On Thin Ice…

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CHE_1891 - Version 22013-02-18-thin-ice-unsafe-frozen-river-© 2011 Penny Cherubino

After our up and down temperatures and snow storms, this guy actually thought the Charles River Basin was frozen solidly enough for a walk on the river.

CHE_1915 - Version 22013-02-18-thin-ice-unsafe-frozen-river-© 2011 Penny Cherubino

Just as I was about to call 9-1-1 to save first responders from having to do a water rescue, he turned and walked to shore. There he seemed surprized to see that the river freezes differently in different spots. By this outflow pipe, the water was moving and the ice was gone. 

CHE_1929 - Version 22013-02-18-thin-ice-unsafe-frozen-river-© 2011 Penny Cherubino

And, a few feet from where he turned, I spotted this crack. 

Each year the Department of Conservation issues Ice Safety Tips and just last week they tweeted to a woman snowshoeing along the Esplanade, " … be careful and stay off the ice!" 

And, if you've heard stories of people skating on the Charles or Colonel Henry Knox dragging cannons across the frozen river during the American Revolution, remember, that was in a colder time and across a much narrower river.

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And even back in 1935, as you can see from this Leslie Jones photo from the Boston Public Library Collection, they had issues with thin ice. 

The Charles River Basin is a relatively new, man-made body of water. It has a strong current and lots of inflows from other bodies of water. 

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Words: Penny & Ed Cherubino
Photography: © 2013 Penny & Ed Cherubino  

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Comments

  1. Mary Kay Avatar

    Yikes! That was really irresponsible of the guy to go out on the ice! I’m fairly sure that my son knows not to do that but I’m still going to mention it to him.
    It does, however, remind me of how our parents used to take us driving in the car on the ice on the lakes in Minnesota.

  2. rhea Avatar

    Unbelievable.

  3. Penny Avatar

    He really didn't seem to have a speck of fear until he spotted that open water. I still wonder if he turned because he heard the crack.

  4. Penny Avatar

    Remind you son that you have many friends in Boston who might be watching! LOL

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