The frozen lake serves as a big playground during winter in Alaska, a great place to walk the dogs, ski, play ball, take a hike, whatever your mood decides. It extends private space. Often I find myself walking on the big frozen expanse alone, an occasional duck passing overhead, deep in my own thoughts. Weekends are busy, ice fishermen with their gear, portable tents, vehicles, snow machines, and bar-be-ques pop up like mushrooms scattered over the frigid surface. I like to walk or ski during the quiet times when I can observe nature at its best.
Gail Niebrugge, artist
Gail, how do you know when the ice on the lake is frozen enough to be safe to walk on?
Hi Noella,
People drill holes and measure the ice thickness, then tell everyone or sometimes the paper will publish the thickness. When it is too thin warnings will appear in the paper. I think 8″ is safe for walking, but I feel better when it is a foot thick. Our lake usually freezes 3′ thick before the winter is over. There are thin spots that surprise people, areas where the lake is fed by a spring. We try to warn people, but sometimes kids break through in a car or snow machine. It is not a pretty sight.