Haha yeah, the truck is a good gage too!! lol If he doesn't go thru... 9 inches thick or better to walk on is fine if it has water directly underneath. Yean the ice cracking is loud, when it expands in the cold here it's freaky, especially at night. You won't pass by the bubbles on the way, it's a 4 hour detour even if you come in Alberta via Mount Robson Provincial Park, I don't know if you come in thru the Kootenays, might be a bit closer but still quite a detour.