How much ice for ice camping?

  • Brady B
    Posts: 2
    #2244520

    How much ice should there be for ice camping safely?

    Bearcat89
    North branch, mn
    Posts: 20354
    #2244526

    In what ? A portable I’ll sleep in with 5 inches. A skid or wheel house will vary depending on weight. You have to dial down your question a little

    crappie55369
    Mound, MN
    Posts: 5757
    #2244529

    If I’m camping in my pop up I’m bringing a lot of gear with and using a quad to pull it out so ill want 7-8 inches. If you’re on foot 4-5 inches of quality ice ought to do it

    Wildlifeguy
    Posts: 384
    #2244531

    I think it might depend on how one ice camps. I don’t screw around with being cold, so If I’m in my big portable, I’m running a heater on both ends, and generally a small generator for lights, charging, and the like. I’ve been nervous about the heater melt on 8-10 (I know it’s irrational). If you’re out there with a headlamp and a mummy bag, running your heater every couple hours to keep the holes open, I’m sure 5 is fine.

    Bearcat89
    North branch, mn
    Posts: 20354
    #2244540

    I think it might depend on how one ice camps. I don’t screw around with being cold, so If I’m in my big portable, I’m running a heater on both ends, and generally a small generator for lights, charging, and the like. I’ve been nervous about the heater melt on 8-10 (I know it’s irrational). If you’re out there with a headlamp and a mummy bag, running your heater every couple hours to keep the holes open, I’m sure 5 is fine.

    I run my heater on low and no generator or anything like that. Lights are ran off a battery. I find no need to over pack for a quick night or 2 camping on the ice. I keep it warm but not a sauna like a few of my buddies. Only time ice melt was a issue was when I didn’t move for 3 days

    Wildlifeguy
    Posts: 384
    #2244544

    Oh yeah, I fully admit I over do it. But if I’m not enjoying myself, I won’t be there, so I’d rather be comfortable. To each their own, of course.

    Bearcat89
    North branch, mn
    Posts: 20354
    #2244585

    Oh yeah, I fully admit I over do it. But if I’m not enjoying myself, I won’t be there, so I’d rather be comfortable. To each their own, of course.

    Skip the generator and just bring a battery. The need for a generator is 0. Other then that comfort is always key in camping summer or winter

    Brittman
    Posts: 1944
    #2244602

    Not a fan of hearing a generator hum when fishing shallow.

    OG Net_Man
    Posts: 594
    #2244606

    Ice thickness is not the sole factor to consider if it safe or not. The DNR has a guideline on ice thickness and ice usage but this is just a general information.

    A good example is Upper Red Lake currently. The people who had to be rescued yesterday surely were on ice thick enough based on the DNR guidelines for their activity.

    You could surely camp on 4″ of ice but assuming that you would use a heater I would hate to be sitting on just 4″ of ice for 2 days with a heater generating approx. 70 degree temp inside slowly melting away the ice under me.

    Wildlifeguy
    Posts: 384
    #2244616

    <div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>Wildlifeguy wrote:</div>
    Oh yeah, I fully admit I over do it. But if I’m not enjoying myself, I won’t be there, so I’d rather be comfortable. To each their own, of course.

    Skip the generator and just bring a battery. The need for a generator is 0. Other then that comfort is always key in camping summer or winter

    I already have the generator, it costs about 5 bucks to run for 15 hours or so. I run a 5 dollar trouble light and charge all the batteries that run my helix, flashers, speaker, phone and such. While yes I could run that off a battery, I don’t HAVE that battery, and would have to replace my lighting and rig a charging system for everything else that I can currently accomplish with an extension cord and a spike bar. If it helps, I do my best to make sure I’m not within several hundred yards of anyone else if I’m using the generator.

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