Riding on ice is another dangerous habit. A Rapid River man drowned last month after his snowmobile plunged into open water during an ice fishing trip on Lake Michigan's Little Bay de Noc. In the Houghton-Hancock area, many riders take to the Portage Lake Shipping Canal when its surface freezes. The canal is not part of the state trail system, said Brian Williams, senior chief of the U.S. Coast Guard station in Dollar Bay. Even when the ice has thickened, appearances can be deceptive, he said.
Snow serves as an insulator, heating up when the sun shines, causing the ice beneath to weaken.
Snowmobiling on the canal is not illegal, but the Coast Guard frowns on it. The DNR sponsors free snowmobile safety courses across the state. Participants who finish the course and pass a test receive a safety certificate. Children ages 12-16 must be certified to operate a snowmobile without adult supervision.