Thanks Mike
You left out wear a PFD and drag your own rope around trailing behind you.
Wearing a PFD will maybe keep your head from going under and help you float to be rescued. Or at least find you.
Dragging your own 50’ rope already tied around your waist lets anyone nearby just run up and grab it to start helping. No need for them to have a rope and rely on them being able to toss it to you on the first try. Nope, they just stand 40’ away from you back the way you came and pull you to safety.
I can’t cover everything just do the best I can to create some caution. It’s warming up too much and the ice isn’t going to last if it doesn’t get colder. Later J
Just adding to your already great list.
Back when I was 40 years younger and 130 pounds lighter I used to venture onto the sacred early ice. Those two things came in handy a couple of times. I also never fished alone so there was a buddy to grab my rope and I to grab his. It also made it easy to know we were 40’ or so apart.
Now I mostly wait until I see snowmobiles and wheelers on the ice before I think it is thick enough.
Growing up the ice formed much faster and got much thicker faster. They would use the spent Christmas trees to line the sides of the roads crossing Lake Champlain.
Great report, Glad you guys did good. I was the one that stopped in the car and talked with you and Kurt as you were loading up. We had a good day too. Best part noone got wet.
Understand, the additions and it’s appreciated, the more we help each other be smart about ice safety the better off all of us will be… No fun to hear of folks getting wet or worse… Thanks J
Hey John, glad to see you did well. But stay careful, want to “run the river” with ya again next summer.
You left out wear a PFD and drag your own rope around trailing behind you.
Wearing a PFD will maybe keep your head from going under and help you float to be rescued. Or at least find you.
Dragging your own 50’ rope already tied around your waist lets anyone nearby just run up and grab it to start helping. No need for them to have a rope and rely on them being able to toss it to you on the first try. Nope, they just stand 40’ away from you back the way you came and pull you to safety.
Good tips. I have a rope attached to my pfd, and a plastic whistle.
Don’t forget ice-picks, and wear them around your neck, not sitting at the bottom of your bucket!
Spare clothes in case you need to change. Just be careful you don’t lock yourself out of your vehicle when your mid-change! (old story)