Truck thru the ice on Gray's Bay Lake Minnetonka

[jgrimmz]

Be careful out there, a truck went through this afternoon on grays bay in Minnetonka.  I fished a lake last weekend with over 20" of ice but found another with only 12". Ice has been sketchy this year so don't take it for granted. 

 

Edited February 10, 2017 by jgrimmz

[mjk]

Yeah, just saw that on Fox 9.  Is that right by the access?  He looks like he is down by the marina.

[cavalierowner]

From another picture I saw, it did look like the truck was in front of the marina. Vehicles have been falling through the ice in that area (in front of the bridge) since I started ice fishing in the mid-60's. When will people learn to stay away from bridges, channels, and the like??

[CatholicConis]

Actually, no, it was right at the winter access. I was out there this morning and couldn't believe it.

[cavalierowner]

WOW! I haven't fished Grays Bay since I was a kid; don't ever recall an ice issue there. I had planned on checking the access to another bay this afternoon before venturing out tomorrow early morning in the dark. That sounds like an even better plan now.

[mjk]

I've been on Gray's a few times this winter, ice has always been no different than Wayzata.  The last time I was there was a little over a week ago.  Very weird, the access had looked fine.

[mjk]

Took a drive over to Grays bay this afternoon, couple of other guys there taking pictures.  Truck did go through at the winter launch.  You can see how the combination of the current at the bridge, and the bubbler will play havoc with this access in the future.  If the access was on the north end of the parking lot, it might have not happened.

 

Then I ran over to Wayzata, and ended up chatting with the Sheriff regarding what happened over there.   Apparently, the guy didn't know the lake, and tried to drive into those lagoons by the beach... Of course, there is always current there.  What a dope.

 

There is a HUGE heave in front of the beach, you have to drive down the beach in order to access the lake with a wheeler or car right now.

[cavalierowner]

I looked at the access to Carson's Bay by the bridge this afternoon and it's really starting to look dicey. Trucks were still using it. I was planning on going out tomorrow morning, but decided against it after looking at the access. Just not willing to take a chance. A couple years ago I was at that access and watched a guy with a pickup drop a front wheel in a hole right there.

[icepike 1]

This ice is going fast. Everywhere is getting bad. There is wide open water  under The bridge you drive over by North arm. Still drove out but probably for the last time. 

[Early Riser]

I drove my 1/2 ton out on Grays Bay right over the spot just a few days before the guy dropped through this past week. 

 

I went out of Navarre this morning with the wheeler. 

 

Looking at the landing in the dark by the sheriff station I would have been a little tense driving my truck on there. On the way back early afternoon, it looked a little better, except the first 6 feet or so which is wet and dark. I did see a 1/2 ton pickup, an escalade and a suburban drive through the dark looking water and slurry onto good ice. 

 

The ice out on the lake is still solid in most places, but there are some big pressure cracks and heaves that go a long ways across several of the bays, which can, and does regularly happen out on Minnetonka, not to mention other of our bigger lakes.

 

Going across country in the dark, even with a wheeler, it would be a good idea to take it slow.

If anyone reading this has a house still out there, or knows someone who does I would consider pulling it before it hits the 50s by the end of the week.

 

The sun is getting noticeably stronger by afternoon, and with no snow on the lake it will start heating up the lake floor and melting the ice from the bottom. 

[mjk]

Anyone been by any of the bays today by chance?  Is anyone walking out, or is it done?  Have an afternoon open tomorrow.

 

Thanks.

PS, will be wearing a life jacket, if I even hear some feedback.

Edited February 21, 2017 by mjk

[mnorth]

Drove by Grays Bay this morning. The one and only house left has now partially fell thru. Not sure how this one is coming out.