Ice is important to our winter life. Snow is unpredictable, but ice is a certainty. Still, not all ice is equal.
The pond could freeze on Sunday night, when the 10-degree 25-mph winds blow all night long.
Then on Monday, a little snow could fall on the ice.
And in the sun on Tuesday, the pond could soften and the snow could pucker the surface, and a little bird or animal could walk across, leaving tracks, and poke its head through.
When the pond refreezes, all of that is set in the ice.
And that is not good for skating.