I would never take a atv, side by side, or a snow machine onto the ice. All it takes is a slushy spot even on good ice and you are in for a lot of work to get it off of the ice.
Strawberry Ice Unsafe Areas
Hey guys i am looking to take my 4 wheeler on the ice here in a couple weeks at the berry. We went on 12/30 with over 7 inches of ice. My question is where are the areas that you would avoid with a 4 wheeler or SxS due to unsafe ice. I have heard that there are springs and other areas that are unsafe but i have not heard the location. Thanks in Advance!
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I don't know of any springs at the Berry
Hey Kid,
Unlike Critter (no disrespect intended Critter), I'll ALWAYS take my snowmobile out on ice after it reaches 5" and over in thickness. Walking miles on ice dragging 75 plus pounds of gear is NOT my idea of fun. Critter is definitely a better man than I if he can or desires to do that.
The only body of water in Utah that I have heard consistent stories about having springs is Mantua. There are stories every year about somebody breaking through the ice and in fact I saw it happen 2 years ago about 30 feet from where I was fishing just off the boat ramp. But I haven't had my snowmobile even come close to going through on that lake.
I have ATV'd and snowmobiled on dozens of Utah lakes for about 10 years now and only went through the ice once at Rockport. I broke through the edge as I was going on the ice and got the front wheels wet. No big deal.
I wouldn't be afraid to take my snowmobile (or S X S quad if I had one) anywhere on the Berry after the ice gets over 5 inches. You can SAFELY drive a full size pickup on 10 inches or more of good, clear ice and people do it every year back east. The only reason it's not a great idea here is because our lake levels fluctuate (a LOT) creating very thin edges that make it difficult if not down right dangerous to get on or off the ice.
You'll be fine in a couple of weeks at the Berry if the ice thickness has surpassed the 5 inch mark and I fully expect that to be the case by then.
Hey Kid,
Unlike Critter (no disrespect intended Critter), I'll ALWAYS take my snowmobile out on ice after it reaches 5" and over in thickness. Walking miles on ice dragging 75 plus pounds of gear is NOT my idea of fun. Critter is definitely a better man than I if he can or desires to do that.
The only body of water in Utah that I have heard consistent stories about having springs is Mantua. There are stories every year about somebody breaking through the ice and in fact I saw it happen 2 years ago about 30 feet from where I was fishing just off the boat ramp. But I haven't had my snowmobile even come close to going through on that lake.
I have ATV'd and snowmobiled on dozens of Utah lakes for about 10 years now and only went through the ice once at Rockport. I broke through the edge as I was going on the ice and got the front wheels wet. No big deal.
I wouldn't be afraid to take my snowmobile (or S X S quad if I had one) anywhere on the Berry after the ice gets over 5 inches. You can SAFELY drive a full size pickup on 10 inches or more of good, clear ice and people do it every year back east. The only reason it's not a great idea here is because our lake levels fluctuate (a LOT) creating very thin edges that make it difficult if not down right dangerous to get on or off the ice.
You'll be fine in a couple of weeks at the Berry if the ice thickness has surpassed the 5 inch mark and I fully expect that to be the case by then.
:mrgreen:
I'm like dubob... I'll ride sleds or atvs on +6" anywhere. I prefer 7-9+ though.
-DallanC
I never said that it wasn't safe I just said that if you find a slushy spot you are going to be in for a lot of work.
I've seen people with sleds go out in the morning and then a couple of hours later find that slushy spot and then work the rest of the day and into the evening getting it off of the ice. As for a wheeler, most of the ponds that I ice fish there is no way to access the ice on one. That is unless you want to spend a day or so building a packing a ramp to get one out onto it.
I've seen people with sleds go out in the morning and then a couple of hours later find that slushy spot and then work the rest of the day and into the evening getting it off of the ice. As for a wheeler, most of the ponds that I ice fish there is no way to access the ice on one. That is unless you want to spend a day or so building a packing a ramp to get one out onto it.
There is one place that I know of that has claimed multiple sled "victims". There is an island near the entrance of Horse Creek Bay that frequently has thin ice. Travelers snowmobiling from the marina to Renegade will often get too close to the island and this spot and send their machines down to Davy Jones locker. If sledding from the marina to Renegade, give that island a very wide berth and you will be fine. I do not know if this is due to a true "spring" or from the current, but it is a consistent hazard.Hey guys i am looking to take my 4 wheeler on the ice here in a couple weeks at the berry. We went on 12/30 with over 7 inches of ice. My question is where are the areas that you would avoid with a 4 wheeler or SxS due to unsafe ice. I have heard that there are springs and other areas that are unsafe but i have not heard the location. Thanks in Advance!
https://www.google.com/search?q=str...0jFDHpnmM:&usg=__hS7911KaPDRPBkQH3MM7XxhSzi8=
The west side of the old dam. Above the old campground. Always thin if not open water. The old dam runs east west in the north side of renegade.
It's great fishing there too.
It's great fishing there too.
We went to Scofield yesterday and my son found the slush. It was a little scary for him as he was pulling my nephew's kids behind the 4wheeler on a sled. We were able to get the 4wheeler back on good ice. He was out in the middle of the lake. There was 15 inches of ice. I just say be careful.
Yes; what Dallan said! :mrgreen:Dont people run chains anymore? Even in fairly deep slush I've been able to get around on a ATV no sweat.
-DallanC
Back east it wasn't uncommon to drive vehicles out on the ice, but there aren't many lakes here that I would even attempt this on, the few that do are not accessible by vehicles in winter.
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