You Live In A Winter Climate Like Maine..And You Should Wonder About Lake Safety Ice Thickness.

How much ice is needed to support the weight of one person? The answer according to the American Pulpwood Association is  2 inches for one person on foot. 

You may wonder why someone would want to be on a Maine lake, brook, pond or river?  But consider ice fisherman, snowsledders and years ago teams of horses pulling logs across lakes that were easier than making trails thru the woods in some instances. Or in a blinding snowstorm when you discover, oh oh...you are not in a field..you are on a snowsled on a large lake at night in a group and that looks like open water, kind of black up ahead. Rut Ro Shaggy.

     According to the handy reference, outdoor enthusiasts should know that there needs to be 3 inches of ice for a group of people walking single file. For the average passenger car, 7.5 inches are recommended for two ton gross weight. A light truck weighing 2.5 tons would need 8 inches of ice underneath for support to keep it high and dry. 

     A ten ton heavy truck should have 15 inches for the margin of safety to drive over it safely. And 3 feet of ice, or 36 inches would support 110 tons of weight in case you find yourself behind the wheel of a big rig like the ones on the show in Alaska that drive for miles and miles over ice to get logs to the mills.  Also, what happens if you fall thru the ice? Don't panic which is easy to say now as you read this warm, dry and not in harm's way. The advice to remember is lay both arms on the unbroken ice and kick hard.  This will help lift your body on to the ice and then you can roll to safety. To help another that has fallen in, lie flat, reach out with a branch, plank, robe or your belt and consider forming a human chain if you are fortunate to be in a group with numbers during the rescue. Don't stand, secure the victim, wiggle backwards to the solid ice.

     The last advice included in the state Of Maine Snowmobile Laws & Rules guidelines is "if your feet are cold..put on your hat." Sounds funny but good advice as most of your body heat is lost thru your head and neck. The last expression the old timers quoted to anyone who is wise enough to take heed..when dealing with ice, "Thick and blue, tried and true. Thin and crispy, way too risky".

Maine REALTOR Andrew Mooers - Selling Winter Recreational Property To Snowsledders, Ice Fisherman, Skiiers