I know only Jesus (and briefly Peter) walked on water. But here in Minnesota, people regularly walk and even drive on water—frozen water, that is.
If you live in the cold North as I do, you’re probably accustomed to people driving motor vehicles onto lakes. But if you live someone warm like California, Florida, or Australia, you might find this custom strange and surprising. I did. When I moved up to Minnesota from central Illinois, I was not used to seeing people driving their trucks out onto the ice, nor the sight of little villages cropping up in the middle of the lake comprised of cars, trucks, campers, ice-fishing houses, and lawn chairs.
I admit I didn’t think it a very wise or safe practice. Especially when every year, there are reports of vehicles going through the ice. I have timidly stepped a few feet onto the ice now and again over the years, always with a little thrill of fear shooting through me, but that’s as far as I’ve gotten.
Ice fishing is a popular sport here. I read that on large Mille Lacs lake alone, some 5,500 fish houses are set up each winter—some rustic, some outfitted with kitchens, beds and other creature comforts.
I’m not ready to try that, but with my fitness place closed on and off, I have been trying to keep walking outside even though the temperatures have plummeted. With snow falling and the walking paths not always plowed, I decided to finally brave the lake across our street, where sportsmen keep “roads” plowed around and across it.
The lake is over 35 feet deep. The thought of falling through it fills me with icy dread. (Note: Don’t try this yourself before checking local warnings or posted signs about thin or melting ice.) Although hesitant at first, I was foolishly proud of myself for braving something I’d feared, for trying something new (to me). Most of the plowed path had enough snow cover that I could maintain the illusion of walking on snowy ground, but here and there the path was clear down to the ice, which gave me the tingling-belly giddy feeling like crossing a precarious glass walkway. I took a deep breath and walked on.
I have walked around the lake a few times now, and never has hitting 10,000 steps been easier! (A warm balaclava for my tends-to-windburn face, long johns, and YakTrax for slippery surfaces make walking safer, while listening to audiobooks makes it more pleasurable.)
Over this last weekend, however, the temperatures dropped to -15 F (-26 C) which is too cold even for me. Now I’m looking for a new way to stay active indoors, and am thinking of trying online tap-dancing lessons. (Don’t laugh. Ok, go ahead. 😊)
What about you? Do you venture out onto the ice where you live? Or participate in any other seasonal activities? How are you staying active these days?
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I grew up in southeastern Wisconsin (Lake Geneva) and every year as soon as the lake froze over “shanty town” would appear on the lake. Once the ice fishermen knew it was safe they were out there, and if it was far out enough, they’d drive to their fishing shanty. I loved ice skating on the lake and riding in a car on the ice was also fun. Iceboating is also a popular sport too. The winters are generally milder now so it becomes later and later when the lake freezes over. This winter, January was especially milder, but now we are very deep into below zero temps. I only live about an hour south of my hometown in northeastern IL and I’m sure the lake is well frozen by now. I guess it’s all in what you are used to.
I grew up in the northern regions and skiing across the frozen lake there was a norm. Doing it in the PE class was not fun, but on my own or with my mom, it was great. Even when a ski broke or a boot did not stay in the fastening, walking back across the lake was not bad.
And I remember the fishermen hunched over their fishing holes, and the tire tracks when the cars were allowed to make shortcuts across the lake, and even a race track for ice racing.
Wow! I had not thought about any of this in years. Reminiscing about this made me smile. Thank you!
Living in WI, near the Dells, ice fishing is a common thing from the moment the lakes glaze over. I’m like you, I do not love it. When I know there’s over a foot of ice, I might venture out a ways, but otherwise I keep my feet on solid ground!
I’m curious… does insurance cover your vehicle falling through the ice? LOL
I grew up on a small river in central MN, where in places (such as the rapids and the springs), the ice never freezes all the way, even after people are driving on the lakes. But it did not stop up from skating and exploring and (once a year or so) putting a boot through the ice. The best was racing in through the tunnels under US HWY 10–the bridge? massive culvert? was divided into three sections, so my two brothers and I would each take a tunnel and race to the other side (making sure to halt before an unfortunate encounter with the beaver dam a little ways out the other side, lest more than boots potentially go through the ice).
I’ve always lived in warmer climates, so I found this post fascinating! Good for you for braving walking on the icy lake, Julie. Brrr!
Fun post, Julie (although I’ll admit my heart raced as I thought of walking on a frozen lake—YOU are brave!).
Being a lifelong Georgia girl, it’s a huge deal if we have even a few snowflakes in the winter, so the idea of an entire lake frozen solid is amazing to me!
Stay warm and safe! 🙂
After absolutely no snow last winter (for the first time in years, as far as I remember), now we’ve gotten three snowfalls in two weeks. It’s melted off in between each time, though, so definitely no ice like in Minnesota. Seeing those ice-fishing houses and trucks on the lake both fascinates and terrifies me. O.o
Thanks for the pictures! I was born & raised in Minnesota; my parents had a cabin on Upper South Long Lake, in Crow Wing County; there were many summer weekends that we drove past Mille Lacs lake! I’ve lived in NE Ohio for over 36 years now, and when I tell people about ice fishermen driving their vehicles out on the ice to fish, and how I had given snow mobile rides across Tanner’s Lake, to Bible School Students from southern states, they don’t believe me! 🙂