Lakes late to freeze up

EOWYN LeMAY IVEY-Frontiersman reporter

Without snow or bitter cold, this unseasonably mild winter is proving to be a temptation for those who love to play on the ice. But people are cautioned -- this year, the ice is coming almost as slowly as the snow.

"We haven't had any calls yet, but some of the lakes are just starting to freeze up," said Ed McCain, chief of the Mat-Su Dive Rescue Team. Many favorite lakes that are typically frozen by this time of year still have open water because of the warm temperatures. Other places, such as channels of moving water connecting lakes, never freeze solid and so are a constant danger.

According to the dive rescue team, deep water and moving water are the last to freeze and so remain the most dangerous.

"The shallow end of the lake will freeze first, and the deeper part of the lake will take a longer time to freeze," McCain said. "That's where they get in trouble."

McCain said people may be fooled into a false sense of security as ice forms on some portions of local lakes.

"On Big Lake, the east end of the lake is pretty shallow and it freezes sooner," McCain said. "But out toward the west end, where the water is 60 or 70 feet deep, there is still open water."

The good news about this year, however, is that the lack of snow should mean stronger ice. McCain said while freeze-up is arriving later than usual, the ice will most likely be clear and solid because of the conditions.

According to dive rescue experts, ice should be 2 inches thick to walk across quickly, 4 inches for ice skating and ice fishing, 5 inches for snowmachines and 8 to 12 inches for vehicles.

"The trick here is clear, solid ice, though," McCain said. Ice can be a foot thick, but if 10 inches of it is rotten, only the two inches of good ice counts.

A variety of factors -- weather conditions, water depth and moving versus still water -- affect the stability of ice. Also, new ice is typically stronger than old ice and river ice weaker than lake ice.

Following are some other danger signs of weak ice:

Ice of varying colors, such as black or gray.

Ice near obstructions, such as vegetation, logs or rocks.

Slush or snow on the ice.

Bubbles or water on the ice surface.

Porous quality of ice.

Cracks in the ice.

Pressure ridges or faults.

Water running beneath the ice.

Open water in the middle of deep lakes.

If a person falls through the ice, McCain advises any witnesses to first call for assistance. Often, those who attempt rescues end up in as much danger as the victim and without professionals on the way, both people can be at risk. In many cases, McCain said, the dive rescue team is called because someone has attempted to help an animal, such as a dog or moose, that has fallen through the ice and has ended up in trouble themselves.

Once 911 has been called, people have a variety of options for assisting the victim -- reach, throw, row and go, McCain said.

"It's the level of risk you're putting yourself in," McCain said.

Rather than reaching with your hand out to the person, McCain advises using a rope or branch. This will keep you from being pulled in with the victim because you'll be able to let go of the line if necessary. Another option, if available, is to get a boat or raft and row across the ice to the victim and help them into the boat.

For the person in the water the directions are simple -- do everything you can to get out of the water, McCain said. Hypothermia strikes drowning victims faster than anyone else because heat is wicked away from the body 25 times faster in cold water than in air of the same temperature.

People who know they will be spending a lot of time on the ice may want to consider purchasing or building a set of ice picks or claws, which can be used to pull yourself out of the water and onto the ice. Commercial brands are available that keep the sharp points retracted until they are needed, or some people make their own out of pieces of doweling with a nail sticking out.

For those who are in a vehicle that falls through the ice, McCain reminds people that it may be nearly impossible to open the car door until the vehicle is entirely full of water because of the pressure. If you are unable to roll down a nearby window, the best option is to head toward the back of the vehicle and break out a window. Windows in the front are generally treated with a plastic laminate that makes them difficult to shatter.