Even with a power auger its a chore usually about 3' of ice to go through, but split up over the day and 3 or 4 of us doing it no biggie.
We usually fish by hand all day too , better success sometimes they bite so light the line just moves sideways in the hole and you don't feel any pressure so you do a hook set anyway and viola FISH ON.
My wife likes to sit in the portable hut though.