5" black ice with a uniform skim of water, December late day sun.

Welcome to the Lake Ice home page. This site is for fishermen, skaters, snowmobilers, sailors and everyone else who spends time on frozen lakes and ponds. The site provides a detailed perspective on how ice behaves and what sorts of hazards you might find. Most ice users never get into serious trouble but a few us do. In almost all cases, being prepared to avoid or deal with hazards will significantly reduce the risks of enjoying this winter wonderland.

Other parts of the site include sections on equipment, technique, interesting formations and features and some basic ice science. This site is intended to be a resource for a wide range information and ideas related to the recreational use of ice.

Occasionally someone has told me that that the extensive discussion of all the things that might go wrong has scared them away from going out on a frozen lake. That is a very reasonable reaction and, for many people, staying off the ice is the best choice.

The 'Key Points' page gives a quick overview of the most important ways to help you stay out of trouble. The rest of the site provides a more detailed picture of ice behavior. The disclaimer page says the obvious: the choice to go out on the ice is yours and yours alone.

Bob