It’s best to stay off the ice this time of year.
Photo: John Henkelman
By John Henkelman, Registered Maine Guide
If you read my January column, you know ice isn’t as simple as “frozen water equals safe walking.” As winter fades, that equation gets even trickier. Spring ice is unpredictable, and here in the Sanford area, we have an added complication – most of our lakes and ponds are dammed rivers. That means they have current, and current is the enemy of strong ice.
Through winter, moving water underneath keeps ice thinner in some spots than in others. Add in spring melt, and those weak spots spread fast. Even if the ice looks solid from shore, warmer temperatures, rain, and longer days erode it from above and below. Ice that was safe yesterday might not be today, even if the thermometer still says “cold.”
You’ll see people testing their luck ice fishing, skating, even snowmobiling well into March. The problem? The ice doesn’t fail gradually. It fails catastrophically. One second, you’re on top, the next you’re in, and spring water is brutally cold. As you plunge into the dark water below, the cold takes your breath away instantly. Many people drown as they gasp for their breath. Within seconds, cold shock starts to take over your body. As blood rushes away from your extremities to keep your core warm, you will start to lose strength in your arms and legs, making self-rescue nearly impossible. The added demand on your heart also puts you at risk of more serious cardiac issues – an arrhythmia or arrest. A fun day has turned tragic.
So, what is the takeaway? Simple: Stay off the ice. This time of year, there’s no surefire way to judge what’s safe. If you must cross, stick to the shoreline where it’s shallow, and always have a way to get yourself out – ice picks, throw rope, dry clothes, and a friend who can help. But really, why risk it? With the trails starting to clear and the woods waking up, there are plenty of other ways to get outside that don’t involve rolling the dice on rotten ice.
Spring is coming. Just don’t let it catch you by surprise.
As always, if you want to learn from an expert, hire a Maine Guide! Find one near you at https://www.maineguides.org/find-a-guide/
Contact John Henkelman at John.Henkelman@outlook.com.
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