Lake Gogebic
- Thread starter fcat700
- Start date
D
Deleted member 10829
Guest
If you look at the Lake Gogebic cam (see pic below), you will see ATV's have been riding in front of the Hoop 'N Holler. Years ago before sled engines became much more reliable, LG was referred to as "piston alley" by some due to all of the meltdowns on the lake after running WOT for several miles. These days I rarely see a sled on the lake with the hood up, and when you do, it's usually just a blown belt.
Attachments
My brothers and I did this EXACT thing 4 years ago. Going from Root Cellar to Hoop. I'm leading, snowstorm, can see well enough to do maybe 30-40 mph. Hugging the shore and all of a sudden all I see is black, and can't see the end of it. Hammer the throttle, make it across, (all of us) and have a **** of a story to tell at the Hoop. We sat down at the bar and didn't say a word for the first 10 minutes. Just shook our heads...
Glad you guys made it OK, many have not been that fortunate.
My buddy went through three sleds a couple of years ago trying to get from the Fisherman to Gogebic Lodge for the Super Bowl. Luckily we were staying on the lake. First sled he shredded his belt, towed him back to the house, second he took his brothers sled and blew the motor, had to tow him back to the house, third one he took his wifes and blew the track, towed him back to the house. Screw it jumped in the truck and drove there. That lake eats sleds all day long. Still fun to rip it across.
venturenorth
Member
west side of gogebic ?
how about riding the west side of the lake, from Gogebic Lodge to the Hoop?
how about riding the west side of the lake, from Gogebic Lodge to the Hoop?
mjkaliszak
New member
I like what " Dave B " said. Lakes are under estimated. I went thru the ice 1 time when I was a teenager. LG in the last several years has taken it's toll on our group, blown belts, smashed sleds, daughters sled sank in slush, buddy pulled her out, good thing he was able to stand on the next deepest ice sheet to get her & the sled. I ended up buying him a pair of boots & socks since I was more than endebted to him. Things were going bad 1 year , we had a torn track on a sled, tried making from the N-east side to the hoop, sent all the kids on ahead with the group, tried to stay around 40 as to not create too much rotating mass and of course along the shore line it turned to slush, about that time we passed a stuck 4 wheeler with the rubber tracks set-up on it. Sunk in the slush of course ! We started sinking, my buddy started sinking with the bad track sled, I'm looping around him just incase I have to drive by him and throw him the rope. Never forget that. We made it going WFO , got off the lake, made it to the road and drove down the side of the road for 12 miles ..... Don't get me wrong, love the flat, wide open lakes but .... man things go wrong. Lived in Minnesota for a winter helping a friend with his business, watched the snowmobile death toll count climb thru the season, most of the deaths were on lakes. It's one thing for me to take my unresponsible self out on the lakes, ( just me being me ) it's another when your taking your kids. I keep them all around me in a " spread " out pattern.
Done rambling, have a safe year.
Done rambling, have a safe year.
Blown Engines
Reminds me of the one and only time I blew an engine on a sled.
We were staying in Lac Du Flambeau in 1993 or so. Conditions were great and we rode up to Gogebic. I was on a rental Indy 500 fan from a place in Mercer. We hit the lake at the south end and hammered it. I was flying along and boom went the motor. We towed it to a closed for the winter resort on the east shore.
I had to double up with a buddy all the way back to Lambeau. In the morning we went over to the rental place and explained what happened and our best guess of where we left it. The guy very casually said no problem and handed me the keys to another sled.
I still get harassed about having to double up for that ride home!
Riding Gogebic can be fun but you gotta have respect for the lake.
Reminds me of the one and only time I blew an engine on a sled.
We were staying in Lac Du Flambeau in 1993 or so. Conditions were great and we rode up to Gogebic. I was on a rental Indy 500 fan from a place in Mercer. We hit the lake at the south end and hammered it. I was flying along and boom went the motor. We towed it to a closed for the winter resort on the east shore.
I had to double up with a buddy all the way back to Lambeau. In the morning we went over to the rental place and explained what happened and our best guess of where we left it. The guy very casually said no problem and handed me the keys to another sled.
I still get harassed about having to double up for that ride home!
Riding Gogebic can be fun but you gotta have respect for the lake.
You've got that right. I see tracks on the lake from the Hoop's cam, looks like a lot of slush.
I agree for sure. Are group (family) will be in that area and I wouldn’t normally even consider riding LG but we are going to try and get to the pier at the County Park to visit the spot where my brother past a way in 2007. Also would like to stop for a coffee or pop at some of the resorts that we drank at that night and the Lake would cut much needed hours off the trip time but only if the ice is thought to be ok.
Remembering your brother
fcat,
I remember when that happened and it has stuck with me ever since. I always think of it when in the area. Last year I stayed on the lake with a group that had never been to the area. I shared the story with them as one example of why we all needed to be cautious.
Your brother is still remembered, even by some of us who never met him.
Good job keeping the flame, and important lesson, alive in this thread.
Happy and Safe Holidays and New Year to you, your family, and all of the John Dee family.
t_man
fcat,
I remember when that happened and it has stuck with me ever since. I always think of it when in the area. Last year I stayed on the lake with a group that had never been to the area. I shared the story with them as one example of why we all needed to be cautious.
Your brother is still remembered, even by some of us who never met him.
Good job keeping the flame, and important lesson, alive in this thread.
Happy and Safe Holidays and New Year to you, your family, and all of the John Dee family.
t_man
gogebic_sledder
Member
I don't know you, but I think of your brother and your family often, my cabin is very close by. I've never driven by the pier and not thought of you guys. I'm very sorry for you lose. Your brothers tradegy has probaly already prevented accidents on the LG, I know my son when he's old enough to ride will hear the story from me, and it will educate him of the dangers of snowmobiling. Your brothers memory will live on.
Our group thinks of your brother as well every time we get on the lake. From the sound of the past couple of notes it sounds like your brother's death while extremely tragic has probably saved other's lives because many people are now a lot more cautious while riding on the lakes than we used to be.
lincolnwood
Member
How deep is it in that area?
goingnorth
New member
I was at Gogebic Lodge for Lunch Friday, 12-17-2010. I only saw one track from the north and none to the south.
Rode the trail back south. I had no desire to be the first to blaze the trail on Gogebic South.
Rode the trail back south. I had no desire to be the first to blaze the trail on Gogebic South.
I was up on the North end of Gogebic on this past Saturday.
As we were walking into the Hoop, a group of about 20 guys hopped on the lake. I personally was quite suprised as you could see slush from the shore. I stayed outside until the guys got off the ice just incase somethan happened and help needed to be called. Luckily all the guys came back in...
I have much respect for LG after riding it over the past 20 years!
Now when I need to go across it, I take my time and keep my eyes open for all the dangers on the lake...
Stay safe out there guys and thanks to all for sharing their stories.
As we were walking into the Hoop, a group of about 20 guys hopped on the lake. I personally was quite suprised as you could see slush from the shore. I stayed outside until the guys got off the ice just incase somethan happened and help needed to be called. Luckily all the guys came back in...
I have much respect for LG after riding it over the past 20 years!
Now when I need to go across it, I take my time and keep my eyes open for all the dangers on the lake...
Stay safe out there guys and thanks to all for sharing their stories.
6mile
Member
My group and I stopped at the Hoop for a Hot Chocolate and it was getting dark on Saturday the 18th We looked a the lake and could see a couple of brave or dumb souls that ventured out on the Ice/slush. One of the guys said lets burn down to the Root and say hi, my only comment was your nuts, unless we take the trail. He said he was only kidding, but I bet if I would have gone first the rest of them would have followed.