Dorothy Westerman
Northern News Services

Yellowknife (Nov 04/05) - Venturing out on Frame Lake's fragile ice was a chilling experience for one Sunday afternoon stroller.

Yellowknife deputy fire chief Chucker Dewar said someone went through the ice last week, but managed to get to shore safely.

Dewar said firemen have been called out 15 times since freeze-up to warn walkers away from thin ice on city lakes.

On one call, they found youth standing on the delicate ice and throwing rocks through it.

"The kids aren't heeding the warnings about the ice conditions," Dewar said.

"Someone's going to have an accident here."

Adults who think the ice is safe should be aware that any children who see them out on the lake may imitate their behaviour, with possible tragic consequences, Dewar warned.

Despite perilous conditions at this time of year, pedestrians are already taking shortcuts across the lake near the Yellowknife Co-op and Stanton Territorial hospital, he said.

"The minimum thickness for walking is four inches or 10cm," Dewar said.

The time it takes for ice to freeze to a safe thickness depends on the weather.

"At around minus 20C, good ice forms," he said.