As drifting ice pushes against the cone, the ice slides upward until it breaks under its own weight. It then falls back into the current and slides by either side of the pier.
Kui ajujää vastu koonust surub, lihkub jää järjest ülespoole, kuni puruneb omaenda raskuse all, misjärel veevool selle samba mõlemalt küljelt mööda kannab.