So as we draw to the last few weeks of the inaugural season of backyard hockey at my house...I have one more set of newbie questions.

What does ice out look like on a backyard rink? Does it thaw from both top and bottom? What's the best way to help the process along once you are sure its not going to get cold again? Break up chunks and toss them in the street? Get a siphon going and move the water to the alley?

Let's hear some stories and advice about this sad [wipes away a tear] time of year...

This is actually a great question...and in my several years of rinkbuilding, I have never really made it a point to notice "how" it happens. Just that it does. From what I recall, the ice starts to thin in your shallow end and nearest your boards, which are typically darker and attract the sun. If it's very warm, it will melt from the top down. I've never actively tried to make it thaw quicker, though with 18 teardowns scheduled for Elite Backyard Rinks, I may need to figure something out to streamline the process.

As Joe stated, your shallow areas (as well as those in direct sunlight) will melt first. The top layer of ice will slowly turn to a slush of ice pellets and eventually melt. The water from the melting ice is going to find it's path of least resistance to the low spots. You can hasten the process by scraping the slushy ice pellets off the top of your ice allowing the sun and warm air to access the thicker ice. The ice along the melting edge is also more fragile and can be 'smashed' with a heavy boot (suggest work boots, not sneakers) allowing it to melt quicker.

If you plan on saving your tarp for next season, find your lowest spot and remove a couple of boards so that the water has a place to exit. If you don't plan on saving your tarp, cut it at various spots. In the past I have also taken an axe to the ice and toss it about the yard where the sun is shining.

And if you are in a real hurry to get rid of the ice, remember that warmer water melts ice so run your hose on it. If you are one of those 'hot water' lovers, you could get through this ice pretty quick on a warm day.

Cheers
Kevin

Stop! I'm not ready for the "melt" word. [plugging ears and humming until this talk is over]

i just drop a small section of garden hose in mine and start siphoning it out, there is a storm sewer about 15 ft from the edge of my property. usually have to clean a few leaves from the hose opening now and then but it drains completely in about three days..