Monthly Archives: December 2014

Here is some ice load information gathered from various sources. Please note that not everyone agrees on the safe ice thicknesses for various loads and that there are many variables to consider when determining if the ice is safe for the load you want to put on it. This post is just for general information purposes.

Ice load info from the Farmer’s Almanac

From the Army Corp of Engineers:

Every winter it becomes very important to know when the ice is safe to use. Here are some guidelines for determining the safety of freshwater ice. The following table of safe loads is valid ONLY for ice that is clear and sound, with no flowing water underneath. It is not reliable for stationary loads. When in doubt, stay off the ice !

It is highly recommended that you familiarize yourself with the Safety on Floating Ice Sheets information by CRREL.

Loads on Ice

From www.engineeringtoolbox.com:

Safe loads for clear solid ice are indicated below:

Note that ice strength is influenced by many factors

• age – newer black ice is stronger than old milky
• distance to shore – ice close to shore is weaker than ice farther out
• river outlets and inlets – ice close to outlets and inlets is weaker
• obstructions like rocks, trees and plants
• water currents
• cover of snow

 This information must be used a general guide – keep off the ice if you are not absolutely sure.

12-3 Kuskokwim between Straight Slough and the Old Airport: Foolish Travel Endangers Others Who Follow

On the evening of December 3rd, BSAR was notified by a pilot that a snow machine had driven across an open hole just above Bethel. A team was sent out to block off the bad trail so others wouldn’t follow it. This traveler was zooming down the middle of the River and went right across what looked like an open hole. Fortunately, it was just a wet spot from Sunday’s rain with original ice underneath. This overflow did however have a layer of ice over it which is dangerous for snow machines traveling at high speed – easy to lose control and crash.

While the BSAR team was chainsawing  markers into the ice at the lower end of this area, another snow machine came down from upriver following this bad trail. Attempts were made to wave the traveler off, but he continued right across the half-frozen overflow and almost crashed before regaining control of his machine.

Please beware of following the single trail – some of the people who make them are foolish travelers with no concern for those who might follow.

Thank you.

Looking Upstream from Aniak – photo by Dave Cannon

Moving ice & very high water at Chuathbaluk – photo by Patricia Yaska

Moving ice & very high water at Chuathbaluk – photo by Patricia Yaska

Viewers are welcome to send in pictures of River and trail conditions in their areas. Email pictures to: napaimute@gci.net or text to 545-2877

Thank you.

Click here to see recent Alaska Dispatch article on our river conditions:

http://www.adn.com/article/20141130/after-november-breakup-kuskokwim-river-ice-road-work-progress