Snowcat Trails

Last week Brian and Rick went out to mark snowcat trails on the lake. (They call snowmobiles "snowcats" here. It took me awhile to figure that out and I thought they were talking about a bigger machine with tracks on it.) The trails are marked on the lake for snowmobilers to follow since the shore can't be seen in some places, and especially at night. They are also necessary in a storm where visibility is low. The stakes they put out have reflectors on them and are set every tenth of a mile. The markers are also used to groom the trails. Rick figures they marked around 6 miles of trail, though there is much more to do. The following pictures are all taken on the lake.
Here he is putting snow on his machine. There wasn't enough snow on the lake to take keep it
cool and he didn't want to overheat.

You can see the black generator on the back of the snowcat that powers the drill, and the sled that has the markers.

The brown on the snow is sand that has blown off the beach. It is really windy here and that seems to be what makes the cold less tolerable.

There is water over the ice because there is a crack near by. I find this cause for alarm, but Rick says it is normal.

They also put up signs marking cracks in the ice. The pressure ridges come from the ice expanding and contracting with the temperature changes.

Rick standing at the crack in the ice.

Here is Rick drilling a hole in the ice for the markers, then Brian would come along behind and put the post in. Dave, a guy from the snowmobile club, was ahead mapping out the trail.

They had to stop early because there was only 4 inches of ice towards the end. A snowmobile could ride on this, but the ice can change so quickly it isn't safe to chance it. 8 inches is much better. A car needs 12 inches of ice. I haven't been out on the ice yet. I don't feel that 8 or 12 are big enough numbers to coax me out there. I'll venture out at some point, but it's hard to say how soon that will be. It has been warmer this year and the ice isn't as thick as it should be. This calls out to me and says STAY ON LAND NEWCOMER!

So Remember, this is all information my husband told me about the ice on the lake and thier trip. I'm sorry if it is choppy and out of order. You might check back in a day and find corrections on everything I have written if I wrote it out wrong. It's all new to me!

**They left at 9:30 in the morning and I asked Rick to check in with me a few times so I'd know they were safe. There have already been people that have fallen through the ice. The first message came in at 5:27 that night saying, "We're safe, be home soon". Then he pulled in the driveway at 5:31. Now tell me, do you think it's more dangerous to drive on 4 inches of ice OR to make your wife worry when she specifically asked you to check and you neglected to do so?