Riding powersports on the ice is a surreal experience. It's just you, your machine, and a massive slippery flatland from shore to shore. Even when the ice is collectively deemed safe to be on, it truly never is. The conditions are frigid and that's only amplified when you're zipping along going forty plus in the open air. On top of that, there's the risk of collisions and wrecks, such as someone catching a bad angle and rolling their three-wheeler or maybe two side-by-sides smacking into each other. Then, add in the horrifying possibility of breaking through and falling into the water, and the average person would have to wonder why we do it at all. Personally, I just love it.
In regard to the possibility of breaking through the ice, I happen to know too well about that danger. Yes, I fell in. No, it was not this year.
It was January of 2021, and I was impatient and dumb. My friend and I made the terrible decision to take my go kart on the ice, and that led to us swimming to save our lives.
I had just been out in a cove prior to this occurrence, and that's where we began. I previously drilled some holes, walked it all out, and had a circumference within which I felt confident. After some solo laps on the Joe Kart, I asked my buddy if he'd like to get behind the wheel and tow me as I rode on a toy snowboard we had. Doing that was an absolute blast for a few minutes... until we ventured out towards the body of the lake and began to hear the cracking!
The sound of that ice breaking is forever burned into my memory. It could tell we were doomed and attempted to signal to the driver that we needed to turn back, but it was too late. As suddenly as it happened, I still felt like I experienced it all in slow motion. As I recall, the Joe Kart broke through ahead of me and I basically slid into the hole. I don't remember exactly how I got out of the water and onto the ice, but my friend and I were lucky enough to be out almost as quickly as we went in. Laying on the ice maybe fifty feet out from shore, I yelled for him to go find us help as I attempted to save my ride.
With a total disregard for my own safety, I turned back towards the Joe Kart and attempted to lift it up out of the hole. This inevitably led to me going in yet again, and it was at this point when reality sunk in, and I knew I needed to get ashore. Some locals were watching us from their home with the expectation that we might go in and came to the rescue with some ropes. The way they came rushing to aid us was amazing and I will never forget their kindness that day.
Instead of heavy judgement and a scolding for doing something so stupid, they brought us into their warm home and gave us dry clothes to change into and a mug of hot cocoa each, too. No one had to say it though; I learned just how dumb that was to be out there the hard way. After warming up a little, we were given a ride back to my place where I immediately geared up to go back to the spot and see what the status of my kart was.
Shockingly, after nearly two hours upside-down underwater, the Joe Kart was still just floating there in the hole. Amazing! Now... how to get it out?
It was the canoe to the rescue! I walked out there with it between my legs, ready to fall into the boat if the ice shattered below me again. After some ropes were tied around the frame of the Joe Kart, from the shore my helpers and I pulled it right on out. Within twenty-four hours, on the very next day I had it running again and am still rocking the same old Predator 212 engine.
This experience should probably be classified as traumatic, yet, it did not slow me down even a little bit. I was back riding on the ice the following weekend, and since have an overwhelming desire to do so any time the temps drop below freezing. That's my jam! I love it so much and it is even better now on my quad. It sucks the ice just isn't enough this season, and looking ahead, I don't think it will be.
So, what did I learn? Welp... I learned that the Joe Kart floats! Seriously though, I was given a lesson on patience. No matter how badly I want something, if it's not ready or meant to happen, doing it anyways can lead to dire consequences. I take ice safety seriously now. I carry ice picks and PFD's and am sure to wear a helmet. I've also learned about the ice riding culture and how the lakes freeze inconsistently.
If there's just one thing you take away from this, let it be the following: wait until someone heavier is out there! Don't be the test dummy like I was. If there's no one out riding, there's a good reason as to why. I won't even consider taking my four-wheeler out there until I see a UTV sitting stationary. Please be safe and make smart decisions when you're out on the slippery stuff!