How to Get Water Out of a Frozen Stream Where the Ice is Several Inches Thick

This topic has 147 replies, 43 voices, and was last updated 1 year, 4 months ago by jscott.

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Dec 10, 2020 at 6:29 pm #3688223

DAN-Y
BPL Member

@zelph2

BTW, people do make drill bits specifically for ice. My 2 cents

They are availabe in 1/2 inch diameter, 21 inches long

Dec 10, 2020 at 8:22 pm #3688254

Roger Caffin
BPL Member

@rcaffin
Locale: Wollemi & Kosciusko NPs, Europe

Wood Auger, ebay, $16 (NOS I think).

My longest is 1/2″ x 18″, brand unknown. Well polished sides from drilling many bolt holes for decking. A lot of my older ones with a square carpenters brace fitting are by Alfrid of Sheffield, England.

Now all you need is a UL carpenters brace!

Cheers

Dec 10, 2020 at 9:03 pm #3688256

DAN-Y
BPL Member

@zelph2

I’d rather wait for it to snow…..melt the snow or chip the ice.

Dec 11, 2020 at 6:05 am #3688281

Ken Larson
BPL Member

@kenlarson
Locale: Western Michigan

A lot of folks here in Michigan use the device below to make their way through twelve or more inches of ice…..

Dec 17, 2020 at 10:07 am #3689505

Chris Stearns
BPL Member

@raddog

On thought is to find or follow where elk, moose, deer go for their water supply. Let nature be your guide

Dec 17, 2020 at 10:28 am #3689512

Ryan Jordan
Admin

@ryan
Locale: Central Rockies

Deer and elk in northern latitudes get most of their water by eating the green (newest growth) needle buds of evergreens in the winter. They eat a little snow but rely on foods as their primary water source when liquid water isn’t available due to cold temps.

Jun 29, 2021 at 5:56 am #3720477

Pierre B
BPL Member

@pierre-benoit

Why make it simple when you can make it complicated. I believe the best solution would be to use a simple ax. This would make it possible to make a hole where there is water under the ice in sufficient quantity or to break pieces of ice where there is only ice. It will surely also be useful for planting a few stakes in the frozen ground or for preparing a campfire. Up to you

Jun 29, 2021 at 3:52 pm #3720539

Roger Caffin
BPL Member

@rcaffin
Locale: Wollemi & Kosciusko NPs, Europe

Have you ever used an axe on solid ice?
A good way of getting an axe through your leg.
A strong tendency to ricochet off the ice.

Cheers

Dec 8, 2022 at 3:59 pm #3767254

GR
Spectator

@rand12

Not really light weight, but I wonder if something like this can be used:

https://www.basspro.com/shop/en/jiffy-ice-scout-auger-system

It weights 1.6 lbs. much higher than regular auger (only 2.5″ that’s why), but could be used to get water from lakes/streams/ponds that are frozen as well. Still heavy, but lighter than some of the ideas in the thread. Would also require a lightweight handle of some kind to turn it (so will add to the 1.6lbs)

Dec 8, 2022 at 10:06 pm #3767290

Eric Blumensaadt
BPL Member

@danepacker
Locale: Mojave Desert

With that auto parts store gas siphon ya might need to REALLY shake & pump it dry after use to keep it unfrozen for the next time.

BTW. maybe a LONG ice screw? Or weld a long masonry bit to a crank handle?

Dec 9, 2022 at 12:21 am #3767298

Roger Caffin
BPL Member

@rcaffin
Locale: Wollemi & Kosciusko NPs, Europe

Seems to me that we are talking about TWO different situations here.

* One is ice fishing when you have to make a large hole through 12″ ice. Well, good luck with that, but it is not relevant to backpacking. It does not apply to Australian conditions either!

* The other is getting water from under 1″ of ice supported by rock in a frozen creek. Well, that is what Ryan was trying to solve. I do like the ice screw as a minimalist solution, although the ice drill seems pretty good too, and might be cheaper (being more mass-market).

Cheers

Dec 22, 2023 at 6:34 am #3800062

Keelan Rose
BPL Member

@keelan

Concentrated hydrochloric acid would work and you wouldn’t even need much!

Also, it’s not poisonous so you’ll be able to drink the water afterwards

Dec 22, 2023 at 10:05 am #3800069

David Gardner
BPL Member

@gearmaker
Locale: Northern California

Keelan: Seriously? I tried googling that and couldn’t find anything. Plus, it doesn’t seem logical to me, unless it acts like salt on ice and lowers the freezing temperature of water. And I think whether it is safe to drink depends on the concentration. David Thomas might be a good source on this one.

Dec 22, 2023 at 2:29 pm #3800090

Keelan Rose
BPL Member

@keelan

David, This is why I thought it might work: https://youtu.be/JdFRjsEZrmU?si=PBMzHQbTpFUVEwpZ&t=406

Never seen anything about acid and ice otherwise tbh.

No way it’ll beat the ice screw anyway though.

Dec 22, 2023 at 3:03 pm #3800093

David Gardner
BPL Member

@gearmaker
Locale: Northern California

Wild!

Dec 22, 2023 at 5:36 pm #3800107

Richard P
BPL Member

@richardpeters

I’ve used the ice screw and plastic tube. Works

Dec 22, 2023 at 5:46 pm #3800108

Richard P
BPL Member

@richardpeters

Bring a pump bulb and waterproof gloves ( like the Showa fishing gloves)

Dec 22, 2023 at 6:07 pm #3800109

Richard P
BPL Member

@richardpeters

If yo really want some fun use the ice screw to drill an angled hole, light a firework and send it down the hole. Liquids don’t compress. Boom

Dec 22, 2023 at 6:07 pm #3800110

Glen L
Spectator

@wyatt-carson
Locale: Southern Arizona

In the photo of the original post you can plainly see a triangular shaped rock that is right of frame just below the broken branch. It is lying on top of the forest bracken and needles. Maybe that will chop down to the water. If it’s too big maybe break it with the other rock right next to it.

Dec 22, 2023 at 6:16 pm #3800112

Richard P
BPL Member

@richardpeters

If you really want some fun use the ice screw to drill an angled hole, light a firework and send it down the hole. Liquids don’t compress. Boom

Dec 23, 2023 at 2:09 pm #3800129

Keelan Rose
BPL Member

@keelan

Wouldn’t the firework go out before going off?

Also, how would you have enough time to get to a safe distance?

Would definitely be fun though :)

Dec 23, 2023 at 3:44 pm #3800133

Richard P
BPL Member

@richardpeters

Google “fireworks under ice”. They don’t go out before they explode.

Dec 23, 2023 at 6:36 pm #3800135

jscott
BPL Member

@book
Locale: Northern California

Ryan could bring a motorized drill bit…or, like those who hike in desert environments, bring a gallon of water.

I myself like peace and ease when out in the wilds. Fireworks, guns, radioactive elements, hard core chemicals and all the rest…harsh my buzz, as the kids used to say. What’s the point? I could be in a cozy cabin with a fire going, and then take a stroll out under the stars in the quiet. Water? Turn on the tap.

If snow isn’t available for melting…maybe find an alternative that doesn’t involve explosions and/or the possibility of bleeding out (axe wound, bullet wound) from trying to access a drink of water.
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