Yellowknife (Mar 28/05) - After several snowmobilers were rescued last weekend due to overflow conditions, Yellowknife Search and Rescue is warning people of unsafe conditions on lakes and rivers.

Mitch Dentinger, an avid Yellowknife snowmobiler, says overflow conditions are prevalent in the region. - Dorothy Westerman/NNSL photo

"There is just no way to tell you which lake that this overflow is happening on," said Terry Hauff, search manager with the Yellowknife Search and Rescue.

"I can tell you what's good today but tomorrow, it's not going to be the same," he said.

Thinner than normal ice which formed at the beginning of the season and a heavy snowfall has caused prime overflow conditions this year, Hauff said.

"We've got a heavy load on the ice."

Overflow occurs when ice weakens and water seeps through. Because the water is covered in snow, it is undetectable.

"When you are travelling on the snow, you have no idea until you feel yourself bogged down. People panic and slow down which is the wrong thing to do," he said.

The previous weekend, when five snowmobilers became stuck in overflow on the Yellowknife River, Hauff said water was knee-deep for a 200m radius.

Hauff said all he can advise the public is that there are overflow conditions everywhere.

"There is no way to tell you which lake this is happening on," he said.

Hauff said bringing along a fully charged mobile phone is important.

He also recommends bringing along fire-starting materials and extra clothes or items for a shelter.

"And its always important to leave a map with somebody showing your intended route and destination and when you expect to be back."

Mitch Dentinger, a longtime snowmobiler and member of the Great Slave Snowmobile Association, said the river is unsafe.

"There is lots of overflow and if you don't know what you are doing, you should stay off it," Dentinger said.

"You can encounter two to three feet of open water."

On the lakes, he said there is unexpected overflow on various spots, such as the edges and the lower areas near creeks.

"Last year there was no overflow so people are thinking it is all safe out there, but this year they can easily come into some overflow."

Go fast

Bruce Hewlko, a member of the Yellowknife Snowmobile Club, said the best way to go through overflow is "as fast as you can."

He also recommends staying on an existing path, as opposed to breaking a trail.

"If you are on an existing trail, it is already hard packed and the overflow doesn't get into it as bad," Hewlko said.

Don't go alone

"And don't go alone and keep a good distance between yourself and the person ahead of you," he cautioned

Bob Kelly, manager of public affairs and communications for the NWT Department of Transportation, said the North Slave ice roads are reported to be in good condition.

A spokesperson with Nuna Logistics said the 642km Tibbett Lake-Contwoyto ice road to Lupin mine from Yellowknife is also very drivable.

Snowmobilers die in Wrigley, Fort McPherson - page 13