The beginning of March brought on some unusual conditions along the coast of West Michigan. The ice off the coast of Grand Haven was as smooth as glass - perfect for skating.
On the evening of March 2, West Michigan Speedskating Club member April Chernoby grabbed the opportunity to take a spin on the Big Lake.
Watch her GoPro footage below:
http://youtu.be/VY1i-ZrHIdA
"The ice conditions were unique - approximately 7 inches thick and smooth as glass," Chernoby wrote to us in an e-mail.
"So clear a person could see the sandy bottom through the ice. This unique opportunity was enjoyable for two days, both days the sun was shining making the icebergs sparkle. Lake Michigan is now snow covered and will rapidly deteriorate with the warming temperatures. Nonetheless, thousands of people have been enjoying the ice covered lake, pier and lighthouse at Grand Haven."
Ice on Lake Michigan peaked at 76% this year on Feb. 28, 2015. Nowhere near the record of 93% set last year on March 8, 2014.
A few days earlier, just down the coast at South Haven, someone sent their GoPro airborne with a quadcopter to view the ice there:
http://youtu.be/bxX7jmjyzmg