THUNDER BAY — The pressure crack on ice-covered Lake Superior caught him by surprise, and he was in the water in an instant.
"Down I went," says Ken Shields, describing his experience over the weekend when he and his wife went to Silver Harbour to check out the chunks of blue ice that have piled up in the conservation area east of Thunder Bay.
Shields said the crack near Mary Island had been covered by snow.
Fortunately, he was able to stop his descent with his arms, leaving him submerged up to his waist.
It took about eight seconds for him to extricate himself, he said.
"I just kicked my way out, and back onto the ice."
But Shields, who shared his story on social media, told tbnewswatch.com he hopes the incident serves as a cautionary tale to everyone who's venturing onto the ice.
"There were lots and lots of pressure cracks. I spent 20 minutes going back to my car, and I was turning people around. There were people on ATVs heading my way."
He estimates there were about 500 visitors at Silver Harbour, including numerous children, at the time.
The Lakehead Region Conservation Authority agrees that the blue ice at Silver Harbour is pretty to look at, but a spokesperson says there are hazards for people who don't stay on land.
"It's really unique to see, really interesting, and it makes for some great photo opportunities," Ryan Macket said on Monday.
However, referring to those who venture onto the ice, Macket said "it's important to note that LRCA staff do not monitor ice conditions. People are doing so at their own risk, and are urged to proceed with caution."
Be smart, he said.
"If you are going to go, you need to use your own judgment and your own common sense, and if the ice doesn't look safe, don't go on the ice. If you are unsure what unsafe ice looks like, don't go on the ice."
Mackett said that during the COVID-19 pandemic, larger numbers of people than usual are visiting conservation areas.
But at Silver Harbour, the situation is close to getting out of hand.
He said long-time anglers in the area have never seen so many people gathered in that area simultaneously at this time of year.
"The parking lot is getting overfilled, and we're getting complaints about people parking on the road unsafely."
Mackett urged visitors to follow all COVID-19 regulations.
He also said he hopes visitors to Silver Harbour remember to pay the $5 fee which goes toward the upkeep of LRCA properties.
Last March, large crowds gathered at the end of Shipyard Road in Current River to view spectacular formations of blue ice that had formed on the shoreline.
