Separating Ice Riding Fact From Fiction…
Related: Riding Slush
Aftermath of riding with snowmobiling ice myths.
Why do riders need to bust snowmobiling ice myths? Because every winter, snowmobilers take unnecessary ice riding risks. And gamble their lives to do it.
They venture on to ice without checking it’s okay. Or wander off a staked ice trail. They suppose that just because there’s snow cover, the ice underneath must be ok. Or they follow someone else’s track, assuming that it’s safe. But who knows? I may lead to the hole where they broke thru!
Most of us make it across by sheer luck. Others suffer a harrowing break-thru but manage to survive. And a few simply perish. So, we all need to bust these snowmobiling ice myths before riding frozen waterways. But before going any farther, watch the scary video below to put you in the right frame of mind!
Snowmobiling Ice Myths: Ice Formation
Early and late season usually have the riskiest ice conditions. But ice is never predictable at any time – it’s as reliable as a weather forecast. Ice strength & density depends on many variables. These include how and when it was formed, currents, exposure to sunlight and subsequent weather changes.
For example, clear ice forms directly from water freezing, creating a dense, strong, and transparent sheet. This is the very best and typically longest-lasting ice. Meanwhile, white Ice forms when snow melts and refreezes or from flooding on top of ice. The result is a less dense and weaker structure that’s more susceptible to change.
Snowmobiling Ice Myths: Ice Conditions
ice conditions can vary dramatically from place to place. On the same waterway. Or from one waterway to another. It can also change from hour to hour. So, just because the ice on your lake may be good at the moment, doesn’t mean the ice on other waterways is.
And let’s not forget conditions like slush that can form on top of ice. It’s a brutal trap that’s rarely fatal. The same can’t be said for encountering ice heaves or ridges that are like hitting a brick wall. Or can launch an unsuspecting rider into a barrel-rolling crash. These obstacles form from rapid expansion of ice sheets during sudden temperature increases following a deep freeze. And many times, they are tough to spot until it’s too late.
If you’re crossing, your best bet is to stay between the stakes. Photo: Al Fletcher
Snowmobiling Ice Myths: Staked Trails
Snowmobilers leave land trails at their own risk. Sure, someone may have installed a stake or tree line as a guide, there’s no guarantee. After all, that marking was likely done a while back based on ice conditions at the time. So, what’s changed since then? Anybody’s guess, so wanna bet your life on that? Always safer to avoid ice crossing wherever possible. And if you do choose to go, stay on the throttle and don’t stop until you reach land again.
My Last Word
Yes, that last video is as scary real as it gets. No doubt, riding ice is a real crapshoot, which is why every rider needs to bust these snowmobiling ice myths. They are the top misconceptions snowmobilers have about riding on ice. Get the full ice myth story by clicking on the image below to check out my recent article. It appeared in Cottage Country Lifestyle Magazine, which serves the Kawarthas, Haliburton & Bancroft areas of Central Ontario.
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The tips and advice in this blog are the opinions of the author, may not work in every situation and are intended only for the convenience and interest of the reader, who has the personal responsibility to confirm the validity, accuracy and relevancy of this information prior to putting it to their own use.