Prince Rupert Ground Search and Rescue is advising residents to exercise extreme caution on local lakes this winter. With temperatures swinging between freezing and mild, ice conditions can change rapidly, turning what looks like a solid surface into a hazard in a matter of hours.
The shoreline is often the weakest part of any lake. Rocks, logs, and soil retain heat longer than water, which can cause ice near the banks to melt from underneath. Fluctuating water levels may also create “hollow” ice that collapses under weight. Even when the edges feel solid, the center of the lake is usually the last to freeze and is often thinner than expected.
Ice color can indicate strength: blue or clear ice is the most dense and strongest; white or opaque ice is roughly half as strong; and grey or dark ice signals the presence of water or melting, making it extremely dangerous. Recommended minimum thickness is four inches for walking or ice fishing and five inches for snowmobiles or ATVs. Layered ice, common in Prince Rupert due to rain and freeze-thaw cycles, is especially weak.
Residents are reminded to stay safe, leave a trip plan with someone at home, and look out for one another. If there is any doubt about ice conditions, GSAR strongly advises staying off the ice entirely. Safety comes first on Northern BC’s frozen lakes this winter.
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