Blizzard, slush, snow

[jschultz]

We were in Florida for the blizzard that hit NW Indiana last weekend.

Flew home Monday evening to several inches of snow on top of several inches of slush on top of my formerly good ice. The slush was in varying states of solidifying; some parts were completely soft while other parts had frozen hard and bonded to the good ice beneath.

My thought at the time was: There's no point in trying to clear this, as the surface is completely uneven with some of the slush already frozen and some of it soft. I'll let the whole thing freeze up and then clear it and deal with the issues afterward.

The low hit 9 that night, followed by a high/low of 29/3 on Tuesday and 32/17 on Wednesday. We've also gotten some additional snow during those times. The high today has only gotten to 19 so far. I went out to check a different part of my deep end ice today, and there is a good 4-5 inches of soft slush still there under the snow in places that my boot sunk right through.

I'm trying to be patient, but now I'm wondering if I made the right call by leaving it? It seems no closer to freezing than it was on Monday night.

Should I continue to wait or attempt to clear?

[kevmac]

Is there any way that you can clear the snow off the slush? The snow is going to act as an insulator so if you remove the snow the soft slush will have a better chance to freeze. Do it in parts so start where the slush is already frozen and at least get the edges uncovered where the soft slush still exists. Try to do it without disturbing the slush - use the shovel upside-down and scrape towards you then remove or if have a roof rake, even better. Let the newly exposed slush freeze and then repeat until your slush is completely frozen. If you start at the edges you will slowly move to the middle allowing more and more slush to be open to the cold air.

That's what I would do.

Kevin

[jschultz]

kevmac,

Thanks as always for your insight. I do have a roof rake, I was just doubting my ability to pull that snow off the top in a smooth and consistent manner that wouldn't completely wreck the surface. In my head I was picturing creating peaks and valleys with the occasional gouge where the rake might catch.

However at this point I'm not sure I have any other choice given the lack of progress over the last three days. I will give it a shot, thanks!

[kevmac]

Even if you can't get all of it off, try to lower the thickness of the snow so that more cold air can get to the slush.

As I always say, you need three things to make a rink: water, cold and a pile of patience. You are about to be tested on #3. :-)

[jschultz]

Kevmac, a belated thank you for your replies in this topic.

We wound up getting on there with the blower and going ape**** on it. Many hours and blower blade shear pins later, we managed to salvage it and skated on it into the second week of March!