Yes, November 2012. There had been an early snow storm a couple of weeks before, and very cold temps.
4 inch, new, clear ice is probably safe for skating or ice fishing, but less than that is a big no-no. But try to avoid heavy falls...eh eh.
I was xc-skiing across Blue Lake (above lake Sabrina) on clear ice, when I started hearing loud "pow" sounds of ice cracking. It was time to leave then! Heard the same sounds at Long Lake (above Mosquito Flat - Rock Creek Canyon) with some guys practicing ice hockey moves - again, time to get off the ice. So, although new, clear ice, > 4 inches is probably safe, water movement under the ice can initial breakup. Scary, eh?
My advice is to stay near the shore, if possible.
Last edited by Bob West; 02/10/13 04:35 PM.