Today I’m out on the frozen lake here in Jokkmokk, Swedish Lapland, to talk about ice safety the way I actually do it in real life—simple, basic, and field-tested. I show my fast 3-step check: LOOK, PROBE, DECIDE. First I look for warning signs like cracks, lines where the ice changes age, dark wet areas, and especially tricky spots after snowfall (on rivers a hole can be hidden under snow). Then I probe with a proper heavy ice spike, make a test hole, and measure the ice. In the video the ice is about 15 cm and clear “black” ice—solid right now—but I still keep checking as I move. I also go through the essential safety kit I bring when I travel on frozen water—whether it’s skiing, skating, dog sledding, or snowmobile. For me the big ones are a flotation vest under the jacket (it buys time), ice picks around the neck (so you can pull yourself up), a waterproof bag with dry clothes (and it adds flotation), a throw line for rescue, and—very important—a friend. Ice changes during the winter, currents can eat it from underneath, and spring ice is a totally different story. No ice is 100% safe, so I keep repeating the cycle: look, check, decide—again and again.