Save yourself the heartache and the bill of having your car/truck pulled out of the lake. If you see big chunky ice on the lake, look for a bridge, rather than trying to drive 'through' it, because if you do you might end up like this guy, or worse. There have been at least 4 vehicles that have gone in on Mille Lacs in some form or fashion this year, and we just got into the ice-making season.

I found this video on social media this morning, and I have to say, don't be this person. Look for the bridge, pay the road fee, and keep it clean on the lake.

What's dangerous about the 'chunky ice'?

The chunky ice you are seeing out on the lake, sometimes over a matter of hours, is a pressure ridge. What is a pressure ridge? Well according to the Minnesota DNR:

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"A pressure ridge or ice heave is a long ridge of ice that forms along a crack in the ice. They can be dangerous for snowmobile riders and other recreationalists. Ice ridges can range from a few inches in height to over 10 feet high, and they can form in a matter of hours, creating an unexpected obstacle for people returning to shore in the evening."

They form from the ice fluctuating in size due to the temps outside. I've gone back to our friends at the Minnesota Department of Resources for more on pressure ridges.

"Pressure ridges form as a result of contracting and expanding ice due to air-temperature fluctuations. Ridges are more likely to form during years with little snow coverage and extremely cold stretches followed by warm days. When the air temperature drops well below freezing, the ice contracts and causes cracks to form. The lake water seeps up into those cracks and freezes, filling the gaps. When the air temperature rises, the ice needs to expand but can no longer fill out the gaps."

Towards the end of the reel, you hear the guy talk about ice roads and bridges that local resorts put out, they aren't doing it for their health, they are doing it to keep you and their other customers safe, so make sure you ask questions before you head out on a unfamiliar lake, and always follow the advice offered from those working, it might just keep you warm and dry.