Beer]

I apologize if my post seemed a bit abrasive. It really wasn't meant to offend.

[hollohas]

Honestly, I was almost 6 ft tall at that time.



lol



Actually, after crashing several times, I went back to the house and put screws through the front tire for traction. (A sixth grader has it all figured out, ya know) It worked great until the screw heads popped holes in the tube, and the fun was over. BUT, I could do the indefinite "burnout"....I do remember that it was funner than hell at the time.
They make bicycle tires for that. Have seen many people in AK riding their bikes to work on snow and ice rocking these or similar...

http://www.peterwhitecycles.com/images/products/tires/swlwinter2.jpg

[Lex_Luthor]

Glad you weren't one of those people we see on the news. [Beer]

I apologize if my post seemed a bit abrasive. It really wasn't meant to offend.
It only took me two tissues and a hug to make it through! [Beer]

[hunterhawk]

I also grew up driving trucks on lakes and taking snowmobiles out far enough on the Great Lakes where you couldn't see shore... But I'm not a complete idiot... Colorado has too much up and down temps for me... I stick to the mountain lakes for my ice fishing... And away from known springs and river inlets

[Guylee]

I just like the sound of ice breaking under my feet.

[Jamnanc]

With a tiny bit of common sense and an auger, one can safely fish on 4" of ice. Drill holes as you proceed, watch and listen.

Besides, I understand death from hypothermia is actually not too bad. As the brain shuts down they say you get a feeling of euphoria.

[Mtn.man]

Wouldn't matter if it was 2' of ice, when it's YOUR time to go you are going. Whenever where ever.

[O2HeN2]

Ice fishing?

No, ice diving! (http://www.padi.com/scuba-diving/padi-courses/course-catalog/ice-diver-course/) :)

O2

[Eric P]

Racing on the ice in Georgetown us fun in the xterra. I think they said the minimum thickness us 8 inches. Kind of disconcerting when the ice pops and a new crack forms next to you.

[Irving]

Glad you weren't one of those people we see on the news. [Beer]

I apologize if my post seemed a bit abrasive. It really wasn't meant to offend.

Well, of the two people he was with that day, it sounds like he's still with the dog. Wouldn't he feel dumb if he risked his life for the ex!

[ray1970]

Well, of the two people he was with that day, it sounds like he's still with the dog. Wouldn't he feel dumb if he risked his life for the ex!
You make a very valid point.

[Lex_Luthor]

Truer words have rarely been spoken Irv. Cheers!

[clodhopper]

Must be some sort of genetic thing.


Not genetic. It is a Jesus thing.

[BPTactical]

I grew up in Littleton and we had a few lakes close by. From roughly Thanksgiving through mid-end February we would skate nearly every day. Never worried about breaking through and we even tried to get the ice to break.
In March we were walking home and shortcutted across the lake. All was fine until we were about 15' away from shore. The ice broke and we both fell through into about 5' of water. I remembered from a Colorado Mountain Club class how to rest your weight on your arms on the ice and gradually break the ice as you head for shore.
It was a long cold walk to my buddies house but thankfully it wasn't worse.
Yes the ice cold water is a shock but what gets people in real trouble is they panic.

No way I would venture on to metro ice these days, the earlier post about hot/cold days is very true.
When I was a kid it was much colder and for much longer periods.

[crays]

When I was a kid it was much colder and for much longer periods.

And probably uphill, both ways, too. [emoji481]

[SuperiorDG]

I grew up in Littleton and we had a few lakes close by. From roughly Thanksgiving through mid-end February we would skate nearly every day. Never worried about breaking through and we even tried to get the ice to break.
In March we were walking home and shortcutted across the lake. All was fine until we were about 15' away from shore. The ice broke and we both fell through into about 5' of water. I remembered from a Colorado Mountain Club class how to rest your weight on your arms on the ice and gradually break the ice as you head for shore.
It was a long cold walk to my buddies house but thankfully it wasn't worse.
Yes the ice cold water is a shock but what gets people in real trouble is they panic.

No way I would venture on to metro ice these days, the earlier post about hot/cold days is very true.
When I was a kid it was much colder and for much longer periods.

It's called Global Warming.[Sarcasm2]

[gos]

http://www.almanac.com/content/ice-thickness-safety-chart

[davsel]

https://thechive.files.wordpress.com/2014/05/funny-gif-ice-fishing-beer-delivery.gif

[BPTactical]

It's called Global Warming.[Sarcasm2]

There always has to be one in a crowd.........