Ice in the eyes of Kusa

Okay guys well winter is doing it's thing and making it cold and constantly below freezing now, yet there hasn't been that much of an accumulation of snow, but there is Ice! Ice can be a great hazard, if you don't know how to handle it that is or even utilize it for your benefit. First of all be sure that you are comfortable with your rolls and break falls they will save you on and off the ice :) . Second, wear some shoes that have traction. I like to get in the mind frame that you should always be able to react whether it be fight or run in what you're wearing at all times that way when the time comes you're set.

As shinobi though we want to use the ice to our advantage;
For ice to happen you need water and a temperature of 32 degrees Fahrenheit or lower.
So to know where ice may occur you have to know factors that can affect temperature and the amount of water in an area.

Some of those factors being;
1) Elevation, because it gets cooler as you go higher, hence the ice on the tops of mountains and so forth.
2) Wind, there is wind chill due to winds coming from the north where the isn't as much absorption of heat from the sun because of the axis it rotates on can be very cold and aid in the cooling of temperature arrival of ice. There is also the situation as on bridges where there are winds traveling over and under the bridge cooling it from multiple sides and allowing ice to form on it earlier than on other parts of roads and such.
3) Exposure to the Sun, I believe this is very important because you can then be aware of areas that are shadowed over the course of a day and if you ever needed to use it for a strategic advantage you now have known spots where you could lure pursuers or an attacker to escape or use as a way to enhance your abilities.
4) Surface type, ice will form on some spots faster than others because some surfaces will give off heat absorbed from the Sun for a while after it has set and others have been bouncing back the rays all day and haven't absorbed a thing. Dark colored objects absorb the most heat whereas light objects actually reflect them, you can learn more about this as it is an objects albedo. Some objects may also absorb the water instead of allowing it to settle at the surface and form ice. With this knowledge you an plan routes based on types of surfaces and lighting to minimize your chances of slipping or risking injuries on a mission.

Uses;
1) You can use it to prolong the amount of time before food spoils.
2) A way to cover area without leaving tracks, but if you break it you defeat the point.
3) You can apply it to injuries to soothe pain and help swelling go down.
4) If thick enough and at the edge of a river you are trying to cross you can cut a section from it and use it as a raft to get to the other side. (Military FM 21-76 Survival Manual)
5) Utilize it's reflection from the sun as metsubushi
The list goes on :)

Some tips;
1) Train on it! If you become familiarize yourself with it then you will be less afraid.
2) Learn the attributes of ice, it is a tool and readily available.
3) Learn to find out how deep ice is
4) Know what to do in case you were to fall in ice and make it so that you don't freeze.
  Hint: C.O.L.D. -Cover, Overevertion, Layers, Dry -Check it out give some feedback
5) Actually try this stuff don't just read it!

Again you guys are welcome to add what you can to help the knowledge on the topics we cover grow and expand, as the mission in the field of the Kusa is to grow and absorb as much as we can to make us better warriors and people.