Think about:

•Having to go outside to pee when it's -12°F/ -24°C
•Running water that you have to run and go get. First reopen the hole you cut in the ice, then scoop it out with a kitchen pot, pour it into a 5 gallon container and haul it back to the cabin.
•Occasioally freezing your fingers nearly off.
•Waking up with your breath frozen to the outside of your sleeping bag.
•Hearing things like "If you hit open water just punch it and keep it straight till your back on the ice."
If your lucky you are going to a large insulated cabin and your eating bear and moose and drinking expensive Cognac..

The lines of travel change. You stay away from deep narrow channels. One travels overland around Brignall Banks for instance. The five winter trips I've done have always been around Valentine's Day when the ice is thickest. Median Ice Coverage for Season