Split up from group/lost

[HardwaterHoosier]

I pulled off in the lead on a well groomed fast trail a few years back, thinking the others would too. I turned sharp in 5' powder tipped sled and the others missed me and carried on down the trail. 30 mins later I was dug out after rolling sled over twice without a shovel and back on the trail. They were just getting back to me as I pulled out.

#1 rule, Don't turn without the others in your group. I kind of broke that rule even though I was only 20' off the trail. They were snow-dust blind and didn't see me. they reached the next stop sign and realized something happened and turned back.

Offtrail I carry a whistle, but should be getting a BCA real soon.

 

[1fujifilm]

That lake demands respect.

Finer words have not been spoken my friend.
Been boating the Bay of Green Bay and into Lake Michigan for over 40 years (wow, I just said 40 instead of the usual 30, I'm getting old) and I say that out loud every time I go on the boat. Conditions can change quickly and one must be ready.

Bear

 

[elf]

My brother, myself, and a friend were running across a large lake in the dark. Got to the other side and realized my brother was missing. Took us a while to find him as his sled burnt down so he had no headlight for us to look for. Wind and snow were blowing good so we couldn't follow our tracks back very well.
Also got very turned around on Lake Vermillion once at night. Finally went into Tower and rode the trail to where we were going.

 

[mrsrunningbear]

First time on the lake Bear and I and another couple 1985ish staying at the Fishermen (Fishtales) I'm riding double with the my girlfriend. We need to go from Bergland to Fishermens I'm driving, it's dark and a whiteout. The guys promised to go slow and told me to keep the taillight in sight and don't let off the throttle no matter what and giver **** if we hit slush don't stop. We left Bergland and I was scared to death, I had ridden across it that morning so I knew how big it was and I couldn't see past my ski's and I'm riding double. Well we hit slush that came up over the windshield (which was big) my friend is screaming, choking me and yelling STOP, I think we're going in and going to die. Well I gave that sled all she had and road through that slush! We were covered with ice and guess what now I couldn't see their taillights. With lots of tears and thinking the whole time they'll never find us, we'll be at the bottom until spring somehow I found my way to the fishermens. The guys were waiting at the shore wondering to go look for us or call for help. When I hit land the helmet came off and the fists were flying. Glad to be alive for sure. I've been on that lake well over 100 times since, but if the weather is bad we take the trail

 

[durphee]

Maybe 4 years ago we were sitting in the BBB relaxing on a Sunday and they were showing a video of a snowmobile recovery from the bottom of the lake. We were intrigued and asked some questions about it, they guy that owned the sled and went into the water was sittin at the end of the bar! Long story short, he slowed for a ice heave and the ice was unstable in front of the heave and down he went. Luckily got out and got to safety in time. He was still unnerved from it. Scary stuff!

 

[vipermike2002]

Haven't been on Gogebic in a while. Is there not a marked trail (on the lake) from County park on south end up to Hoop then over to Bergland?

 

[Deleted member 10829]

It's never been marked in the 26 years I've been going up there. It's usually packed down and you can tell where the trail is, but with fresh snow, that gets very tough.

 

[Sandylake]

Years ago I got lost in a group miles out on Lake Superior. We were ice fishing and when we were thinking about leaving a storm was kicking up. Complete whiteout. No compass. Totally terrifying.
After we realized we were in trouble and we're too far out to hear traffic or anything we decided that we should drive directly into the wind thinking the storm was coming from the west which would take us back to shore. We knew we weren't correct because we drove for a very long time and many more miles than we should have. So we went cross wind and found the shore miles north of where we had hoped to be.
I don't go on Superior ice anymore.

 

[chunk06]

Years ago I got lost in a group miles out on Lake Superior. We were ice fishing and when we were thinking about leaving a storm was kicking up. Complete whiteout. No compass. Totally terrifying.
After we realized we were in trouble and we're too far out to hear traffic or anything we decided that we should drive directly into the wind thinking the storm was coming from the west which would take us back to shore. We knew we weren't correct because we drove for a very long time and many more miles than we should have. So we went cross wind and found the shore miles north of where we had hoped to be.
I don't go on Superior ice anymore.

You definitely are winning the scariest story so far

 

[UP RIDER]

You definitely are winning the scariest story so far

Got my vote

 

[old abe]

Years ago I got lost in a group miles out on Lake Superior. We were ice fishing and when we were thinking about leaving a storm was kicking up. Complete whiteout. No compass. Totally terrifying.
After we realized we were in trouble and we're too far out to hear traffic or anything we decided that we should drive directly into the wind thinking the storm was coming from the west which would take us back to shore. We knew we weren't correct because we drove for a very long time and many more miles than we should have. So we went cross wind and found the shore miles north of where we had hoped to be.
I don't go on Superior ice anymore.

That would be God awful scary for sure!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Sandylake]

Umm, yeah. I just stay off of the big lake now. Too many scary things happened and a few fish just aren't worth the risks. Another time the group of guys I was with had water shoot out of the holes like a gyser, we all stuck our heads out of our shanty teepees soaked. I was like, enough of that fun and left. We all did.

The best ice story when was when I didn't go. My friends went out and the weather was going to be beautiful- high 50's and sunny. Spring fishing and it got much warmer than forecasted.
So there was water on the ice when they went out at dawn. The area they had been fishing and had been walking around on for the last few weeks had formed an island on the ice. As the day progressed their island became smaller and the water on top of the ice became deeper. The actual ice was pretty thick btw. The island became so small that a freshly caught lake trout tried swimming away on top of the ice. I guess it was a pretty funny chase.
Eventually the island disappeared and the water was going down the holes like a drain and sometimes flowing back up and out. The gurgling and pulsing water noise got pretty sketchy and they decided to leave. The water on top of the ice was quite deep now and everyone was riding sleds like older Tundra type machines and the trip back to shore attracted a small crowd of very concerned onlookers by Carla's restaurant.
I'm glad I had to work.

Now I walk out off of Lanse and never venture more than a few hundred yards off of shore.

 

[old abe]

Sandylake, my friends used to fish Lake Erie a lot. All on the water, no ice fishing. Too many weather, and wind events turning into too many very close calls with disaster!!! They sold all the of the well equipped lake boats, and motors. None will ever fish Lake Erie again!!! I don't like riding on lake ice, and only do where it is proven safe to ride.

 

[Sandylake]

Sandylake, my friends used to fish Lake Erie a lot. All on the water, no ice fishing. Too many weather, and wind events turning into too many very close calls with disaster!!! They sold all the of the well equipped lake boats, and motors. None will ever fish Lake Erie again!!! I don't like riding on lake ice, and only do where it is proven safe to ride.

I totally get that. I use to fish with a local guy who had a charter. His boat is (he still has it) 2900 Cherokee, there isn't a better boat for big water. We went out in any weather. One time at Stannard Rock we were in a constant 10 to 12 foot wave with the occasional 14. It was almost impossible to fish but we did catch a few. We also water scoped a few times were the nose of the boat totally dove into the water and you could see the shallow reef for a second. After we decided it was possibly dangerous we headed back to the Huron Islands to fish. At the Islands the waves were rollers, big rollers. Either you could not net a fish because it was 10 feet below the transom when it was at the surface or you could stick the net straight out in 5he chasing wall of water behind you.

A few years ago I bought my dream walleye boat, a 1890 Warrior. I thought it would handle big water great, I can't say that it didn't because I always got home but I seemed to get in situations that made me way stressed. Divorce ultimately made me sell it but maybe it was a blessing in disguise. I find myself and my children and friends on the streams chasing trout like I did in my youth and it's wonderful. Nobody stream fishes anymore and it's been fabulous.


I apologize that this thread went so off topic.........