Lake TOmahawk is where my father in law has a cabin. i ride that area all the time. I can tell you the ice is FAR from ready for sled traffic in most spots up there from a couple weeks ago. You might be able to walk out on it, but do NOT ride on it up there unless the sled clubs tell you it's ok.

PLUS, this sled involved is a side by side two seater, which is a VERY heavy machine. This sort of stuff is VERY preventable if people would use some patience and had checked the ice before venturing out onto it.

What a shame. I pray for that family.

 

there has been ice shanty's and truck out on that lake for over a week now. I bet they were near the creek that heads into lake Katherine. it is alway thin over by there.

They do not know if the "Thing" they were driving went through the ice, or the driver ran it into open water. it is Still being investigated.

 

:banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead:

 

:banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead:[/b]

I concur.

 

That sucks, we were on the lake all week but we are on a small lake.

RIP

 

You gotta feel bad for the little girl who died, but riding something heavy like an Elite out on the ice now is sheer stupidity.
Plain and simple, if the lake isnt maked, STAY OFF!!!

 

wow that does suck, yeah, you would have to pay me to go out on a lake at this time

 

Thats freaking horrible. Its hard to believe a seasoned sledder was involved. If so they should be hit with neglect. Sucks someone had to loose their little girl. Its bad enough when its an adult drunk and stupid but you know the girl had no idea it was unsafe.

 

Is this number one on the season?

 

Thats terrible news, with kids of my own it always sends shivers up my spine hearing this kind of stuff.
Heart n prayers go out to her family, and of the driver, how terrible they must feel.
If it's a lake I don't know im always in the throttle.

 

Is this number one on the season?[/b]

yes #1 death so far, i belive there were 2 accidents already

 

my cousins live up there and their friend is the hazelhurst fire chief who witnessed it all. SHe was on a skidoo Elite(name of twin track model i believe) and went over an ice heave where the ice comes together and is very week and the sled broke through. the adult got out but she was seat belted in and went 70ft down until a navy seal from wooddruff that is on the fire dept. could come and save her 2 hrs later from when it all happened. There is an ice heave like this on Little saint germain going into west bay only it is shallow there. be careful out there RIP

 

This is very sad, I am sorry to hear this, prayers to her family. JT

 

did they know the area, i knwo there from minn but i didnt knwo if they travled there often, and did Tomahawk have up sighns of waring and other things ?? (they could sew)

 

I have a buddy who was on that lake yesterday and he said the lake had barrel markers out on the lake.

What was the color of the sled?

 

being that lake Tom is 7 mi long it obviously wasn't totally frozen. by taking a heavy sled out there probably wasn't the best idea along with going out in the middle of the lake. It is always the last lake to freeze and with the warm temps it was a risky decision. i belive the sled is gray/silver i think that was the only color made for that model.

did they know the area, i knwo there from minn but i didnt knwo if they travled there often, and did Tomahawk have up sighns of waring and other things ?? (they could sew)

How could they sew anyone? if it was a trail it would make sense but a lake is a dangerous place to go on during the winter at any time and they can't mark the whole lake as being safe. it is a chance you take by going on the lake to get the next location so truly it was the wrong place and the wrong time. If they did see the ice heave in the middle of the lake and went on top of it that was a bad choice but no one really knows what happened except an inncocent girl lost her life.

 

They always say to stay off the lakes untill they are marked, so no, I dont think they could sue anyone.

 

Besides that you access a frozen waterway at your own risk. It's a tragedy.

 

there has been ice shanty's and truck out on that lake for over a week now. I bet they were near the creek that heads into lake Katherine. it is alway thin over by there.

They do not know if the "Thing" they were driving went through the ice, or the driver ran it into open water. it is Still being investigated.[/b]

I would bet you are right, I was on Lake Tom the day before. I wasnt going to cross it, but, I wanted to get home quickly so I could take my Daughter for a short ride. I came down the grade by 47 and saw pick ups and shanty's in the bay by the boat launch so I decided to go. I did see a barrel on the shore at the launch but no other markings ( fortunately I know the lake well ) I headed west at the big rock and shot across the little bay, I was going to stop at otter slide but there was very little snow on the lake and I dont have picks ,so ,I was afraid that if I did stop that I wouldnt be able to get up to speed quick enough. In hindsight I guess I could have tried to turn towards shore and ride the shoreline past inkwell and to katherine channel but at this point I had pretty good momentum going and I spotted the channel so I made a B-line for the channel. When I crossed that bay I went across two very large areas of slush, I would think that would be the site of the incident. I know it is easy to sit here in my warm living room and think what your options would be in that type of situation, but, I got to believe that if my little girl (mine is 5 ) was belted in to a sled and it was going down, I would go down with the sled and try to get her out. Yikes, I dont mean to be a newbie downer here, I just really feel sad when bad things happen to children.

DS

 

I was on lake tom ice fishing all weekend. ---- there were about 5 trucks on the ice-- including my fathers-- along with numerous shanty's /atv's/ sleds
there was about 12 inches of ice in the bay at the landing in the town of lake tom. as of saturday there was only one barrel on the landing which marked the concrete stoop to the peirs. then saturday night someone at about 6 pm put out barrels across the entire launch area with a sign that read " danger open water" ( which worried he guys that had trucks on the ice at that time--- and caused a bunch of confusion)-- i personally had to move a barrel or two to help my dad get his truck off the ice. ice was and still is safe in the bay -- all the way to at least dohln's point where there is about 10 inches of ice. -- i personally have only gone that far on this lake so far this year, and have been riding it since i was about 5 yrs old. if anyone is out on lake tom look for the grey shanty near "panansky's" place-- that is mine-- along with my cousins forrest green one. when the lights are on -- stop by!!

 

Just for everyone else, lakes aren't safe yet, which is why the snowmobile clubs are saying to stay off them, the lake I'm on is waaay smaller than Lake Tom and there's a lot of weak spots, and it seems like a lot of the water/slush is coming up on top of the ice. Traumatic story, I feel bad for the driver whether it be her dad/uncle/friend that he has to live with that, sad, be safe guys!

 

I'm having a hard time understanding WHY the clubs marked the lakes this early with this little cold weather. I have NEVER seen them mark the lakes in prior years when the ice is this thin.

 

What lakes are marked?

None were marked I know of other than the big one in minocqua.

Lots of sleds going across plum lake.

 

What lakes are marked?

None were marked I know of other than the big one in minocqua.

Lots of sleds going across plum lake.[/b]

Lots, here is an example.....

Reported by: Holly Tomlanovich - Sno-Eagles, Inc.
Date of Report: January 4, 2007
Trail Conditions: Poor
Snow Cover: 2-4 Thin inches


LAKE TRAIL REPORT...Eagle Lake Trail is marked with orange barrels. The section of Catfish Lake from the boat launch entrance at Braywood to Bayside is marked with orange barrels. THE SECTION FROM THE BOAT LAUNCH AT BRAYWOOD TO 12 PINES RESTAURANT REMAINS CLOSED. OPEN WATER AT INDIAN POINT. There may be surface slush. So stay by the barrels.


Reported by: Virgin Timber Resort
Date of Report: January 1, 2007
Trail Conditions: Not Rideable
Snow Cover: 2 inches

Moose Lake has 7-8" of ice and we will start marking it this week. For other lakes in the Hayward area check with local businesses for conditions.

 

What lakes are marked?

None were marked I know of other than the big one in minocqua.

Lots of sleds going across plum lake.[/b]

Little saint was marked on december 27th i was riding around and they were marking it. the ice was only 5in thick. We drilled a whole in the ice and were surprised they were marked so soon.