When is it safe (month wise) to cross frozen waters?

[Artuitus]

I'm almost to midwinter and the waters are still not safe to cross. Temps have been below freezing for weeks now too. Living on a river/lake area if that matters

[Erkka of Enormous Elk]

That depends on a lot of variables. For example, if there was heavy snowfall right after the lakes first froze over, then a layer of snow has a thermal insulation effect, and the ice underneath won't grow thicker that quick even if the air temperature is below freezing.

[Artuitus]

Wow. Didn't realize the game was that detailed :) Early winter is the worst time of the year to me. Rivers aren't frozen enough to allow walking over but very tedious to row anywhere too.

[Brigand231]

Until you're sure the safest thing is to just put down a punt and hack away the ice in front of you as you go.

[Erkka of Enormous Elk]

The ice thickness is tracked millimetre by millimetre, hour by hour. Which means that, especially in early winter and springtime, after a freezing cold night the ice might be solid enough to walk on at daybreak, but when the sun goes up direct sunlight will soon make ice grow thinner and it won't be safe any more - but it might again be safe the next night if the night is cold. And that is assuming the sky is clear instead of overcast - cloudy sky hinders the heating effect of direct sunlight. Another element which wears down ice quickly is when the rain pours liquid water - that makes snow and ice melt away faster than it otherwise would.

Also, shallow waters near landmasses behave differently than waters in the middle of a wide open lake.

Walking on ice should always be about paying attention to detail. And if it is uncertain, it is adisable to have a knife in hand, for it will help in case you need to drag yourself out of liquid water back onto the solid ice again. With mere hands only there just is that little on ice what you can grab for a better grip. Thrusting a pointed steel into the ice gives you some sort of grip. (The game simulates that automatically, if you have an applicable weapon wielded when you are struggling to get back onto the ice)

[nikow]

Ice cracked under me three times - it so unpleaseant experience i will never risk it again - if i will be not forced by life. Sadly all three times it was 'rescue operations'.

About the game - it's almost never worth of risking. Okey - you can cross water faster, but when you are crossing it because you are hunting - it can break when you will be coming back with your meat. If you are fatiged - it's even worse. Sometimes you have just bad luck and your fully healthy character with just warm clothes and basic weapon (winter hunting gear?) will drown.

@Erkka - will two knifes increase my chances of getting out of trouble? Which one are the best to have in that situation?

[Brigand231]

That's actually happened to me while chasing an elk. It ran on to a frozen river and broke through then drowned while I was hitting it. I then had to pull it out of the water and broke through myself while trying to drag it to land. I ended up finally getting out of the water and lit up my emergency firewood (always carry 20 spruce branches at all times in case you need a fire or shelter!) on the spot and butchered it on the ice, then split the load up with my dogs before trying to move again.