Dangerous ice

[Good Time Ranger]

This afternoon an individual broke through the ice on Lake Vermillion. I believe the location was by Gold Island. When I left work they still hadn't found the body. Be carefull out there. Life is too short to take chances.

[Cliff Wagenbach]

Very sad news.

The area behind Gold Island and Hinsdale Island has a lot of current so you must always be careful there!

Cliff

[Cliff Wagenbach]

UPDATE:

The Greenwood rescue squad had divers who located the truck but no occupant. They searched for 5 hours but nothing.

He went thru on 3 inches of ice while trying to plow a road !

Cliff

[JMWalleyes]

What a terrible, sad and awful tragedy! And occuring at this time of the year just makes it worse! I just read on the LOW forum about 4-4wheelers going through the ice in one day and while most had the common sense to back off some still ignored what they saw and pushed on. For some unknown reason many think it will always be the other guy and not them! Please be extremely careful everyone.

[Cliff Wagenbach]

They found Andy's body this morning.

I wish to offer my sympathy to his family and friends that may read this FM forum.

Cliff

[PSU]

Cliff and all,

Thanks for this information, and before my question I do understand that there is no such thing as "safe ice".

I am wondering if you could be a bit more specific about the area south of Hinsdale? We purchased property on an island south of Hinsdale with our point directly across (SE) from Retreat Lodge. Is this the area you mention as having a heavy current and potentially unstable. As the winter goes along and very significant ice forms should we still be concerned around this area?

I want to make a trip up there to snowmobile sometime in late January/early February to see the property.

Thanks in advance.....real sorry to hear about that gentleman.

[Silver Scale]

I talked with John Karakash, Retreat Resort, and he only had about 4 1/2 inches of ice in front of the resort about 3-4 days ago. You may have some current starting to pick up in front of your property but I think it would be minimal. This is a very bad year for ice but should improve this week with very cold weather forcast.

[Cliff Wagenbach]

PSU,

The area I mentioned is more on the S.E. corner of Hinsdale Is. The worst areas are: between Gold Is. and Grassy Point, The Muskrat channel area up to the S.E. corner of Hinsdale Is.,the North side of Hinsdale and all the way up thru the Oak Narrows.

Most maps will show this area as the safest boat route.

Be careful out there this winter!

Cliff

[Mr. Pike1]

Cliff, you state in your earlier post that they found the "truck" but no body. By truck I assume you mean a four wheeler and not an actual truck.

[Cliff Wagenbach]

MrPike1,

The plow vehicle was actually a Bombardier tracked vehicle with a plow. Even heavier then a 4x4 I believe.

Cliff