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winter-14 t1_j24k9wi wrote

Rule of thumb on ice thickness:

1" Stay Off

2" One may

3" Small Groups

4" OK!

Source: Cub scout handbook from long ago.

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Playingwithmyrod t1_j25huh2 wrote

This is for perfectly clear, black ice. It's rare to get that quality of ice other than early in the season. But the danger there is unless you know how a body of water froze you simply don't know what you're walking on unless you spud your way out with a chisel. The ice could be a foot thick when you walk on, a hundred feet away it could be a quarter inch because there's a natural spring in the lake, or an inlet/outlet...or a familly of swans decided to winter there and keep a spot open the last 3 weeks.

Not trying to scare anyone but it's not as simple as "didn't crack when I walked on, should be good"

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MongoJazzy t1_j268kfc wrote

Thanks Dad.

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Playingwithmyrod t1_j26v6eq wrote

I'll be the first one to step on questionable ice. But you gotta be prepared and test it out. Just walking out there and making assumptions is how people die.

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Ok_Olive9438 t1_j26em67 wrote

Yep, at 3-4 inches my mom would let me go ice skating on the marsh near the house, but ice on the lakes/ponds had to be a lot thicker before she'd let me go skating with friends.

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