I found this chilling one on another forum and this was up in Kalispell Montana...for you guys and gals still cold footing it...
Well, there are those who have gone thru and those that are gonna...I now am a former.
February 26th, on a lake that is known for good ice, ya just never know where or when you might go thru, you have to be ready no matter what. The ice in MT has been very weird this year, all of Feb was above normal temps and very sunny. And this was a warm day with no wind so that made it a lot less dangerous...
Spent all day slamming jumbo perch, and when it was time to go, we discovered the one small pressure ridge we had to cross had grown considerably. Started to look for a different way to get off the ice. The whole shore had had sun on it all day...All we could do was look for the best way to go and hope for the best. Got about 150 yards from shore...and thru we went!!!!
Your first reaction is, "I gotta get out of the water"!!! I swam away from the quad and started to try to climb up onto the ice. Every time I tried it kept breaking, and my partner was having the same trouble. FINALLY, I broke enough ice away where I could start swimming, and once horizontal, I was able to get up on the ice. George did the same but as soon as he got up, it broke and we were in again.
I turned around and saw the quad was floating so I swam over to it and as I grabbed onto it I could feel some bottom below me, I was able to stand up in chest deep water. I yelled to George and he swam over to me, grabbed his ice house and got his ice picks out. He swam back to the edge and pulled himself right up and out. I got everything unhooked, pushed both portables up onto the ice, then he tossed me his picks and I pulled myself out. We got to shore with out going thru again. Had to leave the quad overnight and went out the next morning and with the help of some friends, a winch and some chest waders we got it right out.
LESSONS LEARNED---WEAR ICE PICKS!! I cannot stress this enough, without those $4 items, you will wear yourself out trying to swim onto the ice. I am going to sew them to the collar of my coat so I am NEVER on ice again without them, no matter how good the ice.
#2- If you know the ice is marginal, send a scout first. I should have walked the ice first and saved putting the quad through. And I should have been solo on the machine, one of us should have been walking and prepared for the worst.
#3 and perhaps most important, KNOW WHAT YOU WILL DO WHEN IT HAPPENS TO YOU!!! I have played this scenario out in my head a gazillion times and I was able to keep my head...when I couldnt climb out, I knew I had to make some space so i could start swimming, until I was swimming and horizontal, there was no way out. Of course, the picks make that a moot point. Have a gameplan!!! If you panic, you put yourself and whoever is trying to help you at risk...
Especially now when the ice is getting marginal everywhere, be smart, think ahead and be prepared. Another friend of mine went thru a lake yesterday, he was all alone, spent about 1/2 hour in the water and has a very expensive ambulance ride and emergeny room visit because of it.
Is it worth it????
The one positive thing that has come from this, I now KNOW, I can go thru and survive it, by keeping a cool head and being prepared....but that doesnt give me the right to be stupid about it, thats what I must remember...
Well, there are those who have gone thru and those that are gonna...I now am a former.
February 26th, on a lake that is known for good ice, ya just never know where or when you might go thru, you have to be ready no matter what. The ice in MT has been very weird this year, all of Feb was above normal temps and very sunny. And this was a warm day with no wind so that made it a lot less dangerous...
Spent all day slamming jumbo perch, and when it was time to go, we discovered the one small pressure ridge we had to cross had grown considerably. Started to look for a different way to get off the ice. The whole shore had had sun on it all day...All we could do was look for the best way to go and hope for the best. Got about 150 yards from shore...and thru we went!!!!
Your first reaction is, "I gotta get out of the water"!!! I swam away from the quad and started to try to climb up onto the ice. Every time I tried it kept breaking, and my partner was having the same trouble. FINALLY, I broke enough ice away where I could start swimming, and once horizontal, I was able to get up on the ice. George did the same but as soon as he got up, it broke and we were in again.
I turned around and saw the quad was floating so I swam over to it and as I grabbed onto it I could feel some bottom below me, I was able to stand up in chest deep water. I yelled to George and he swam over to me, grabbed his ice house and got his ice picks out. He swam back to the edge and pulled himself right up and out. I got everything unhooked, pushed both portables up onto the ice, then he tossed me his picks and I pulled myself out. We got to shore with out going thru again. Had to leave the quad overnight and went out the next morning and with the help of some friends, a winch and some chest waders we got it right out.
LESSONS LEARNED---WEAR ICE PICKS!! I cannot stress this enough, without those $4 items, you will wear yourself out trying to swim onto the ice. I am going to sew them to the collar of my coat so I am NEVER on ice again without them, no matter how good the ice.
#2- If you know the ice is marginal, send a scout first. I should have walked the ice first and saved putting the quad through. And I should have been solo on the machine, one of us should have been walking and prepared for the worst.
#3 and perhaps most important, KNOW WHAT YOU WILL DO WHEN IT HAPPENS TO YOU!!! I have played this scenario out in my head a gazillion times and I was able to keep my head...when I couldnt climb out, I knew I had to make some space so i could start swimming, until I was swimming and horizontal, there was no way out. Of course, the picks make that a moot point. Have a gameplan!!! If you panic, you put yourself and whoever is trying to help you at risk...
Especially now when the ice is getting marginal everywhere, be smart, think ahead and be prepared. Another friend of mine went thru a lake yesterday, he was all alone, spent about 1/2 hour in the water and has a very expensive ambulance ride and emergeny room visit because of it.
Is it worth it????
The one positive thing that has come from this, I now KNOW, I can go thru and survive it, by keeping a cool head and being prepared....but that doesnt give me the right to be stupid about it, thats what I must remember...
Ed
