Hello! I'm just getting into ski flying and there are a BUNCH of lakes here in Wisconsin with great restaurants to access once the water freezes. We also have a summer place on a lake that we'd love to go to in the winter but I have not seen any information about how to tie-down on an ice surface (aka, directly on the frozen lake surface). Any suggestions??

I've seen those screw-in anchors for ice shanties...are those strong enough?

Sounds like you are looking at short-term, as in a lunch layover? For times like those I carry several long ice screws like you'd use for ice-climbing. I'll either tie off to a carabiner through the ice screw, or I will use the screws to cut a V-thread in the lake ice, and thread a sufficiently strong line through that. Beware of pressure-thawing if the lines are very taught for an extended time. If it is sunny then I will pack snow over the ice screw or V-thread to prevent solar thawing. If you are using screws then don't angle them, the threads are what create the holding power- the screw should be in-line with the direction of pull. If you are using a V-thread then this is less of a concern. Alternately, if you have workable snow, you can carry any type of dead-man anchor- could be some 2x4 cutoffs, a stuff-sack filled with snow, etc. Dig a deep hole, bury the deadman, compact and work-harden the snow thoroughly. If you are talking longer-term, then I'll chop or chainsaw a hole in the ice, plant a suitably disposable deadman anchor in the ice, and freeze it in place with water. If this kind of thing is unfamiliar, you might try googling videos for snow and ice climbing anchors.

Cheers,

-DP

Good answer from DP. Last winter I bought a couple climbing ice screws and think they're awesome. They do come in different lengths to get the threads to an optimum depth.

A local told me another method is to use an ice auger like you'd use for fishing to open up a hole, then insert a length of 2x4 with a rope anchor tied to its middle so it bridges the hole from underneath. Sounds cold and wet to me.

Zzz wrote:A local told me another method is to use an ice auger like you'd use for fishing to open up a hole, then insert a length of 2x4 with a rope anchor tied to its middle so it bridges the hole from underneath. Sounds cold and wet to me.

Depending on things like temperature and snowpack and the weight of the ice and the pressure on the water column, that could easily cause water to come up and saturate the snow around your skis, leaving your plane frozen to the lake. Happens too easily just from natural upwellings.

[edit] To clarify, when I wrote above about chainsawing a hole in the ice to plant a deadman, I'm often dealing with three feet of lake ice, so we're not talking about boring clear through- just a shallow trench to bed an anchor.

@denalipilot Thanks! That was just the kind of professional info I was looking for. I had see ice fishing shelter screws from Clam and didn't know if they were appropriate. Learning about ice climbing anchors is a million dollar tip. Also, it looks like ice climbing anchors re lighter-weight than the Clam anchors.