Each wave adds another coat of ice. This ice will sometimes build to a height higher than the railings. The ice will become slick and nearly impossible to walk on. Because there is no railing, one slip could be lethal. If you plan to visit the jetty during the winter, dress appropriately.
Strong winds combined with temperatures in the teens or twenties cause frostbite in minutes.
Wear a hat, heavy jacket, gloves, and a scarf or other covering that you can use to cover your face. If you fall into the lake, where there is still unfrozen water, or into the, usually unfrozen, river, you will probably die of hypothermia before you are rescued. Ice will pile up on the shore at the beach and extend out into the lake several hundred feet. This ice may look solid, but it is fragile and unsafe to walk on. This is one of our favorite times to visit.