Thanks Kevin! If you move back we could go jump in ice water together. It's not so bad with a drysuit, plus I've fallen through on many occasions...usually on purpose.
Go for it! A PFD and a well spaced friend with a throw rope would be the best insurance there, but learning to read the ice, being ready, knowing how to get out, and having some supplies to rewarm and change makes an enormous difference. Have fun.
The DNR recommends at least 4 inches of clear ice to support a person. I've been out on perfect ice in an immersion suit and 2 inches or less has held. However, I absolutely would not rely on that for ice skating. Just remember that a spring, channel, flow, beavers, plants, a dark object, rain, etc. can all cause variations in the ice. Just make sure that you are prepared to get out and get dry/warm.
I love your videos. Are you in the UP or Minnesota? Looked like a beautiful day. I was wondering if you were wearing a dry suit or something underneath because you seemed so comfortable in the water or you can really tolerate cold well.
Hello Mark. I'm in far northern Minnesota. I do have some pretty good cold tolerance, but not good enough to talk normal when submerged in ice water! I'm happy to hear you like the videos, and thanks for the comment.
Ha. Yes. Hiking boots, check. Water bottle, check. Filter. Check. Drysuit, check. Even with a drysuit or immersion suit people generally get quite nervous their first couple time, but it makes practicing getting out much safer... and more comfortable.
Okay, here's my story: Falling through ice NOT on purpose. I fell through the ice one time a long time ago here in northern Minnesota. It was a cold day in December. There was a lot of nice, solid ice on the lake, covered by several inches of undisturbed snow. The sky was overcast so there were no shadows, which made focusing on things and depth perception somewhat difficult. I was walking with my camera hanging from its strap around my neck and I was carrying a small pack with other photography gear, snacks and water. Although it was winter, it wasn't especially cold that day so I was just wearing my usual winter boots, long johns, blue jeans, cotton T-shirt, wool shirt, jacket, warm gloves and knit cap. I was just out to explore a bit and take some winter photos. As I walked across a narrow bay and neared the far shore, I noticed what seemed to maybe be a dark stick poking up slightly through the snow and walked towards it to investigate. Just as I got almost to it, I suddenly realized that it was not a stick poking up, it was a tiny hole going down through the snow. At the same instant I realized that, I stopped with the intention of backing away, but my feet suddenly dropped through the ice. Because I had started to lean back slightly, though, I immediately fell back as I broke through. That helped me catch myself with my hands on the solid ice behind me. That stopped me from falling all the way down into water that was deeper than I am tall. It also stopped me about two inches short of submerging the camera hanging from my neck. I was able to immediately boost myself backwards and out of the water. But all of me from my belly button all the way down to my toes was soaked and getting really cold. I hurried over to some rocks near the far shore where I was able to get my boots off to pour out the water and then put them back on, but that required removing my gloves and getting my hands wet, which made my fingers really cold. The air was cold enough that, while I was doing this, my blue jeans were quickly freezing and becoming stiff like stovepipes. I realized that the reason the ice hadn't supported me in that spot was that there must be a spring feeding the lake right there. The dark spot that had attracted my attention was a small hole up through the ice and snow directly above the spring. Unfortunately, I made that small hole a lot larger. Thankfully, the ice was only thin to nonexistent in a very small area, maybe two to three feet in diameter, right above the spring while remaining very thick immediately beyond that. Having gotten the water out of my boots, I walked as fast as I could back towards the landing where I had come onto the lake (about a tenth mile) and then back along the unplowed road for just over half a mile to where I had parked my car. Walking was a bit challenging because of my frozen stiff pant legs, but feeling very cold motivated me to keep moving. Fortunately, because I had just arrived there, my car was still quite warm and the heater was quickly blowing a lot of warm air on me as I drove about 12 miles to get back home to real warmth and dry clothes. I didn't get to do any photography that day, but I survived going through the ice and got a story to tell. In over 50 years I have never again fallen through the ice, in spite of having spent countless hours traveling over frozen lakes and rivers here in the northcountry.
I'm happy to hear you made it out okay. Breaking through certainly changes your reality in an instant and it seems you reacted quickly. I'm glad you didn't have to use these skills to get back up onto the ice. I bet that maintaining a dry chest made a big difference. I should probably do a video at some point about reading the ice, but that will probably need to wait till next year so I can catch fall and supporting ice.
One thing to know is that you will go into a bit of shock when you first fall in cold water (if you're not wearing a wet suit). You need to let it pass, stay calm, and start breathing again.
@@AdventuresInReach pretty sure it actually is! I remember slipping of off a downed tree while canoeing in December. No ice, but the water was about 35 degrees. I was very glad I had a set of dry clothes along! I wear a wet suit in cold weather now.
Yes. It's scripted in that I planned to fall through. I dont know how else to do it if filming. It would be different if it happened by accident because I wouldn't have a drysuit on. That wasn't my goal with the video. I was focused on showing the skills and explaining how practicing can be safe.
That was hilarious! I was so impressed that you could be so calm and talkative while submerged in the ice cold water
Thanks Kevin! If you move back we could go jump in ice water together. It's not so bad with a drysuit, plus I've fallen through on many occasions...usually on purpose.
I especially liked the part where he was walking and water started shooting out the top of his boots🤣
Cool video. My father-in-law used to carry two phillips head screwdrivers on a lanyard around his neck when he was walking out to his ice shanty.
Screwdrivers would work well too! That's a good idea.
Thanks for this. We plan to skate outside on frozen lakes next winter and we want to be prepared.
Go for it! A PFD and a well spaced friend with a throw rope would be the best insurance there, but learning to read the ice, being ready, knowing how to get out, and having some supplies to rewarm and change makes an enormous difference. Have fun.
@@AdventuresInReach thanks bro. What ice thickness do you think is acceptable for ice skating?
The DNR recommends at least 4 inches of clear ice to support a person. I've been out on perfect ice in an immersion suit and 2 inches or less has held. However, I absolutely would not rely on that for ice skating. Just remember that a spring, channel, flow, beavers, plants, a dark object, rain, etc. can all cause variations in the ice. Just make sure that you are prepared to get out and get dry/warm.
I love your videos. Are you in the UP or Minnesota? Looked like a beautiful day. I was wondering if you were wearing a dry suit or something underneath because you seemed so comfortable in the water or you can really tolerate cold well.
Hello Mark. I'm in far northern Minnesota. I do have some pretty good cold tolerance, but not good enough to talk normal when submerged in ice water! I'm happy to hear you like the videos, and thanks for the comment.
Can confirm it's safe to fall into freezing cold water if wearing a dry suit for your hikes.
Ha. Yes. Hiking boots, check. Water bottle, check. Filter. Check. Drysuit, check. Even with a drysuit or immersion suit people generally get quite nervous their first couple time, but it makes practicing getting out much safer... and more comfortable.
Okay, here's my story: Falling through ice NOT on purpose.
I fell through the ice one time a long time ago here in northern Minnesota. It was a cold day in December. There was a lot of nice, solid ice on the lake, covered by several inches of undisturbed snow. The sky was overcast so there were no shadows, which made focusing on things and depth perception somewhat difficult. I was walking with my camera hanging from its strap around my neck and I was carrying a small pack with other photography gear, snacks and water. Although it was winter, it wasn't especially cold that day so I was just wearing my usual winter boots, long johns, blue jeans, cotton T-shirt, wool shirt, jacket, warm gloves and knit cap. I was just out to explore a bit and take some winter photos.
As I walked across a narrow bay and neared the far shore, I noticed what seemed to maybe be a dark stick poking up slightly through the snow and walked towards it to investigate. Just as I got almost to it, I suddenly realized that it was not a stick poking up, it was a tiny hole going down through the snow. At the same instant I realized that, I stopped with the intention of backing away, but my feet suddenly dropped through the ice.
Because I had started to lean back slightly, though, I immediately fell back as I broke through. That helped me catch myself with my hands on the solid ice behind me. That stopped me from falling all the way down into water that was deeper than I am tall. It also stopped me about two inches short of submerging the camera hanging from my neck. I was able to immediately boost myself backwards and out of the water. But all of me from my belly button all the way down to my toes was soaked and getting really cold. I hurried over to some rocks near the far shore where I was able to get my boots off to pour out the water and then put them back on, but that required removing my gloves and getting my hands wet, which made my fingers really cold. The air was cold enough that, while I was doing this, my blue jeans were quickly freezing and becoming stiff like stovepipes.
I realized that the reason the ice hadn't supported me in that spot was that there must be a spring feeding the lake right there. The dark spot that had attracted my attention was a small hole up through the ice and snow directly above the spring. Unfortunately, I made that small hole a lot larger. Thankfully, the ice was only thin to nonexistent in a very small area, maybe two to three feet in diameter, right above the spring while remaining very thick immediately beyond that.
Having gotten the water out of my boots, I walked as fast as I could back towards the landing where I had come onto the lake (about a tenth mile) and then back along the unplowed road for just over half a mile to where I had parked my car. Walking was a bit challenging because of my frozen stiff pant legs, but feeling very cold motivated me to keep moving. Fortunately, because I had just arrived there, my car was still quite warm and the heater was quickly blowing a lot of warm air on me as I drove about 12 miles to get back home to real warmth and dry clothes. I didn't get to do any photography that day, but I survived going through the ice and got a story to tell. In over 50 years I have never again fallen through the ice, in spite of having spent countless hours traveling over frozen lakes and rivers here in the northcountry.
I'm happy to hear you made it out okay. Breaking through certainly changes your reality in an instant and it seems you reacted quickly. I'm glad you didn't have to use these skills to get back up onto the ice. I bet that maintaining a dry chest made a big difference. I should probably do a video at some point about reading the ice, but that will probably need to wait till next year so I can catch fall and supporting ice.
One thing to know is that you will go into a bit of shock when you first fall in cold water (if you're not wearing a wet suit). You need to let it pass, stay calm, and start breathing again.
Absolutely. I forgot to include that when recording. It's generally about 30 seconds of gasping and panicked breathing.
I am often a bit envious when I watch your videos. Not this time!
Oh come on...falling through the ice isn't so bad...
@@AdventuresInReach pretty sure it actually is! I remember slipping of off a downed tree while canoeing in December. No ice, but the water was about 35 degrees. I was very glad I had a set of dry clothes along! I wear a wet suit in cold weather now.
Now do it with snowshoes on... :)
That's actually a great idea. Maybe I can still find some ice to hold me....
Scripted. Do it wo being scripted and in real life and danger it’s way different 😂
Yes. It's scripted in that I planned to fall through. I dont know how else to do it if filming. It would be different if it happened by accident because I wouldn't have a drysuit on. That wasn't my goal with the video. I was focused on showing the skills and explaining how practicing can be safe.