It has to be pretty cold for a long amount of time (or really cold for awhile) and there can't be wind which kicks up waves, or snow or sleet during the crucial time when the ice is forming. That makes bumps in the ice and then it's impossible to skate on. If we get to skate on it every three years, we're lucky. There might be some bays where it's always smooth when it freezes, but I'm not familiar with them.
By the way, when it does freeze over, how often is it smooth enough to skate on? Is it a deep lake? Are there safety issues involved? I'm a skater and this looks like a skater's paradise.
It doesn't always freeze over, but it is not uncommon. It's pretty big (30 miles long by 16 miles wide) so sometimes it isn't completely frozen. The year I took the video (2007), there was a lot of very cold weather and little wind, which makes for a nice smooth surface on which to skate.
What you can't see because the I'm skating by it too fast, is that the cracks in the ice show that it is about a foot thick. There were lots of ice fisherman out that day too.
just being on ice is crazy. I was just out at flathead lake, but it's super low and I was up to my knees in mud. Then we went to whitefish lake the next day and it's still iced over and we went out, I don't think it was a foot thick, but we were a good 100 feet out. Bringing ice skates next year, falling all over the place! so scary, so much fun
I wouldn't dare to do it this slow... I would race like a maniac :) and probably panic instantly
kawasakizf6r 2 months ago
It has to be pretty cold for a long amount of time (or really cold for awhile) and there can't be wind which kicks up waves, or snow or sleet during the crucial time when the ice is forming. That makes bumps in the ice and then it's impossible to skate on. If we get to skate on it every three years, we're lucky. There might be some bays where it's always smooth when it freezes, but I'm not familiar with them.
drewietube 3 years ago
By the way, when it does freeze over, how often is it smooth enough to skate on? Is it a deep lake? Are there safety issues involved? I'm a skater and this looks like a skater's paradise.
emilyhf3 3 years ago
January - I had to check, but yes, it's noted on the titles at the beginning of the video :)
drewietube 3 years ago
So beautiful, but scary! What month of the year was this?
emilyhf3 3 years ago
I thought Flathead lake has only froze over a few times in it's history ?
waynerzman 3 years ago
It doesn't always freeze over, but it is not uncommon. It's pretty big (30 miles long by 16 miles wide) so sometimes it isn't completely frozen. The year I took the video (2007), there was a lot of very cold weather and little wind, which makes for a nice smooth surface on which to skate.
drewietube 3 years ago
looks pretty cool. I'm from Calgary and I love coming down to Flathead lake.
waynerzman 3 years ago
craziest thing I've ever seen, so scary, edge of my seat for sure! Would have to give me a hundred dollars to do this!
destroy43 3 years ago
What you can't see because the I'm skating by it too fast, is that the cracks in the ice show that it is about a foot thick. There were lots of ice fisherman out that day too.
drewietube 3 years ago
just being on ice is crazy. I was just out at flathead lake, but it's super low and I was up to my knees in mud. Then we went to whitefish lake the next day and it's still iced over and we went out, I don't think it was a foot thick, but we were a good 100 feet out. Bringing ice skates next year, falling all over the place! so scary, so much fun
destroy43 3 years ago