REGIONAL— Anyone planning a trip across a frozen lake in the region should be aware that heavy, and in some cases, impenetrable slush is being found in many areas. Heavy snow in February has put pressure on ice and is forcing water to the surface, where it is kept from freezing by the insulating snowcover.

The conditions already forced a harrowing rescue of snowmobilers on Blackduck Lake this week, north of Orr, but officials with the U.S. Forest Service and the St. Louis County Volunteer Rescue Squad say the severe slush conditions are widespread in the region.

In some cases, the slush is more than two feet deep and it is frequently covered by a thin layer of dry snow, that can be deceiving to lake travelers. “The slush is really bad even if you’re just on skis,” said Jon Olson, with the rescue squad, who reported serious slush on Fall Lake last weekend.

With warmer temperatures now in the forecast, the slush is unlikely to freeze up under the snow, which will do little to improve conditions any time soon.