That Time Of Year Michigan – Be Safe on the Ice in Your AT-AT

Finally, the weather's getting colder in lower Michigan. We're getting some snowy days and hopefully, soon, we can head out onto frozen lakes and ponds to ice-fish, play some hockey, ride snowmobiles or take your vehicle across to the other side.

Last week the Burlington Free Press in Vermont shared an Instagram post from Vermont State Parks with a chart showing how much ice is needed to support various vehicles, including  All Terrain Armored Transports, or AT-AT walkers, used by the Imperial ground forces and first seen in the Empire Strikes Back movie - and Godzilla.

First - do not venture out onto ice two inches thick or less. You'll need a minimum of four inches for ice-fishing. 12 inches of ice is the minimum for pickup trucks. As for Imperial AT-ATs? Calculations by the State of Vermont show that 60 inches of ice is the minimum to send those across Lake Lansing. I hope to be sitting at the Blue Gill Grill having a beer and watching if that happens.

And Godzilla? He'll need 100+ inches of ice thickness. Just remember that next time you're ice-fishing in Japan.

Here's the story. With the helpful chart.