Six people fell into a frozen lake in the Lake Tahoe area - one dead from drowning

[prestoncaldwell]

I’m surprised at this. At 5200’ elevation, and winter averages of 40 degrees during the day, I wouldn’t think it freezes over very often. You learn something new every day!

I was born at S. Lake Tahoe, and spent many, many winters skiing there. Great winter conditions in the higher elevations, with more moderate temps at lake level. I only remember truly cold winters every 4th or 5th year.

Altitude is 5,900. Not wagging my finger, I had to look it up myself.

Yeah, Tahoe can have beautiful powder on the slopes, while just a couple hundred feet below around the shoreline you find slush.

 

[WAstateDVCDaddy]

Altitude is 5,900. Not wagging my finger, I had to look it up myself.

Yeah, Tahoe can have beautiful powder on the slopes, while just a couple hundred feet below around the shoreline you find slush.

Thanks for catching that. I actually looked it up, and was surprised that it was lower than Lake Tahoe. I mixed up some numbers when I was typing it in (LT is 6,200 feet, and the reservoir is at 5,900 ft.).

 

[GreatLakes]

I know I'm not familir enough with ice to judge if it is safe to be out on a frozen lake so I'm not going. It is like back country skiing in areas known for avalanches and crevasses. You really have to know how to spot danger and know when it is safe to proceed.

 

[bcla]

I was looking for something else when I came across this. So is been against he law (or at least local rules allowed under the law) in public lakes in Markham, Ontario.

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toro...t-try-it-now-and-you-re-trespassing-1.6354055

I looked again at the video of skating on Tenaya Lake in Yosemite back in 2011, and they had a sign saying that they didn't recommend it. However, it wasn't specifically banned. I suppose if anyone really wanted to do it, one could have walked in even though the roads are closed.