Gunflint Lake is 275 feet deep at the deepest hole. With that volume of water, it takes a long time to change temperature enough to freeze. Every year, Gunflint Lake ices over after the lakes in Southern Minnesota (including the Twin Cities). Remember to check on the ice before going on it.
The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources recommends at least 4 inches of new, clear ice for walking, 5 - 7 inches for snowmobiling, 8 - 12 inches for a small car, and 12 - 15 inches for a medium truck. Double those amounts for white ice. Remember, ice is never 100% safe! For more information, see the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources Website.
Many people are killed every year by traveling on unsafe ice. Over the years, many more people have been killed trying to rescue the people stupid enough to go out on thin ice. Remember, that travel on thin ice not only risks your own life, but the lives of rescuers as well.
When the ice is thick enough to travel, I recommend bringing some ice picks. They can be put on a rope and easily carried with you. I've tested these (when I was wearing an ice rescue suit during fire training), and they work well.
If you drive on the ice (which I don't), leave your windows down while in the car. Your best chance of survival is to get out of the car before it sinks. When a car goes down, it will go engine first, and most likely flip over on the bottom of the lake. Unless you have something to break the window, you have to wait for the car to fill with water before attempting to swim through water colder than you can image to the surface, and hope you can find the hole you came through and pull yourself out onto the ice. I personally recommend driving only on land.
Another thing to remember, just because someone else has gone on the ice does not mean you should go on the ice. We are humans, not lemmings. Pay attention to the "Thin Ice" signs, talk to people who live on the lake, and test the ice before walking on it.
Stay safe out there!
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