Better safe ... Iffy ice displaces some Winter Games events

FILE PHOTO The 2012 edition of the University of Okoboji Winter Games schedule is still packed, but some event locations have been moved. Organizers have adjusted the lineup because of questionable ice conditions on the Iowa Great Lakes. The popular polar plunge has been moved to the State Pier near Arnolds Park Amusement Park.

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He sees ice heaves, ice seams and rough ice -- but, what he doesn't see is consistently thick ice.

His recommendations will result in a still-fun, but safe, University of Okoboji Winter Games. The Winter Games Executive Committee met with the officer on Monday decided to pull all activities off the ice.

"There is certainly some marginal ice, or ice that has a degree of safety to it, but it's so variable ..." he said. "It's a year that the lakes are hazardous in a lot of places."

The Iowa Great Lakes region dodged snow and enjoyed high temperatures to start 2012 -- highs approached 60 degrees on Jan. 5. A recent cold snap and some late snow events weren't enough to keep events on the lake for hundreds of participants.

Morrison said he hasn't seen anything over 8 inches of thickness on West Lake Okoboji.

Roughly 4 inches of ice is needed to support a person for ice fishing, about 5 inches is needed for snowmobiles and ATVs, 8-12 inches is needed for small cars and pickups. Medium-sized trucks need 12-15 inches, according to the DNR officer.

"And that's one vehicle," Morrison said. "That's not multiple vehicles."

The recent snow cover also conceals ice thickness at various parts of the lake.

"Safety is our first and foremost consideration and that is why the Winter Games Committee has decided to relocate the events held on Smith's Bay to alternate locations throughout the area," said Tom Kuhlman, Executive Vice President of the Iowa Great Lakes Area Chamber of Commerce.

Months of preparation goes into Winter Games plans and organizers at the Iowa Great Lakes Area Chamber of Commerce have contingencies for an unusually warm January.

"We've pulled the events off the ice and relocated them to the grounds on two other occasions -- in 2002 and 2006," said Jen Johnson, the chamber's program director.

The view is half-full from the chamber's Arnolds Park office. One of the most popular events has been moved to the backyard of the staff's canary-colored building. The polar plunge will take place at the State Pier near historic Arnolds Park Amusement Park.

"What's nice about that is: There's a wealth of parking down here in the amusement park, so people who want to watch the polar plunge and people who want to take the dip -- the amusement park just facilitates that," Johnson said.

The inaugural Guns and Hoses Boot Hockey tournament has been moved from Smith's Bay to Parks Marina. Anyone interested in the ArtsLIVE environmental arts project is asked to dress in greens, blacks and blues and meet at 11:30 a.m. Saturday at the Y. From there they've assemble in the shape of a giant frog designed by Deidre Rosenboom. An areal photograph of the group will be taken by Judy Hemphill.

Other relocated events include the bean bag toss, now at Preservation Plaza near the amusement park and broomball, which will be played at Smith's fields between Jackson Millwork and El Parian along Highway 71 in Spirit Lake.

Johnson said participation is strong for the events regardless of their location.

"What we're seeing is: Those tried and true events are right there as far as entries go," she said. "And, then when we do see cold weather, like we're enjoying now, those indoor events like Texas hold 'em and cribbage, the chocolate classic and chili -- they continue to grow and grow."

Even with events moved off Smith's Bay, some unintentional polar plunges still concern Morrison at the DNR office. Snowmobile and ATV riders are encouraged to use the vast trail system in Dickinson County. Some snowmobile events planned for Parks Marina have been cancelled. Others will take place at Polaris.

"Certainly my recommendation is that snowmobiles and ATVs don't use the ice," Morrison said.

A local snowmobile club, the Dickinson County SnowHawks, was out grooming trails Monday and Tuesday. County road N14, from Terril to Superior was groomed Tuesday. Some areas are sparse due to a lack of snow depth, but east/west roads have a decent base.