One person was missing and believed drowned after a snowmobile broke through the ice on Burntside Lake near Ely on Wednesday, the St. Louis County sheriff's office said.
The incident was reported around 3:20 p.m. by a person who lives by the lake. The sheriff's department volunteer rescue squad was searching a north bay of Burntside Lake for the missing snowmobiler.
No names were immediately released.
Let's be SAFE out there People!
Full Version: Authorities search Ely lake for snowmobiler
Burntside is a nasty, huge, deep dark lake that I sure wouldn't want to break through on. Lets hope the rider is not one of the posters on here from Ely.
I saw this story too, hoping it'd nobody from here.....a tragedy either way.
Giving the time frame I really hope it's not some kid that just came home from school and wanted to take a rip.
MOD
Giving the time frame I really hope it's not some kid that just came home from school and wanted to take a rip.
MOD
the guy who went through is one of my best friends grandma's boyfriend.....his grandma is devistated....
Story I heard was the North Arm of Burntside. One guy was found alive, the other not found yet. Burntside was not even frozen last week per my friends up there. And these guys had to have known that?!? Both are older guys; I know who the guy they found is, but not personally. Scary stuff. Ride smart and safe this winter guys...
He was 65.
Were they riding double or seperate sleds?
WTF is someone doing riding a lake this early in the season?
i kno the guy also but not personnally and i am from ely, i kno a few people who have put there trucks through on that lake. hopefully they will find his body soon, he was good friends with my mom
QUOTE(stevefromwestford @ Dec 7 2006, 03:29 PM) 
WTF is someone doing riding a lake this early in the season?
Most of the lakes up here have 6+ inches of ice
QUOTE(stevefromwestford @ Dec 7 2006, 05:29 PM)
WTF is someone doing riding a lake this early in the season?
ummm there should be i saw 2 full size trucks on a lake near me tonight.
Burntside is a deep clear lake. Usually never safe to ride on until early January. You wouldn't get a truck 20 yards off the landings right now...obviously I guess. It was wide open last week!
They were riding seperate with tubes because the knew N. arm was bad the guy that died actually made it up to his tube but hypo took him.
QUOTE(stevefromwestford @ Dec 7 2006, 03:29 PM)
WTF is someone doing riding a lake this early in the season?
This isnt early for riding on lakes in North Minn, maybe if you live in the tropics like stevefromwestford its early. Ive been out riding lakes many times thanksgiving week.
QUOTE(MTM @ Dec 7 2006, 09:11 PM)
This isnt early for riding on lakes in North Minn, maybe if you live in the tropics like stevefromwestford its early. Ive been out riding lakes many times thanksgiving week.
Oh ya thanksgiving many times...! Have you got any.... in Hibbing area?
I have been on Burntside many times. Like it was said, this is a very deep and confusing lake. There are areas of flowing water, especially around points. I would not ride on that lake until after xmas at least. Local folks probably know it, but if you have to bring a tube along to save yourself, you shouldn't be out there in the first place. The fish can wait.
QUOTE(joerocket @ Dec 7 2006, 09:21 PM)
I have been on Burntside many times. Like it was said, this is a very deep and confusing lake. There are areas of flowing water, especially around points. I would not ride on that lake until after xmas at least. Local folks probably know it, but if you have to bring a tube along to save yourself, you shouldn't be out there in the first place. The fish can wait.
Good point.
QUOTE
Authorities recover body of missing Ely snowmobiler
Associated Press
Last update: December 07, 2006 – 8:29 AM
ELY, Minn. -- A rescue squad has recovered the body of a missing snowmobiler from a lake in northeastern Minnesota.
St. Louis County authorities said the sheriff's volunteer rescue squad found the body of Robert Engebretson, 66, of Ely, late Wednesday in Burntside Lake northwest of Ely.
Engebretson and a companion were riding snowmobiles in a bay Wednesday when Engebretson's snowmobile broke through the ice and sank in 27 feet of water.
The rescue squad located Engebretson's body with the help of a remote-operated vehicle. He body was later recovered.
Associated Press
Last update: December 07, 2006 – 8:29 AM
ELY, Minn. -- A rescue squad has recovered the body of a missing snowmobiler from a lake in northeastern Minnesota.
St. Louis County authorities said the sheriff's volunteer rescue squad found the body of Robert Engebretson, 66, of Ely, late Wednesday in Burntside Lake northwest of Ely.
Engebretson and a companion were riding snowmobiles in a bay Wednesday when Engebretson's snowmobile broke through the ice and sank in 27 feet of water.
The rescue squad located Engebretson's body with the help of a remote-operated vehicle. He body was later recovered.
they were going to work on a cabin, that is why the 2 were out there. burntside has 5 inches of ice in a few spots me and my buddy measured, it made 3 over last night. those guyes also new where they were and where they were going but just ran into some bad ice, and unfortunatly a fatal accident occured. also on shagawa lake in ely has 8-10 inches of ice that i measured tonight while out at the shanti, just got in about 15 min ago with my limit of walleyes. i mostly like will be out on the ice with the pick-up plowing the ice road within next weekend.
QUOTE(dedxtwo @ Dec 7 2006, 09:06 PM)
They were riding seperate with tubes because the knew N. arm was bad the guy that died actually made it up to his tube but hypo took him.
What do you mean with tube? Do they pull them behind sled? Is rope 30+ feet long? Maybe a life jacket would be better?
RIP. My condolences to thier families.
It's really sad, I feel for the family for their loss.
QUOTE(CHUB_CHUB @ Dec 8 2006, 03:45 AM)
they were going to work on a cabin, that is why the 2 were out there. burntside has 5 inches of ice in a few spots me and my buddy measured, it made 3 over last night. those guyes also new where they were and where they were going but just ran into some bad ice, and unfortunatly a fatal accident occured. also on shagawa lake in ely has 8-10 inches of ice that i measured tonight while out at the shanti, just got in about 15 min ago with my limit of walleyes. i mostly like will be out on the ice with the pick-up plowing the ice road within next weekend.
wont need to plow shit if this warm forecast comes true :frech32:
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