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- Ice Safety 101 - Not a winter season will pass without several vehicle breakthroughs
by North Dakota Game and Fish Department gf . nd . gov
If you ’ ve ever broken through ice on a lake , or seen a dog or deer struggling to get out of an ice hole , or have a vehicle drop into a lake , it ’ s a scary thing . It ’ s something no one wants to ever experience . Even in North Dakota , cold as winters can be , ice should never be trusted .
Winter anglers are reminded that ice can be deceptive and there is no sure answer for ice being safe . To help better understand ice safety the following are a few points to consider :
• 2-Inches of clear , solid ice is typically safe for one person to walk on .
• 4-Inches of clear , solid ice is typically safe for snowmobiling , although more is recommended . Ice thickness can be two inches in one location and five inches just a
CENEX C-Stores
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7 Convenient
Locations ! Open 7 Days a Week !
• Lakota PIZZA HOTLINE 701-247-2575
• Devils Lake PIZZA HOTLINE 701-662-3435
• Devils Lake West Hwy 2 701-662-3555
• Devils Lake Travel Plaza East Hwy 2 701-662-4014
• Devils Lake Cenex One-Stop 701-662-4182
• McVille , ND 701-322-4326
Lakota , ND 701-247-2212
Munich , ND 701- 682-5198 short distance away .
• 8-12 Inches is usually safe for vehicles to drive on the ice , but driving under these conditions should be avoided whenever possible until conditions improve .
• New ice is typically stronger than old ice . As ice ages throughout the winter season , the bond between crystals makes it more dangerous and weaker even if melting has not occurred .
• Wind speeds influence ice formation and conditions . Light winds speed up the formation . Strong winds can force water from beneath the ice and can decoy ice edges .
• Snow will typically insulate ice and keep it strong . It is also known to insulate ice and to keep it from freezing . When ice is covered by snow , precautions should be taken to determine ice thickness before venturing onto any body of water . Snow can also hide cracked , weak or open areas .
• Slush is known to be a danger sign . Slush can indicate that ice is no longer freezing from the bottom . Slushy conditions can indicate weak and / or deteriorated ice .
• Ice can change with the surrounding climate conditions . Temperature , precipitation , wind speed , ice age and also water depth and water quality can all effect ice thickness and strength .
• Be sure to never check ice conditions or thickness or rescue a victim of ice failure alone because you could go from rescuer to a victim very quickly .
• Individuals should wear a flotation device with ice picks whenever possible . Ice picks can be relatively small and placed in a coat pocket with easy access . Every ice angler should carry ice picks . •
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