We are all so very lucky! . . . by Will Winter

We are all so very lucky!
by Will Winter

February 18th and it's 37 degrees.

Here we are, looking south from out on the ice in the middle of Lake Calhoun.

The sun is still low in the sky.

We know from summer sailing that it is about 25' deep right here.

The ice in the middle of the lake is heaving along a long line transversing the lake and the temptation to inspect the ice heave from close-up is almost impossible for a few risk-takers to resist!

Here are several people standing "on the edge" and in a potentially dangerous spot.

The grinding, growling and cracking of the buckling ice is intense at the heave, too scary for me to approach, with fresh water lapping over the submerged ice there, but apparently not frightening at all to these people.

They seem to be drawn to it like moths to a flame.

The ice fisherman told me the ice has been holding at 15" thick (down from 36" some years).

He was also mystified by the willingness of so many people to walk along the heave line on the ice.

Fortunately, it looks like everyone survived.

Best of all, though, we know our sweet little lake will soon be liquid again, and we will, once again, become the Kings and Queens of the Waters......

We are all so very lucky!