Ice Thickness Safety (North Windham: yard, car, guidelines)

[Maine Writer]

I have an ice thickness chart on Maine Nature News. I've linked to it because I can't get it to format correctly by cutting and pasting. The paste is rough but it's useful.

2 inches One person on foot
3 inches Group in single file
7-1/2 inches Passenger car (2 tons)
8 inches Light truck (2-1/2 tons)
10 inches Medium truck (3-1/2 tons)
12 inches Heavy truck (7 to 8 tons)
15 inches Heavy truck (10 tons)
20 inches 25 tons
25 inches 45 tons
30 inches 70 tons
36 inches 110 tons

[msina]

Great info! Thank you MW for posting this. Too many people make the mistake of not checking the ice safety each year.

[cdodge04]

Ah a very good post! I have seen people out fishing like crazy since yesterday. They were out on Lake Saint George yesterday, though they didn't last long out there with that super cold wind that was blowing! This morning I saw a lot of people out on Swan Lake. A guy went through the ice on Swan Lake on his wheeler about a week ago...hes ok, but the wheeler, not so much.

[Elcarim]

It may take me a while to brave walking or driving on ice. That is a phenomenon I've never experienced and sounds quite scary!

[Maine Writer]

The cracking is going to scare the heck out of you. It sounds like the ice is breaking up under your feet and you're going in any second. Even very thick ice cracks, moans and groans. It's kind of eerie.

[fxtrader]

It is best to find out from locals about the condition of bodies of water. There may be feet of ice in one spot and still open or thin ice near inlets and outlets. There is a spot in the middle of the lake up near Milinocket that doesn't freeze. You can't always follow tracks either. On little Sebago lake in North Windham there is several 100 yards that does not freeze, refered to as the narrows. A lot of locals will get going fast and glide over the open water. If you didn't know it was there and at night you could get led right into it.

[island mermaid]

I've heard the sound echo across a quiet lake for what seems like miles. Sometimes it sounds almost like thunder -down under.

You get used to it. Once you've done a test drill to check for thickness, you feel more assured. Of course you should check with locals for known open springs where the ice might be thinner.

Pressure ridges are a little difficult to explain... the water pressure builds up under the ice and the ice forms a crack so that the water can breath. It's almost like a vent...

[Cornerguy1]

Originally Posted by Maine Writer

I have an ice thickness chart on Maine Nature News. I've linked to it because I can't get it to format correctly by cutting and pasting. The paste is rough but it's useful.

2 inches One person on foot
3 inches Group in single file
7-1/2 inches Passenger car (2 tons)
8 inches Light truck (2-1/2 tons)
10 inches Medium truck (3-1/2 tons)
12 inches Heavy truck (7 to 8 tons)
15 inches Heavy truck (10 tons)
20 inches 25 tons
25 inches 45 tons
30 inches 70 tons
36 inches 110 tons

Let's keep in mind, as well, that these guidelines are for new, clear blue ice.

White ice full of air pockets and the granulated "corn" ice found after a warm spell can be considerably weaker.

Factors like springs under the ice, currents from rivers, rotting vegetation (as found in marshes) can all cause unexpected thin spots. A thick layer of snow on the ice can also delay thickening of ice despite cold temperatures because the snow acts as an insulator.

Asking locals is a good idea, but never trust anyone's judgement but your own. If you think it's unsafe, then stay ashore.

I've seen far too many "locals" out on 3 inches of ice with snowmobiles whose reasoning is that if you don't go through it must be safe.


Anyone going out on the ice should carry a set of personal ice picks on a cord around their neck. They can be commercially bought or you can make a set yourself with a couple of nails and 12 inches of hockey stick handle. These can prove invaluable in helping you get out of the water if you do fall through.

[island mermaid]

[quote=Cornerguy1;6802842]
I've seen far too many "locals" out on 3 inches of ice with snowmobiles whose reasoning is that if you don't go through it must be safe.

Well, unless you're going fast enough....



YouTube - Watercross On Moosehead Lake Maine


WARNING DO NOT TRY THIS AT HOME!

[retiredtinbender]

Originally Posted by Cornerguy1

Let's keep in mind, as well, that these guidelines are for new, clear blue ice.

White ice full of air pockets and the granulated "corn" ice found after a warm spell can be considerably weaker.

Factors like springs under the ice, currents from rivers, rotting vegetation (as found in marshes) can all cause unexpected thin spots. A thick layer of snow on the ice can also delay thickening of ice despite cold temperatures because the snow acts as an insulator.

Asking locals is a good idea, but never trust anyone's judgement but your own. If you think it's unsafe, then stay ashore.

I've seen far too many "locals" out on 3 inches of ice with snowmobiles whose reasoning is that if you don't go through it must be safe.


Anyone going out on the ice should carry a set of personal ice picks on a cord around their neck. They can be commercially bought or you can make a set yourself with a couple of nails and 12 inches of hockey stick handle. These can prove invaluable in helping you get out of the water if you do fall through.

It wouldn't be downeast maine if next spring they weren't pullin out 3 fishing shack, 4 trucks and a snowmobile out of Boydens Lake or Pennamaquan. Seems to be a right of passage.