We always tell people that no ice is safe ice. The only time you know you can’t go through is when you’re not on it.

Just stop in and talk to someone at one of the local bait shops. They are very knowledgeable about the area and will likely know what spots to avoid.

Stay on snowmobile trails whenever possible. If you do find yourself leaving the trail, go only where other vehicles have already gone.

If the snowmobile goes through the ice, there are certain DNR regulations that cover that, but no, skipping is not illegal. It’s not a safe practice and it’s not something to be encouraged.

Hopefully, we don’t meet that or beat the record.

There are so many of those local areas of open water, there’s just no way we could find them all. We just don’t get involved; that’s up to the local snowmobiling groups.