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How to Make Ice Spikes and Use Them to Crawl Out of a Frozen Lake
March 16, 2011
How to Make Ice Spikes and Use Them to Crawl Out of a Frozen Lake
In a previous post where I willingly broke through the ice...twice...I noticed a question from MissMuley in the comments section about the ice spikes I used to pull myself out of the frozen lake.
It’s a good question, because without them I’m not sure I could’ve crawled out. Here’s how I made mine:
Step 1: I started with two 5-inch nails (Phillips-head screwdrivers would also work) and a length of strong cord (p-cord works great) slightly longer than my wingspan.
Step 2: I wrapped the cord around the nails and secured them with strong knots. And to be sure the knots stay put, I ran a lighter over them to melt them together. I also taped some foam to the to 2/3 of each nail for a better grip—and so they’d float.
Step 3: Wear the spikes underneath your coat with the cord running up your arms and around your shoulders—just like you did with mittens when you were a kid. Let the spikes dangle from your sleeves (or tuck them in your sleeves, if you prefer) when you’re on the ice.
If you break through, try to exit from the same direction from which you fell, because the ice there was strong enough to support you—at least until you go too close to the thinner area. Get a good grip on your spikes, then reach your arms out of the hold as far as you can and dig the spikes in...hard.
With the spikes in the ice, float your body to the surface while pulling yourself out. Keep driving the spikes into the ice, pulling yourself forward, until you’re away from the hole. Once out, roll away from the hole. This will distribute your weight on the surface more evenly than standing up on likely thin ice.
Now, be happy that you were smart enough to carry ice spikes. They may have just saved your life.
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Comments (13)
never though about screw drivers and if you have a grinder you can sharpen them a little more
That is such a smart idea. I suppose that the best way to stay out of this predicament is to stay off the thin ice.
Good comments. Your right jrok661, you shouldn’t find your self in this situation in the first place; but I made my ice spikes because I always plan for the worst and hope for the best. If I am going to cross questionably thick ice I bring my axe and give a good chop every three steps, if I see water leaking through, I turn back. Mutt, funny you should mention that, I thought of using the grinder just after I made my pair which you see in the photo, good idea. It definitely would help if you could grind the ends of the spike nails down to be a little thinner and sharper.
Thanks for writing this up, Jim! Very helpful post. Looking forward to more of your blog!
Your welcome and I have some great stuff coming!
Good idea. These float with less work:
http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/safety/ice/claws.html
I've made it an annual scout meeting activity before our freezeree.
I do recommend old broom handles vs hardwood
Maybe next year we'll get the fire dept over and do an actual test on how they work:-)
Hey ckonnerth, that’s a great way to make spikes. I like the spikes that fit together because it’s a lot easier to stow them and you don't have to worry about accidently spiking your self! There are a few trade offs between the two. The extra step of having to detach them is not the best but they stow away neatly and don't have to dangle out your sleeves, which can get in the way. It’s a necessity for the attaching kind of spikes to float because you usually wouldn’t thread them through your sleeves.
I noticed you used concrete nails in the picture. It would sure help as they won't bend as easily as regular nails would.
Looks like somthing you would find in a prison cell! great Idea!
I had seen ice spikes made with a leather holster for keeping them on you while on the ice and I always wondered how easily they would be to get to if you fell through. The cord attachment and wearing them under your parka seems like a much better idea! Thank you for the tip. In addition, most ice safety literature recommends wearing a personal flotation device while on the ice.
My old Boy Scout handbook included plans for ice spikes using nails. They had a wooden dowel/broomstick handle (around one inch diameter) and left only about an inch-and-a-half of the nail exposed (if memory serves me correctly). The design also had you make a cap from the same wood stock, so you didn't have to worry about puncturing a sleeve (or arm) while you were wearing them.
My dads been making spikes just like that for years that he made us wear when ice fishing. He tells me it saved my uncles life when they were kids.
Funny you should mention that Gimpergoo, my uncle showed me how to make these when I was 9 for a trek on the ice. He told me the spikes saved him once too.
Bberg, a PFD seems like a no brainer. Most don’t wear one on the ice though, except some hardcore ice fisherman I’ve seen in Ontario who wear full survival suites with flotation. Sometimes when a person goes through the ice they gasp for air and take in water, filling their lungs when the shock of the cold water hits them. I’ve heard of people breaking through and immediately sinking straight to the bottom from this. A PFD could have saved them. The ice conditions this year have been the worst I’ve seen ever in Southern Ontario good year to make a pair of spikes.
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never though about screw drivers and if you have a grinder you can sharpen them a little more
That is such a smart idea. I suppose that the best way to stay out of this predicament is to stay off the thin ice.
Good comments. Your right jrok661, you shouldn’t find your self in this situation in the first place; but I made my ice spikes because I always plan for the worst and hope for the best. If I am going to cross questionably thick ice I bring my axe and give a good chop every three steps, if I see water leaking through, I turn back. Mutt, funny you should mention that, I thought of using the grinder just after I made my pair which you see in the photo, good idea. It definitely would help if you could grind the ends of the spike nails down to be a little thinner and sharper.
Thanks for writing this up, Jim! Very helpful post. Looking forward to more of your blog!
Your welcome and I have some great stuff coming!
Good idea. These float with less work:
http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/safety/ice/claws.html
I've made it an annual scout meeting activity before our freezeree.
I do recommend old broom handles vs hardwood
Maybe next year we'll get the fire dept over and do an actual test on how they work:-)
Hey ckonnerth, that’s a great way to make spikes. I like the spikes that fit together because it’s a lot easier to stow them and you don't have to worry about accidently spiking your self! There are a few trade offs between the two. The extra step of having to detach them is not the best but they stow away neatly and don't have to dangle out your sleeves, which can get in the way. It’s a necessity for the attaching kind of spikes to float because you usually wouldn’t thread them through your sleeves.
I noticed you used concrete nails in the picture. It would sure help as they won't bend as easily as regular nails would.
Looks like somthing you would find in a prison cell! great Idea!
I had seen ice spikes made with a leather holster for keeping them on you while on the ice and I always wondered how easily they would be to get to if you fell through. The cord attachment and wearing them under your parka seems like a much better idea! Thank you for the tip. In addition, most ice safety literature recommends wearing a personal flotation device while on the ice.
My old Boy Scout handbook included plans for ice spikes using nails. They had a wooden dowel/broomstick handle (around one inch diameter) and left only about an inch-and-a-half of the nail exposed (if memory serves me correctly). The design also had you make a cap from the same wood stock, so you didn't have to worry about puncturing a sleeve (or arm) while you were wearing them.
My dads been making spikes just like that for years that he made us wear when ice fishing. He tells me it saved my uncles life when they were kids.
Funny you should mention that Gimpergoo, my uncle showed me how to make these when I was 9 for a trek on the ice. He told me the spikes saved him once too.
Bberg, a PFD seems like a no brainer. Most don’t wear one on the ice though, except some hardcore ice fisherman I’ve seen in Ontario who wear full survival suites with flotation. Sometimes when a person goes through the ice they gasp for air and take in water, filling their lungs when the shock of the cold water hits them. I’ve heard of people breaking through and immediately sinking straight to the bottom from this. A PFD could have saved them. The ice conditions this year have been the worst I’ve seen ever in Southern Ontario good year to make a pair of spikes.
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