Posted by: Jeff Brown on February 06, 2003 at 11:45:32:
In Reply to: Re: MARKING NEW AND OLD ICE WITH RED BALLOONS posted by Pete Ashley on January 26, 2003 at 01:05:32:
The balloon/nail method seems to work fairly well after putting the method to the test yesterday at the DN Worlds.
I would like to mention my experience, some thoughts and open for suggestions.
The Race and Ice Check committee asked me yesterday to scope out the new site for the DN N.Am’s in Plattsburg Bay. I use my iceboard with windsurf sail in strong winds to cover a larger area than the Race committee 4x4 could possibly perform. DN sailing was out of the question due to high winds. On my scouting excursion, I found several large holes in ridges which needed marking, so I returned to the launch for flags.
None were available at the time, but another DN’r gave me a balloon kit which was handed out at registration. I did not get one of these nice kits, but found it quite helpful.
Now picture this, the wind is 30 mph, ice is fast, some bumps. I see ridge/open water holes needing balloons. With my board “parked” (front runners hooked and dug into the ridge) I sit on my board and open the kit. 4 red balloons, 1 pink, five lengths of string with a nail tied to each. Some kind of plastic tube around one balloon, and written instructions:
“Place red balloons at each end of the hazard and pink between the launch and race site.”
I am struggling to hold onto everything from blowing away. The instructions rip in half and one half is gone to the “breeze.”
“Pink , red where??”, I said to myself....Oh hell, just blow ‘em up and stick ‘em in the ice.
I blow up the first, tie it off, loop the string around the neck, the balloon is thwapping violently. I am careless about the nail tip and in a second...POP.. goes the balloon. I stick the nail and popped balloon into the crack anyway. Next one. I am careful not to let the nail tip pop the balloon and I try to place it into the crack. The balloon wants to go for a ride even with the nail submerged. I pull the nail out of the crack and center the string in the middle of the shank. I hope to catch the nail crosswise under the crack. Failing again to secure the rig, I nail it first vertically into the ice and no go. The wind wants this one still and the pressure on the nail is melting ice around it and preventing a secured setting. Finally, I nail it diagonally under an ice chunk with my heel and then place a huge ice block on the string. 1 unit secured.
Next one, same deal but the balloon pops against the sharp uplifted ridge ice. Next one placed around smoother ice next to the ridge with another ice block on top. Last one, pink, what was this for again? Oh well, into the ice it went with another block Success at last, 3 out of 5 placed effectively. How long will they last? Hopefully until the Race committee can remark with stick flags.
With this recent experience I would like to offer some suggestions. I would also like to hear some others input very much.
As I stated in earlier posts, 1” wide surveyor’s marking tape works great. It degrades over time and is bright fluorescent.
How do we anchor it? I use popsicle sticks and pre-assemble with masking tape 2 ft. long streamers. I punch a hole into the ice with my awls. Sometimes I can wedge the stick into a crack. Other times a carry out a branch and “decorate” with streamers.
Balloons are great, but fail in high winds. Nails are good too but do not provide enough friction in ice to stay put on windy days. As stated earlier by others, the nails melt into the ice, which is why they blow away. Popsicle sticks freeze into the ice quite well and stay put. Get a little water around the stick and it will freeze nicely.
I am glad I had the balloon kit yesterday, and I’m beside myself for not having one of my own streamer sticks, used ‘em up on the last site scout mission! Time to make more.
Lets hear some more input. We need all the help we can for marking hazards. I saw a least 3 boats damaged or destroyed at the Worlds this year due to ice hazards.
Jeff Brown
US 5232 , World Cup Ice Patrol