When is it safe to walk on a frozen lake?

[Nameless]

We are at the usa/canada border, and snow mobilers sometimes play a game called drunk chicken. It's called that because most sober have enough sense not to do it.

There is a major river that separates us geographically. At night on really cold nights the open water freezes over and creates a temporary ice bridge linking us that can be crossed only by fast moving snowmachines. It unfreezes by the next afternoon. Walking you'd most certainly go in.

The thrill is in the sounds of it cracking below you and breaking up behind you as you go. It's about a mile across and deep, a shipping channel. You can go under at any time and some do and die, but most make it. You can't take the same route as the person before you as it often opens up immediately or now is too weak there.

I've done it. Once. Drunk. It made me instantly sober. Never again. The shitting of pants has never been my strong suit.

So Canadians are truly desperate to get across the border then? Is it to escape the socialism and national mediocrity?

Our beer and liquor stores close too early.

You're all living in the wrong province, hence why, 11:00 pm here for normal stores

[Gandalf]

Thanks for the replies chaps.

I've just been out there and as usual it is frozen solid. It is about -4'C out there today and the ice does look thick and set, but I'm not going to go on it. I will just stick to my exercise routine of walking around it.

There is no way I am ever going to be able to carry a cooker down there.

[CutMeMick]

I say you try diving in it 1st like so...

[CFH]

Thanks for the replies chaps.

I've just been out there and as usual it is frozen solid. It is about -4'C out there today and the ice does look thick and set, but I'm not going to go on it. I will just stick to my exercise routine of walking around it.

There is no way I am ever going to be able to carry a cooker down there.

Not with that attitude.

[Diane]

It depends on the size, the bigger the lake, the thicker you need it to be. Especially if its a lake that has a current running underneath it. Remember The Omen II?

We had a pond across the street that was about the size of a regular skating rink, and it had to be 6-7 inches thick in order for us to skate on it.

[Master]

Miles, walking does not constitute exercise, not for someone of your age.

[Gandalf]

Miles, walking does not constitute exercise, not for someone of your age.

Vigorous walking and I do walk at twice the speed of pretty much any human being. I do 3 1/2 KM everyday. My walking is like a 45 year old running.

[Beanz]

Miles, walking does not constitute exercise, not for someone of your age.

Vigorous walking and I do walk at twice the speed of pretty much any human being. I do 3 1/2 KM everyday. My walking is like a 45 year old running.

I think you'll find most averagely healthy 45 year olds can run much faster than your speed walking. Bloody hell mate 45 ain't old and yet you go on as though being 31 is like middle age or something.

[Andre]

It depends on the size, the bigger the lake, the thicker you need it to be. Especially if its a lake that has a current running underneath it. Remember The Omen II?

We had a pond across the street that was about the size of a regular skating rink, and it had to be 6-7 inches thick in order for us to skate on it.

Here I adjusted it into the truth for you.

It depends on the size, the bigger the lake, the thicker you need to be.