BANGOR DAILY NEWS • December 16, 2025
I saw movement under the ice. I knelt and peered into the depths to figure out what had caused the movement. There it was: a turtle swimming through the reeds beneath the ice. I was about ten years old and will never forget that moment. It’s not just the fun and speed of ice skating that makes it my favorite winter activity. It’s the scientific wonder and wildlife observations that skating on wild ponds, lakes, rivers and streams keeps me coming back for more. To skate outdoors, you have to take safety seriously. I have never fallen through the ice and don’t plan to. I always bring a hatchet and chop a small hole all the way through, no matter how thick the ice. This lets me measure the thickness accurately. Ice skating keeps me observant, aware and most importantly, filled with the same childlike glee about the wonders of nature that has no age limit. ~ Hazel Stark