How to Know When Ice is Safe

Another thing you should know is to know your ice colours (this helps you know how thick the ice is). Black ice means that it is very new so you should try to avoid it. Blue, black or green ice means that it is very strong and stable and is highly recommended to go on. Then there is white ice (You cannot see through this). This ice must be twice the thickness as blue, black or green ice to be able to support the same weight.

And finally there is brown ice, often referred to as “rotten ice”. This ice is not recommended because it is very slushy and unstable. You must test ice before you go on it! One thing you could do is bring a buddy along and make him hold a rope (just in case something goes wrong) and go near the ice and chip it to, test if it is good. And you should only go on the edge of the ice, to test it.

These are the thickness levels in which ice can support weight, 3″ (7 cm) (new ice) – KEEP OFF, 4″ (10 cm) – suitable for ice fishing, cross-country skiing and walking (approx. 200 pounds), 5″ (12 cm) – suitable for a single snowmobile or ATV (approx. 800 pounds), 8″ – 12″ (20 – 30 cm) – suitable for one car, group of people (approx. 1500 – 2000 pounds), 12″ – 15″ (30 – 38 cm) – suitable for a light pickup truck or a van. And finally the last tip to have. Make sure that you do not go on a little lake or pond as those are the frozen bodies of water that have the least ice thickness. That is all you need to know to be able to tell if ice is safe.