Islanders reminded to be cautious when venturing out on natural ice this winter

Check the weather. Never go alone. Avoid going at night. Always have a plan.

Those are just some of the tips Gregoire Cormier offered to Islanders if they happen to be out on natural ice surfaces this winter — whether it's for a game of pond hockey or for smelt fishing.

Cormier, the program manager for the Lifesaving Society in New Brunswick, said there are a number of factors to take into consideration before venturing out onto ice.

One day of cold weather isn’t enough, either. He said consecutive days at -20 C are needed.

“If it's just one cold snap of one evening, it's not enough to form a thick enough ice surface," he said.  

The colour of the ice can also be a good indicator of safety, he said.

If it’s clear, that means the ice is usually compact and stronger. White ice suggests there may be air pockets or bubbles, reducing its strength by about half. If the ice looks more grey or yellow, that could mean it melted and froze again, which is the weakest type.

Next up: thickness.

In order to walk on a pond, the ice thickness should be at least 10 centimetres, said Cormier. If you're grabbing a few buddies for a quick game of hockey or taking that snowmobile out for a spin, the ice ought to be 12 cm thick. If you’re feeling particularly daring and decide to take a car or light truck out for a spin, you better hope that ice is 30 cm.

“Those are in ideal conditions. So Lifesaving Society always recommends air on the side of caution,” Cormier said, adding that freezing temperatures vary depending on the type of water, so a body of salt water would take longer to freeze.

Ideal conditions can change quickly, said Cormier, and a sheet of ice that's safe in the morning may not be in the afternoon.

To check the thickness, he advised using an auger to drill a “pilot hole” while close to the shore. A life jacket or rope should be used while testing.

It’s a process you should follow multiple times throughout your outing.

“Conditions can change — could be something as simple as just a cloud cover, which will help the ice stay thick," he said. "But if the sun comes out, then it could start melting the ice and then making it thinner.”