Staff Writer
Winter may be here but due to some weird weather patterns this season, officials with the Maine Warden Service advise outdoor enthusiasts to use caution when venturing near any body of water.
“Ice fishing season officially began Jan. 1. For the most part, lakes in Aroostook County are safe. But anyone venturing onto the ice should make sure ice is thick enough for the use they have in mind,” said Warden Alan Dudley.
Dudley, whose coverage area basically lies between Easton and Squa Pan Lake, noted that while most lakes have sufficient ice thickness for wintertime usage, such as ice fishing, it’s still a good idea to check to be sure.
“Lakes usually freeze up the fastest, since the water is calm – not moving. It’s the rivers and streams that take longer (to freeze) due to the water moving,” said Dudley.
And that has been – and continues to be – the case in much of his coverage area, with open sections of water still noticeable on the Presque Isle Stream and along the Aroostook River. Openings were noted on the Aroostook River in Ashland, Washburn and Presque Isle as recently as Friday, Feb. 1.
With temperatures rising to well above freezing, dropping to sub-zero figures, then spiking for another quick thaw, rivers and streams haven’t got the amount of ice expected for this time of year. Such conditions create a combination of slush and ice.
“Add to that the occasional layer of snow to cover the mix and you get a mixture for trouble,” said Dudley. “Anyone snowmobiling should use caution when crossing a body of water. It may look safe, but beneath the snow there may be just a thin layer of ice separating the rider from the icy water beneath.”
While open water and slush may be more visible during the daytime, Dudley said those same conditions are far less noticeable at night.
“The mixture of darkness creating limited visibility, even with a headlight, and sleds going too fast to be able to stop in time can be a deadly combination,” Dudley said.
And while some riders may think they can make it across an open body of water without getting injured, those same riders, if caught, according to the Maine Warden Service, face serious fines because crossing open water with snowmobiles or ATVs is illegal.
Thin ice claimed the life of 17-year-old Adam Brown, of Atkinson, over the weekend, who drowned when his snowmobile fell through thin ice near the east end outlet of Sebec Lake as the teenager was riding to a friend’s house for a sleepover. This area of Sebec Lake is considered particularly dangerous in the winter since water flow through there lessens the opportunity for solid ice formation.
“Water goes through the dam there,” said Warden Daniel Carroll Jr., who investigated the accident. “One day you’ll have ice and the next day you’ll have open water.”
Dudley said such is the case for the Presque Isle Stream and Aroostook River where the flow of water also hinders the formation of thick ice in some areas.
“Remember to use caution when traveling on any ice formation,” said Dudley. “Just remember if you’re snowmobiling, ride right, ride safe and have fun.”
Staff photo/Kathy McCarty
TREADING ON THIN ICE – Snowmobilers crossing the Aroostook River in Presque Isle are taking their chances, traveling on areas of thin ice when approaching the riverbank near the point where the Presque Isle Stream meets the river. Officials with the Maine Warden Service caution riders to watch for open water and note that the continually moving water of rivers and streams take longer to freeze than do lakes. Snow cover can be deceptive, giving a false sense of security when beneath lies only a thin layer of ice separating sledders from the icy water below. Pictured, a snowmobile trail appears to come dangerously close to an area of thin ice and open water.
