Ice

Is the ice safe? Yes. I only know this because I'm out there walking on it every day. And because I know my lake. I would not walk on a lake I did not know at this time of melt.
99% of the lake has solid ice. I don't walk on the 1% that is not safe. And, I avoid another 5% that is near the ice that is unsafe. Still, I carry a long pole that would keep me from going all the way in if I did make a mistake.
I work very hard at not making a mistake.
My experience from many years of ice walking is that I must listen to my inner voice - which often cautions me. The few times I have made mistakes is when my desire to get somewhere overrode my inner cautious self.

We don't get wiser just because we get older...we only get older if we get wiser.