(Arnolds Park)-Officials are urging caution on the ice during Winter Games. KUOO’s Becky Thoreson has details:
With construction ongoing at the State Pier at Arnolds Park and variable ice conditions, officials are urging Winter Games participants to exercise caution, especially during the popular Polar Plunge on Saturday afternoon, which will be held just to the west of the Queen II.
Arnolds Park Okoboji Fire Chief Chris Yungbluth says a safe zone will be set up around the perimeter. “There’s plenty of ice, but it’s not real great ice in close to the shore there, so we’re gonna try and keep ATVs and machines a little bit further out away from the event because it’s a pretty popular event. We get a big crowd that comes and watches folks jump in for the Polar Plunge, so for safety we’re gonna set up some safe zones to kind of keep the machines back, and then because we’re by the Queen down there, they run a bubbler around the Queen year around, and this year especially, the ice is thinner a little ways out from the Queen. Of course, directly around the Queen is dangerous and folks just need to be aware not to approach near that dock or near the Queen where those bubblers are running or they may end up falling through the ice.”
He adds that, due to the recent snow, ice conditions are highly variable. “It’s hiding a lot of thin spots that are out there so, just know there’s gonna be some hidden thin spots. The ice is very variable. Out in the middle, we found that it’s got good clear, crystal ice. Up closer to some of the shorelines we’ve got some ice that the rain and the water has gone through and kind of, what we call, candelabraed the ice, or made it so it’s not as strong as what it is out in the center. So, definitely gonna have to exercise good caution if anybody’s gonna go out on the ice with your vehicles, your ATVs or snowmobiles, or even just walking. Just be aware of your surroundings. If you don’t know where normal seams or holes develop, ask local folks before you go out to be on the safe side.”
The Polar Plunge is slated for 3 o’clock Saturday afternoon.
For the full University of Okoboji Winter Games schedule click here.
