01-11-2013, 12:25 AM
If you really examine it closely, I would have to say they were really in no danger. When I stand and place my feet together, I take up approximately 1 square foot of surface area. I weigh 235 lbs, so it is safe to say that when I go out on the ice, it will support in excess of 235 lbs per square foot. If you take those young men (15) and each of them take up as much surface area as I do, and if you can crowd them in close enough (which I am doubtful you can) then you are talking about 15 square ft of surface area. If you divide the estimated 3000 lbs by 15, you come up with 200 lbs of weight per square ft. It is more dangerous for me to stand in an isolated area then all of them in a group. You have to remember that as you increase the surface area that you spread out the weight on, it becomes safer. That is why snow shoes work, wide tires in mud, snow mobiles on powder, etc., etc. Fun to think about and to joke about, but the reality was, they were in no danger.
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