I've conditions

I’ve got a derby this weekend. Went and checked the ice.(southern WI) ran in to something I’ve never seen before … We have about 10 to 12″ of snow on 2 maybe 3 inches of ice….. Then about 3 inches of water then about 1.5 of ice then water below… Has any one EVER seen this??? How safe??? It’s solid for about 75 yrds off shore then it does it… I don’t know how far, didn’t wanna risk it with out my gummby suit on… It’s supposed to get cold as hell here for the next few days.. like negative temps…

Sounds like a mess. I’d stay off but I’m not one to be the first or last one on the ice. I’m pretty cautious.

Use your gut. Sounds very unsafe.

Going swimming this time of year is not a whole lot of fun. I found that out at the end of last season, and it was a 40 degrees out and I was 100 yards from a warm truck. This weekend will be a whole different animal.

Probably wouldn’t have a derby out on half sketchy ice

Yeah that definitely sounds sketchy.

Usually when that happens it’s the other way around, the thicker ice is under the thinner ice.

Too much snow….too early in the season.

If there’s a solid 3″ on top I would feel okay going on foot, but treat it just like first ice.

Watch out for any drifts, it’s likely thinner there.

From what you say there’s a good chance I’d stay off of it. Must have been a weird series of snow causing slush and then getting cold enough to freeze some up. I’d say you have a chance that the 1.5 inches on bottom is your only original clear ice and whatever is froze on top could be frozen slush with air pockets and not that strong.

Unfortunately with that much snow and slush on top it’s gonna take it all a while to firm up and start freezing well, even with these extra cold temps we have on the way.

Be very careful if you decide to go out there.

Tucker

I dont think I’d venture onto 3 inches of ice with a foot of snow ontop, let alone all the other problems with that ice.

phishingruven01 wrote:

I dont think I’d venture onto 3 inches of ice with a foot of snow ontop, let alone all the other problems with that ice.

same here. I’d stay way clear of that lake.

It may firm up after this cold snap. Unfortunately the snow is going to insulate it and hamper more ice production. I would only go where others have gone.