Maine’s Lakefront Property Owners Urged To Use Caution On Ice

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Maine’s Lakefront Property Owners Urged To Use Caution On Ice

Picture Perfect Lower Bay, Kezar Lake, Lovell, Maine

The frozen body of water in front of your lakefront property in Maine provides a great source for recreational fun. From ice fishing and ice sailing to skating, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing and snowmobiling, the possibilities to get out and play are endless.  And at the end of the day, there’s nothing better than sitting in front of the fireplace inside your classic Maine cabin, camp or cottage–your cheeks rosy and your body happily tired after a delightful day of playing on the lake.



One thing to be aware of as you play, however, is ice thickness.
Always check ice thickness before heading out. Temperature, snow cover, currents and springs all affect the relative safety of ice. And ice is seldom the same thickness over a single body of water, therefore, it’s wise to check the thickness at least every 150 feet.
The following is a list of recommendations from the Maine Warden Service:
General Ice Thickness Guidelines – For New, Clear Ice Only:
•    2″ or less – STAY OFF
•    4″ May allow Ice fishing or other activities on foot
•    5″ often allows for snowmobile or ATV travel
•    8″ – 12″ of good ice with supports most cars or small pickups
•    12″ – 15″ will likely hold a medium sized truck.
Remember that these thicknesses are merely guidelines for new, clear, solid ice. Many factors other than thickness can cause ice to be unsafe.
The following guidelines can help you make wise choices:
•    Check for known thin ice areas with a local resort or bait shop.
•    Test the thickness yourself using an ice chisel or ice auger.
•    Refrain from driving on ice whenever possible. If you must drive a vehicle, be prepared to leave it in a hurry–keep windows down, unbuckle your seat belt and have a simple emergency plan of action you have discussed with your passengers.
•    Stay away from alcoholic beverages. Even “just a couple of beers” are enough to cause a careless error in judgment that could cost you your life. And contrary to common belief, alcohol actually makes you colder rather than warming you up.
•    Don’t “overdrive” your snowmobile’s headlight. At even 30 miles per hour, it can take a much longer distance to stop on ice than your headlight shines. Many fatal snowmobile-through-the-ice accidents occur because the machine was traveling too fast for the operator to stop when the headlamp illuminated the hole in the ice.
•    Wear a life vest under your winter gear. Or wear one of the new flotation snowmobile suits.
•    And it’s a good idea to carry a pair of ice picks that may be home made or purchased from most well stocked sporting goods stores that cater to winter anglers. It’s amazing how difficult it can be to pull yourself back onto the surface of unbroken but wet and slippery ice while wearing a snowmobile suit weighted down with 60 lbs of water. The ice picks really help pulling yourself back onto solid ice.

CAUTION: Do NOT wear a flotation device when traveling across the ice in an enclosed vehicle!
Source: www.maine.gov/ifw/warden_service/safety
To learn more about lakefront properties for sale on Kezar Lake in Lovell, click on the green box above.
To learn more about the Lovell area, check out the blog links below.
Kezar Lake, Lovell, Maine: Pristine Lakefront with Stunning Mountain Views
Ebenezer’s Pub in Lovell, Maine – Where Kezar Lakers Go For Beer and Hospitality
Lake Kezar Country Club a Gem of a Golf Club Next to Kezar Lake in Lovell, Maine

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