Too Cold for Newbies?

[bhlehr]

For this Family Day Monday, I was planning on taking several families out ice fishing to Wabamun. Most of these people have never ice-fished before, so I'd pretty much be bringing equipment for them, and setting everything up.

However, I'm a little concerned about the weather, and if it would be too cold for the kiddies. Current forecast for Edmonton is a high of -17, with windchill of -24. However, we wouldn't reach that temp until the afternoon. The temp for the morning, which is when we'd be starting, is -26, plus wind chill.

Most people would not have tents, just sitting on buckets on the open ice.

I've taken several groups out in the past, but the temps were -5 to -10, never this cold, so I'm a little wary.

Any opinions? Do you think this would be too cold for them?

Brian