Falling Through the Ice

[tonycc]

In areas with heavy snowfall, like the Canadian Shield, lakes end up getting a lot of slush on top of the ice and under the snow. This weight and insulation can eventually cause the solid ice to melt even in sub zero temps. These are usually seen by telltale "spider cracks", a slight depression with jagged legs sticking out. The big spider cracks are easy to avoid, the small ones worry me. I've always meant to carry rescue tools as described, thanks for reminding me.

Tony

 

[Artex]

He was on David Letterman last year. Great advice. I hope I never have to use it.

 

[KenC]

He's an interesting guy that has done some really in depth studies of the human bodies response to extreme weather. He's done a number of documentaries, studies and expeditions that are really interesting.

http://www.umanitoba.ca/faculties/physed/lakewinnipeg/index.shtml

 

[TCD]

Commercial versions of the "self rescue ice picks" have been sold for years and are a good idea if you do a lot of travel over frozen bodies of water.

I found a pair for US$4.95 at www.fishusa.com.

About the only time I travel over frozen water bodies is when approaching ice climbs. If I have ANY doubt about the ice, I carry my tools in my hands, and the backpack waist and chest straps are unbuckled. Although I imagine you could drive a logging truck across Chapel Pond right now with no trouble.

TCD

 

[Artex]

The Wal-Mart in my area also sells them for around the same price.

 

[JimB]

Excellent video. I recently experienced the "cold shock" that the dr. mentioned. My brother finally talked me into canoeing with him and his racer friends the day after Thanksgiving and a racing C2 combined with me and we flipped it in some rapids while paddling upstream. The water was in the high 30's and it took me about 4 real deep gasps before I could focus on getting my feet under me, grab the boat and start towards the bank to get out. I had no idea that your body responded like that and was actually glad to experience that where I had help to get out if needed. Another thing that needs to be thought of in the real world situation is getting warmed up. In the canoe we just started paddling the 4 miles back to the car and got warmed up. An old trapper friend of mine told me once when he fell through the ice that he did jumping jacks until a friend got a fire going to dry him out.

 

[Pete_Hickey]

Where is the lake I read about one time.... It freezes good and solid, then the water level drops. If you fall through the ice, you have no chance of getting out, because the ice is up 10 feet above you...

Or was that a nightmare I had one night after falling through some ice????

 

[Gremlin]

As a kard karrying Kanuck I HATE going over ice, especially on skis. Slush and what I like to call water bubbles are a nightmare on skis or snowshoes.

Two buddies rented a Ski-Do to go ice fishing after we shot our caribou and they fell through a top layer of ice and after trying to free the machine and trailer, had to walk out.

Theyn were wet to the waist and would have been in very serious trouble had they been further from their truck. It was well into the -30's C on the Taïga.

BTW, I'm a LOT smaller than Artex.

Doug

 

[Artex]

As a kard karrying Kanuck I HATE going over ice, especially on skis. Slush and what I like to call water bubbles are a nightmare on skis or snowshoes.

Two buddies rented a Ski-Do to go ice fishing after we shot our caribou and they fell through a top layer of ice and after trying to free the machine and trailer, had to walk out.

Theyn were wet to the waist and would have been in very serious trouble had they been further from their truck. It was well into the -30's C on the Taïga.

BTW, I'm a LOT smaller than Artex.

Doug

Man, that's a scary story. And I really look forward to hiking with you again in a few weeks, Gremlin! It's always a hoot, even if I have to sit down to get eye level with you.