
Whatever You Do, Don’t Do This On A Minnesota Lake In The Winter
A Minnesota sheriff's office recently shared an important reminder of something nobody should ever do when traveling across a frozen lake.
When it comes to staying safe on the ice, there are a handful of important things to consider. One of them most people know about is ice thickness. Sadly there are some people who make assumptions about ice thickness that lead to some not-so-good outcomes. That's only one of the things to consider, however.
An important safety reminder from a Minnesota sheriff's office
The Hennepin County Sheriff's Office shared an important reminder this week on social media about the importance of avoiding travel near pressure ridges. As they explain, ice near pressure ridges can be very unsafe and can lead to falling through the ice.
READ MORE: Do You Know These Crucial Rules Of Driving On A Frozen Lake?
In the case of what happened in this situation on Lake Minnetonka earlier this week, an SUV attempted to drive through an area with a pressure ridge, and broke through the ice.
While this incident happened with a larger vehicle, ice ridges can also be very dangerous for smaller vehicles like snowmobiles and ATVs, and even to people on foot and should be avoided no matter how you're traveling across a frozen lake.
What is a pressure ridge?
As the Minnesota DNR explains, a pressure ridge or ice heave forms along cracks in the ice due to changes from the ice expanding and contracting due to temperature changes.
Pressure ridges come in a few different varieties, but generally there are two main types to be on the lookout for:
Pressure ridges that fold upward, leading to a wall of ice along the crack as one sheet of ice pushes on top of another or as the two sheets of ice push against each other.
Pressure ridges that fold downward, which can lead to an area of open water along the crack in the ice, with the two sheets pushing against each other downward below the surface. These types of ridges are much harder to see, as there is no visible ridge above the surface.
Ice around both types of ridges is less safe and both types are quite dangerous.
Pressure ridges can form pretty quickly, sometimes in just a matter of a few hours.
How do you get around a pressure ridge on the ice?
The Minnesota DNR recommends keeping a close watch ahead of you as you travel across the ice, even if you're following the same path you had earlier in the day being they can develop in just a matter of a few hours.
If you spot a pressure ridge and need to travel across the lake, the DNR recommends you follow the ridge line at a safe distance until you find a safe path.

In the case of some large lakes (where pressure ridges are more common), officials and/or resort owners may sometimes mark areas that are safe to cross, either at the end of a ridge or after a bridge of some form has been placed over the crack in the ice.
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Gallery Credit: Nick Cooper
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