thin ice

[calimac]

A sad story hit the news today: a mother and young son fell through the ice on a frozen pond in Kansas and drowned. Of course, they were visitors from California, where frozen ponds are unknown, and thus they might not have known anything about them, but that only increases the urgency of my question, one that's lurked in mind every time I've read a story including people venturing out on ice this way (for instance, American Gods): How do you know? How do you know the ice will be thick enough to hold you? Because if you're not entirely sure, it seems a rash thing to do. I've never been in a position to have the option, but my inclination to decline has reinforced itself.

Comments

[sturgeonslawyer.livejournal.com]

Having lived in Connecticut with a lake in the back yard:

You don't. But after it's been cold enough for long enough you start guessing. You guess by tossing something heavy onto the ice and if it doesn't crack you try it. Gingerly at first.

We skated in the back yard for four months of the year.

[kate-schaefer.livejournal.com]

I grew up in Ohio. What we did: look at the tracks on the surface of the snow on the pond. If they're only small tracks (birds, raccoons, possums), the ice isn't ready. If the big dogs run out on the ice, it might be ready, so you start sweeping the snow off the ice, carefully, to expose a smooth surface for skating.

If there isn't any snow to be swept off the ice, the ice hasn't been solid for long enough to bother trying.

[andrewducker]

I would be incredibly nervous, and if the locals aren't doing it, I wouldn't either.