back to index

 

Tip of the month, December, 2000

River Ice

This month will be focusing on dog travel, mostly ski-joring and crossing frozen rivers and not quite frozen rivers and traveling on overflow.

 

 

Carol and cappy crossing an ice bridge in the Alaska Range

 

Generally there isn't a whole of difference between crossing an open area, going thru dense forest and crossing a river or drainage. They all have their own sets of potential problems. An open area in a high wind with with blowing snow or a ground blizzard can be very intimidating, a forest can cut the wind, but you have to deal with deadfall trees over the trail and after a heavy snow, all the brush can create hard to travel tunnels of willow and alder. Rivers allow you the chance to get wet breaking thru the ice or having to cope with wet overflow.

 

 

Marriane getting on Champion creek in November

 

Overflow occurs after a river freezes up, it is water forced up over the existing ice from below. This can happen many ways, but a few of the most common are after a heavy snow, this additional weight pushes the ice deeper into the water flowing under the ice and that water is squeezed thru cracks and breaks in the ice, where it is now free to flow over the top. Overflow is also fairly common after an extended cold period, -40f or colder, new ice is added to the existing ice which puts downward pressure on the water forcing to the top. Also, normal ground water drains out onto rivers as the ground freezes, it will usually travel thru the snow until it finds a place to settle.

 

So, the first trick is getting on to a river or creek, in the image above, Marrianne and Pepper gracefully slide onto the ice, you have to know your skiing abilities, and your dog, not only are you trying to control your skiis and dog, but there is also a ski-jor line that always seems to be in the way. Take your time. Metal edges on your skiis help a lot when on ice, but unless you are a really good skier, its not recommended for ski-joring, crashes with metal edged skiis and dogs can be very harmful to the dog!

Ralph traveling down Champion creek on freshly frozen overflow

Now that you are on the river your goal is to stay upright, falls are painful. In the image above Ralph shows good technique for traveling downstream under control, stay balanced on you skis and have your poles ready to help out.

 

Crossing a small creek with a small hill.

 

Most dogs are not too concerned with ice / river travel, but if your dog seems like they don't enjoy it, it is better to let them off the line and and walk or ski across without them attached, or if your skiing ability is not all that great on ice, walk.

 

 

.

 

 

Dealing with open water while on river ice requires your full attention, it can be very dangerous. Below, Ralph and Hudson are traveling carefully around and small open stretch of water. Know how thick the ice is and how deep the water is, thin ice over 6 inches of water is not much of a hazard, but thin ice over very deep water can mean death or injury to you or your dog if it breaks while you are crossing. If you are not sure of the ice check it out very carefully before crossing. Sometimes it is better to go more upstream or downstream to avoid questionable routes over ice.

 

 

Ralph crossing near open water

 

As the winter progresses, you will have many chances to deal with ice and overflow ice, at some point your timing will be just right and you will get to deal with it while there is water standing or flowing over the ice. Generally the ice underneath is no different than without the water, so travel in these wet conditions is still safe, but very wet. You will have to decide how to handle the crossing, whether to walk or ski and how wet are you willing to get. Getting wet is not the end of the world, but you need to know what you are getting into when you step into the water. Factors to consider are the current air temp, distance to your destination, the ability to dry you gear out once you get to where you are going and you own attitude about being wet. Sometimes it might be better to walk across and keep your skiis from icing up, if this is the way you go, maybe try pulling out a couple stuff sacs from your pac and slipping them on to slow down the water from getting in, or carry a few trash bags to do the same function, although these can be very slippery on the ice. Just remember to get out and have fun and be safe!!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hoar frost on river ice

 

 

 

 

 

 

And to carry all your ski-jor gear out to the races or you next trip, use the NEW Apocalypse Design, " Carol's Ski-Jor Bag" see it on the new products page.

 

back to index