Here is a video of my friend Steve White ice skating on a frozen lake in the Evolution Basin:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uoimVpRHnQA

Can you identify the lake?! Any other alpine skaters out there?

that looks really fun

Love the music.

Ancestors Call - Huun-Huur Tu
Chyraa-Khoor

Bob, opening scene down low behind guy is Grass Lake,
Few seconds later they can be seen approaching Lamarck Col taking the shortcut to Evolution.

Will be back there once again this summer.
drooling already, Harvey

I am curious... in one scene, he lobbed a rock, and it broke through. But next, he was skating. Can you safely skate on ice that a rock can break?

In another scene, he checked with an ice screw, and reported 4 inches. I'd guess that would be fine to skate on.

And last question: I see it was posted in November. Is that when they went on this trip?

I too am very envious of their fun.

Embedding the video here for everyone's enjoyment.

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.

The opening scene is on the trail just below Lower Lamarck Lake, on the approach to Lamarck Col. I don't recognize the skate lake; I'll ask Steve the next time I see him. Maybe Laura can identify the lake.

Really well done. Terrific music. Did John Dittli film that?

Ostrander Hut has about 20 pair of ice skates they keep on hand when it's a cold/snowless fall. One of the great things about that time of year is listening to the booming and cracking of the ice as small surges of water move back and forth as ice shifts. Although I've skied across ice a number of times, I'm not a major fan. Always nerve wracking and I just don't trust ice.

They make ice picks that connect on a line through the sleeves so they dangle near the hands if you go through. Seems like minimum safety equipment to have on these adventures (though noticed the one guys seemed to be carrying a short rope).

g.