Causey ice incident

[Elkoholic]

Took the family for a drive up to Causey on Sunday to see if the ice was off. On the way up we passed an ambulance and fire truck. I thought no big deal probably an incident with a snowmobiler. Just passed the Red Rock Cafe, there was a Weber County Sherrif sitting on the side of the road, and then came a truck and horse trailer. Kind of strange I thought, it was only 10 in the morning.
As we drove to the Boy scout arm I see this large trough broke in the ice leading up to a spot where someone had broke through. On the east side of the lake I could see some snow kicked onto the ice with what looked like some rope out on the ice.
Curiousity got the best of me and I went for a walk along the trail to see what happened. I got to the area above the slide mark and looked at the ice with my binoculars. The rope was a bridal and I could see horseshoe marks on the ice, along with some blood.

My conclusion is that someone had a horse slip/fall off the trail, slide down and crash onto the ice (there were two spots broken out right along the bank). The horse was then led across the ice back towards the road where it must have broke through and went in (about the middle of the arm). I don't think a horse could break it's self through that ice so I'm guessing someone else had to be out there on the ice as well creating the trough through the ice back to the bank.
I didn't see any of this action, I'm just guessing that's what happened. If anyone knows what happened I would like to know the details. I assume everyone involved made it out ok, since the police and fire department was not at the scene.
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[wiperhunter2]

Well thats too bad, hopefully they all made it out of the water safely. Did it look like the ice was still good by the dam?
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[Elkoholic]

The lake is mostly capped. There was about 200 yards of open water by the scout camp. By the dam, there is about 2-3' of open water, then 5-10' of thin clear ice, then more solid ice. I threw some big rocks out there and the ice sounded pretty good. If you had a long plank you could probably still fish it. I'm not saying that's a great idea, but it could be done.

Over where that horse went in, I saw a chink of broken ice that was on top of the ice cap. I would guess that it was about 5-6" thick.
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[wiperhunter2]

Thanks, I was just wondering if the ice would be coming off soon, sounds like it is still weeks away.
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[zig]

Elkaholic, your deductive powers are amazing. I can tell you exactly what happened. Sunday morning my son, Chris, went up to Causey to take a hike with our Golden Retreivers. I followed about a half hour later, intending to fish some open water for Kokanee.

As I drove up the Boy Scout arm, I noticed him out on the ice in the middle of the arm, trying to break it with a stick. Then I saw a black head struggling in the water. A horse had slipped off the trail and broke thru the ice. It was swimming in the hole, exhausted.

The horse owner had thrown a rope out which my son tied to the reins. Then another person found a 2X4 on the bank and slid it out on the ice. The 2X4 was better at breaking the ice which appeared to be about 3 inches thick or maybe a little less.

The horse crowded into the small channel being opened by the 2X4. As the situation was getting desperate, the horse owner crawled onto the ice to help. When he got close to my son, their combined weight caused both to break through. This opened most of the ice in front of the horse and both persons and the horse made it to shallow water and onto the bank.

Minutes later, ambulances, a fire truck and the sheriff arrived. Somehow somebody must have got a call thru. The horse had a little blood on his lower leg, but it appeared to be okay.

This was frightening to watch.
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[Elkoholic]

I'm glad to hear tat everyone made it out ok. I can imagine your fear watching your son out on sketchy ice trying to help a frightened animal fend for it's life.
Sounds like the owner should have been a little quicker on the draw to help out. I wasn't there so I won't pass any judgemnet. Good thing that arm of the lake is fairly narrow!!!
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[pookiebar]

I admire your sons efforts! Hopefully the rope was tied on him too.

No caiuss is worth dying for!!
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