It had been snowing for days and the old ice was mostly covered with wet snow. At the same time wind and shipping had kept water open along the fairway. The ice to the left on the picture was 4-5cm thick while water wash had impregnated and hardened the snow on the old ice. The thinner ice is darker, while the old ice has more air bubbles and is less transparent. I followed the edge. A border between new and old ice

Heavy snow presses watern onto the ice

Another section on the same day was full of snow and water. Dry snow insulates the water and no icing occurs. You can see tracks from my footsteps. The tracks are full of water. The visible line is a crack in the ice, which has let seawater melt on the snowsheet from below.

Weak spot - heat from the sea below radiates up

Another spot of the same ice field is actually without ice or very weak. Perhaps only covered with snow. The crystals are different, more course. There are some dents and channels in the snow layer that say "water may have been sucked down the open drain hole" underneath. You can actually see two holes beside each other. That is an indication of a bigger area of weaker ice. 

Southern waves and wind from north causes loosely drifting ice

Where water and ice meets in the sunshine is the most enjoyable art of nature. I was on my way towards Hanko (Hangö). One short section had been blown apart and ice drifted to sea. I had to go ashore and quickly found consistent ice again.

Here I avoid the wet and snowy, thrust the dark

Long distance skating is something special, and as always when moving on ice - you should take into account that there is also thin ice never mind how many cars and people you may see on the ice. Moving water, currents, wind, snow and seabed shapes affect how ice is forming and how it melts away. Join a skating group or a class to learn more and quickly about the basics, keep icepicks around your neck to pull yourself out of the water, and learn how to test and know more about ice.  Attached is a map outlining the closest waters to Ekenäs and what to expect. We may refer to this map in other articles. Be safe - join someone who knows and has accurate information for today!