2012-01-31 60 18

Location

In the middle of the frozen lake Vällen.

Participants

Plans

I was hoping that this lake would be frozen so I could get my first water geohash.

Expedition

Being on the frozen lake this weekend near the geohash in Sala gave me an idea to try to get a water geohash without using a boat. I was looking for one and today there was a very promising point NE of me. So I jump in the car and take roads I've been on before towards Östhammar. The roads going to the hash were pretty empty and I found the right small road going into a Nature reserve and towards a swim shore, so it looked promising. Followed that road all the way to the end and a small cottage. Could see some snow scooter tracks going past.

The actual lake was frozen and covered with snow and the ice seemed very thick and solid. No sounds, no cracking or so. So I walked onto it. I saw lots of animal tracks, some hares and maybe a fox. And then someone had skied over the lake, a good sign. And as I came around a peninsula I could see some 4-wheeler tracks. He had gotten stuck twice in some slush and turned around so some water had seeped up from some cracks in the ice. I continued walking straight onto the middle of the lake and after a total of 500m from the car I found the hash point.

I'm standing on a frozen lake -- Carl-Johan @60.0377,18.3396 08:46, 31 January 2012 (EST)

So I mark the spot with orange in the snow as usual and snap some pics. Stand there and enjoy the view for a bit before heading back to the car.

Had to take a slight detour to Danderyd so I wouldn't get stuck in traffic on the E4 which was standing still as usual my GPS told me. Nose, cheeks and ears are a bit hot now after being out in the cold, but it wasn't actually frozen when on the lake I think, just cold.

It was on ice though so my first water geohash and walking on water geohash.

Remember your basic ice self rescue.