In Montana, we’re used to some pretty gnarly conditions, with this year being an exception, mostly. We have the Bridgers the Gallatins (among many more ranges), and typically have enough deep snow to bury a house up high. But one thing we rarely have to worry about while sledding is accidentally becoming the captain of a drifting ice ship.
Recently, a snowmobiler in Northern Michigan’s Upper Peninsula (U.P.)—a place that shares Montana’s “frozen tundra” DNA—found himself in a situation that was just as terrifying as it was bizarre. While the U.P. was getting hammered by a massive snowstorm, this rider ended up floating near Mackinac Island on a chunk of ice, his snowmobile still pinned to the “deck.”
When Reality Out-Absurds the Movies
I kid you not, I had just finished watching a movie called Ice Skater right before this news broke. My suggestion is to not watch it. It was a waste of perfectly good electricity. However, it is about an ice skater who gets separated from her crew and ends up stranded on an iceberg. I thought the plot was a bit of a stretch until I saw a 55-year-old man in a snowsuit being rescued by a 240-foot Coast Guard icebreaker in the middle of a Great Lakes blizzard.
It was a total “glitch in the matrix” moment. One day I’m rolling my eyes at a bad script, and literally the next, I’m watching the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Mackinaw pull a guy and his sled off a floating ice floe in Lake Huron.
Ice is Not a Trail
While we don’t have many Great Lakes in the 406, we do have massive bodies of water like Flathead, Fort Peck, and Canyon Ferry that can get dicey.
The Mackinac Island Fire Chief summed it up perfectly: “The ice is no joke… it’s not an inland lake or a mill pond.” When high winds and heavy snow hit, what looks like a solid shortcut can turn into a one-way trip to nowhere.
If you’re heading out into the Montana backcountry or across our larger lakes, keep these “don’ts” in mind:
- Don’t ignore the warnings: If the local authorities or the DNRC say the ice is unstable, believe them.
- Don’t skip the gear: If you’re riding anywhere near water, ice picks (the kind you wear around your neck) and a flotation suit aren’t “extra”—they’re essential.
- Don’t trust the “edge”: Near open water or heavy currents, ice can break off in a heartbeat.
Stay Safe, Stay Dry
While we love the thrill of the ride, at least I do, it would be better to see you at the trailhead than on the evening news. Stay away from the icebergs, steer clear of 1-star survival movies, and always pack for the unexpected. You can even take a snowmobile safety course here.
The Great Lakes might be a long way from the Rockies, but the lesson is the same: Nature doesn’t care about your weekend plans.
PS – Before people get fired up, the feature photo is not a photo of the incident, but it was fitting for the article, I thought.