ST. PAUL, Minn. – Even in Minnesota’s banana belt in the southern counties, overnight freezing is creating a skiff of morning ice on lakes, ponds and rivers, But don’t be tempted to set foot out there. Not for now anyway. As it does every year, the state Natural Resources Department issued these minimal depth guidelines:
> 4 inches: For ice fishing and other activities on foot.
> 5-7 inches: For a snowmobile or all-terrain vehicle.
> 8-12 inches: For a car or small pickup.
> 12-15 inches: For a medium truck.
Double these minimums for white or snow-covered ice.