Skating on Drei Spitz

January 22, 2025
In Kingsburg, when the snow starts to fly and the ponds start to freeze the text messages start circulating; is the ice frozen and are the conditions are good for skating?

This year those texts started around Christmas; mid January a text came thru from Jill and Hazen Trueman. "Just back from the ice check, at Drei Spitz and Hirtle’s Ponds, the thickness is 4 inches or more where we tested. The ice is snow covered. The wind is brisk out of the North or Northwest, and not diminishing until dark. Hard to find any shelter from it, so parkas with hoods would be helpful. We’re planning Drei Spitz about 2. Join us if you like!”

Jill, Hazen, Kim Meyer, Rob and I bundled up and headed over. Once Rob tied my skates, I tentatively took to the ice, not having skated in several years. We would fight against the strong wind and blowing snow, then letting it blow us back in the opposite direction!

The ice was clear enough to see the weeds and methane bubbles below. It was pure magic and it was wonderful to feel like a kid again, skating on a pond! — Dori Burchat