well the trick is you just keep going in the water as summer wains and fall takes over, then right through winter! And heating up in the sauna or sweat lodge at about 200 degrees helps too. Going in tonight! the ice melted a couple of weeks back. I go in after my daily trail run too, but only when no chopping/sawing ice is necessary. The hole is cut with an electric chain saw, usually. But with a gas powered saw when it gets too thick in subzero weather.