*** Searchers Recover Body Of Missing Snowmobiler ***

Date: Thu, 12 Feb 1998 11:51:43 -0800
From: Rick.Slatten@conpapers.com (Slatten, Rick)
Reply-To: rick.slatten@conpapers.com

St. Louis County, Northen Minnesota
1000 hrs, 1st February 98--Divers recovered the body of a 23 year old
snowmobiler missing since 1800hrs, 30th January, from Colby Lake,
near the town of Hoyt Lakes, Minnesota, about 75 miles north of
Duluth. The multiple agency response, which included the St. Louis
County Sheriff's Rescue Squad, Hoyt Lakes Fire Department, Virginia
Dive Rescue Team, and the Arrowhead Search Dog Association, began
when the victim's girlfriend alerted authorities at approximately
2300hrs, 30th January, reporting that the victim had called her shortly 
before 1800hrs to say he would "be there in ten minutes" by snowmobile
from the neighboring town of Aurora.  

Perimeter, road, ditch, and trail searches yielded no leads; however,
a trail search team discovered suspicious snowmobile tracks heading
east onto Colby Lake, a 540 acre body of water directly northwest of
the Hoyt Lake city limits. The tracks appeared to head in the 
direction of open water, and the trail team elected to remain near 
shore and secure help rather than risk approach. Colby Lake and its
outlet, the Partridge River, are sources of cooling water for 
Minnesota Power's Syl Laskin generating plant, as well as nearby LTV
Steel Mining Company. Although most lakes in the area are presently
covered by up to 30 inches of ice, Colby is three quarters open.

Initial shoreline and ice perimeter checks turned up a helmet and a
single glove. Intelligence sources interviewed reported that the 
victim sometimes did not wear a helmet, but often carried one for 
his girlfriend between his knees while he rode. 

Officials from Minnesota Power (MP) were consulted prior to commencing
dragging operations, as team leaders were curious to know how 
electricity was delivered to cabins on the remote side of the lake.
Sure enough, it was learned that an underwater cable ran through the
middle of the primary search area. Power through this line was cut
by MP to ensure the safety of dragging and dive personnel.  

Just before sunset on 31 January, searchers located a snowmobile in 
about 20 feet of water, close to the projected line indicated by the
tracks on the ice, and several hundred feet from the icepack.  
Dive and drag procedures continued through the night, operating from
a base camp set up at the Syl Laskin plant site.  Food, water, and
hygiene facilities were provided by Minnesota Power.   

The victim's body was finally located at 1000 hours, 1st February, by 
Virginia (city) Dive Team personnel utilizing a towed pinwheel
pattern using the snowmobile as a base point. The body was
discovered in 25 feet of water, approximately 140 feet south
(off-line) of the snowmobile. Recovery proceeded without incident.

This is St. Louis County's first water fatality in 1998. The 7000 
square mile county carries an annual water death average of 5.4.  
Search and other wilderness rescue calls number some 50-60 annually.    

Submitted by Rick Slatten, St. Louis County Sheriff's Rescue Squad.
rick.slatten@conpapers.com

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