Chetek, WI Dangerous Thin Ice Vehicle Recovery - 12/27/2019

A side by side went through Pokegama Lake right before Christmas. No one was injured. This video package shows the recovery of the side by side. One clip shows how the ice is layered this year. I never seen the ice layered like this in all my years on the ice. The ice on area lakes aren't safe.
Shot Description
Clip 1. The recovery team setting up their equipment for the recovery.
Clips 2-3. Britt cutting a hole in the weak ice.
Clip 4. Miles showing us how the ice is layered.
Clips 5-6. A diver getting ready for his dive.
Clips 7-8. The diver going into the water.
Clips 9-12. The side by side being pulled from the icy waters.
Clip 13. The crew pulling the rig and side by side with snowmobiles to safer ice.
Clip 14. The side by side is on safer ice.
Clip 15. The crew pulling the recovery equipment from the are back to the boat landing.
SID: Dirk Miller

[@MrMarkar1959]

Outstanding Recovery👍🏼 how about those layers of ice!! I'll watch again👍🏼

[@FlyLadyFan]

Fascinating and educational for a Southerner like me. Thanks.

[@kingofthecatnap5422]

Well, that's something I've never seen. Fascinating!

[@honestycounts9352]

If I was the guys who owned that all-aluminum vehicle-recovery rack, I would add 6 or 8 plastic drums to the side for floatation should it also fall through the ice.

[@sergioferraro3644]

Excellent work!

[@hoodoodino2335]

I have been finding snow conditions real weird too...unlike any I've seen in my 67 years of moving it (born in Wi.) In Wisconsin, Colorado, all over Alaska & Idaho... It has been of a much lighter weight and so easy to shovel as it seems to hold very little water. And so I'm in Idaho now and wonder if this apparent lack of moisture kept a bond from occurring at your location too...Always the curious one about anomalies I am...

[@RH-qk5lt]

It's been an abnormal winter so far. In northern Illinois there's no ice or snow which is very abnormal. It was 60° just a few days ago! Where these guys are in north western Wisc. When this video was posted, I would say the ice was unpredictable to say the least. There's been days of abnormally warmer weather. Followed by a cold snap then warm again. This creates thin ice spots and unpredictable, dangerous ice.

[@mitchkayla9195]

Am I the only one that immediately want to see if it will start lol

[@svenhoek]

Gotta admit - looks kinda fun!

[@aheimdahl5201]

That was really interesting, how they extracted the Vehicle. I wonder how much a Job like that costs to do 😲

[@gnohn9366]

Interesting technique to get vehicles out. Would definately want some ice cleats on when running a chain saw on that water covered ice.

[@mathuetax]

Wow! THAT thing went through the ice? Is it even safe for a sled?

[@teutonicbohemian]

Interesting

[@speedisf]

Wao wao wao nice

[@markg999]

Geez that diver looks like only a wetsuit not a drysuit. Interesting dont see this In Florida.

[@DoubleDogDare54]

Am I the only one who thinks it would be better to just wait until the following summer?

[@gooooooootooooooo3825]

The epa and fish and game usually require it to be removed ASAP or they charge you a lot of money everyday it’s down there so it’s probably cheaper to get it done sooner than later

[@DoubleDogDare54]

@@gooooooootooooooo3825 I assume then that they no longer do that tradition of hauling a junk car out on to Lake Chetek and everyone then can place a bet ($) on when the clunker would break through the ice in the spring?