Then they had to make for shore and camp overnight in the bush. There sheltered from the wind, they kept large fires going all night to dry off the sweating horses and in severe weather, to keep themselves from freezing to death. By comparison, making it to the stopping place for the night was sheer heaven. The horses were then all placed under shelter and fed well on oats and hay. Meanwhile the men proceeded to the cook shack for the evening meal, which was usually substantial and filling, and was tasty in relation to the talents of the camp cook.
Ice conditions are difficult to judge when the ice is covered with snow.
On the ice, and especially at lake narrows, there were many accidents in which horses broke through. The drowning of horses was a fairly common occurance, causing the teamsters a good deal of financial loss, to say nothing of the distress they felt at the loss of fine horses that had served them well. On one occasion, a twenty-team swing was making its first trip of the season north out of Big River. It was a fine, sunny winter day in early December, and the horses were easily pulling the light loads and the empty fish racks across Delaronde Lake, with the teamsters relaxed and comfortable. The swing had at first spread out in a long line to distribute their weight over a wide area, for the ice was not yet very thick.