Lake Tracks by Icemakers

Creating test tracks from frozen water is a delicate craft that takes a lot of time, effort and precision to get right.

The first phase starts in mid to late November. When the ice is thick enough for snowmobiles we initiate the marking process. We mark the tracks with the help of GPS and plow sticks. We mainly use sticks made from willow in order to avoid plastic pollution of our lakes and shores.

Once the first snowfall occurs, phase two begins. The fresh and featherlike snow is a very good insulator against freezing temperatures. Therefore, this snow needs to be packed together in order for the ice to grow. To reduce the insulation layer and speed up the freezing process snowmobiles and snow rollers are used to pack the snow.

The third phase starts once the ice is thick enough to withstand our smallest machines with snow blowers. This usually occurs somewhere between late December and early January.  As the thickness of the ice grows, we can start bringing heavier machines and equipment onto the lake ice.

In order for us to ensure the thickness of the ice we use a sonar radar for measurement. This is done regularly to eliminate the risks of going out on thin ice.

Ensuring a safe environment for our customers and staff is always our primary focus, throughout the whole process.