Ice is pure magic.

It lets mere mortals walk on water, opens a rare window on the goings-on beneath the water’s surface, lets us fish where we want to without a boat, and gives us one more great excuse to get out and play.

A frozen pond without snow on it is an invitation to skate across the surface-with actual skates or without. And a lake covered with snow is the perfect place to cross-country ski or snowshoe without having to contend with all those pesky hills. Yes, ice is definitely magic. How else could it appear so suddenly? It sneaks up on you silently, usually in the dark of night. You go to bed one night and water’s just water. The next morning, all the swamps and shallow ponds are covered with a shining coat of new ice, and you start planning a skating party or an ice-fishing expedition.

If you’re smart, though, you’ll take a minute to think before you venture out onto untested ice. What looks safe from shore can be a trap to send you plunging into ice water, which can ruin your whole day – not to mention ending your whole life. So proceed with caution.

Fish and fun

Some of the things to do on ice are obvious. Take skating, for example. There’s often a time between the onset of safe ice and the first snowstorms of the season that’s perfect for friends and family, a bonfire and a skating party on some local pond. Why not gather a group and go?

When the ice is as clear as window glass, it’s also fun to peer through that window into the world of water below (throw a blanket or jacket over your head to block the light and create better viewing). I’ve seen snapping turtles moving along the bottom with glacial slowness under new ice, and schools of fish drift by just inches below my nose.

Ice fishing is another obvious use.

Most large bodies of water in New England that are open to ice fishing sprout shanty towns throughout the winter, where like-minded souls can gather to wait for the fish to bite. That can get pretty sedentary. The Active Outdoors approach to ice fishing involves walking (often on snowshoes) to a remote corner of a pond, cutting as many holes (by hand) and setting as many tip-ups as the law will allow, and spreading those lines all over the place so that, when a fish bites and a flag flies, you have to run like crazy across the ice. On a pond with lots of perch, you’ll get plenty of exercise to work up and appetite for your evening’s fish fry. Ice is also right for experimentation. This season, if we get ideal conditions – I’m thinking an inch or two of heavy snow sticking to the top of safe ice – I definitely intend to try riding my mountain bike around a local pond. Hmmm, maybe I can use a mountain bike to check tip-ups.

And I’ve definitely got to try kite skiing some windy day this season. Being pulled across the ice on skis by a big kite sounds like way too much fun to pass up.

That’s the real reason that ice is magic. It turns the gray days of December into a perfect excuse to enjoy the outdoors. Life isn’t a spectator sport. Get out and enjoy!

Better safe than sorry

Before you boldly go where none have gone before, remember the old saying “Thick and blue, tried and true. Thin or crispy, way too risky.”

Start safely on dry land and use something long and heavy to whack the ice. If it breaks or cracks, don’t take that first step

The only way to tell for sure how thick ice is, of course, is to cut a hole in it with a chisel or auger. Start near shore in very shallow water (a beach is great). Make several test cuts as you go out. Remember that ice thickness isn’t consistent: water currents (particularly around narrow spots, bridges, inlets and outlets) can drastically affect the thickness and safety of the ice above. Ice on a river or stream can be several feet thick in one place, and eggshell thin only a few feet away.

According to the New Hampshire Fish and Game website, you need a minimum of 4 to 6 inches of new, clear ice to support a few well-dispersed people; 6 to 7 inches to hold a small group; and 8 to 10 inches to safely support a large group.

You supposedly can venture out onto thinner ice if you distribute your weight over a wider area with skis or snowshoes, or by lying down, but do you really want to take the chance? Milky, honeycombed ice that has air bubbles or snow crystals trapped in it is much weaker and less trustworthy than clear blue ice. Snow cover complicates things. It insulates and inhibits ice formation and keeps you from spotting inconsistencies. Be doubly careful before venturing out onto a snow-covered ice.

On really cold days, you’ll often hear the ice rumbling and pinging. Sometimes you’ll even see long cracks develop. That makes people nervous. But if the ice is thick enough to begin with to hold you safely, don’t panic. Those rumblings are the sound of pressure being relieved as more ice forms beneath the surface. The ice is actually getting safer.

A frozen pond or lake is a beautiful part of New England in winter. Enjoy it, but enjoy it safely.

Tim Jones is a full time freelance writer on travel and outdoor sports. His email address is [email protected]