A report Sunday afternoon that a Bombardier snowmobile trail groomer has gone through the ice east of the city.
It happened around 3:45.
A volunteer was grooming on ‘D’ Trail approximately 1.5km South of Trout Lake on a pond when the ice let go. Reports say he had checked the ice and had previously crossed and was on his way home when he went through.
A person on-scene told BayToday that there were two snowmobiles following the groomer, and the riders pulled the male operator out and took him to the Mr. Gas just east of North Bay on Highway 17, and then taken to hospital by ambulance for observation and hypothermia.
He was reported in "good" condition, with no injuries.
Shawn Flindall, Director of Public Relations and Marketing for the North Bay Snowmobile Club said the groomer belonged to the South Shore Snowmobile Club.
"It went thought the ice on a small lake north of Highway 17 between Mr. Gas and Trout Lake. There are a couple of small lakes through there that had not been groomed with the big groomer because of weather and ice conditions, so this is the first pass of the big groomer.
"From what I understand it went right through and sunk to the bottom."
Flinall says while the trails are safe, the club has been warning of ice conditions all season.
"It's such an inconsistent ice thickness and quality this year. You're certainly going to find some spots that are 10 to 14 inches of ice but 15 feet from that you'll find spots that are three to five inches of ice. A lot of the ice is not really ice. It's not a great year for ice. The snow is really dry so the trails we groom up don't have the moisture to pack so the trails are getting beat up really, really quickly, so they are bumpy."
Flindall says it won't be easy getting the groomer back out.
"It's not a very easily accessible spot and the groomer drag is attached to the machine as well so that will make it more difficult, and it will be quite a recovery process to say the least."
The South Shore/Restoule Snowmobile Club has fenced off the area with red snow fencing.
