Post by minnesotascott on Mar 30, 2011 18:13:21 GMT -5
A friend and I used to trap together, just a small trap line that we could walk after school. During this one week of the season it was bitter cold, around -15 or 20 with winds blowing around 20mph.
My friend and I would meet out on the lake i live on and walk the 3/4 mile through the woods to a small little lake we were trapping for beaver. As we walked to the along the creek that connected the two lakes we would check a few traps. As we got closer to the lake with the beaver the wind speed had picked up and it was dang cold. Being two young bucks full of life we continued on our way.
We always walking single file to keep our trail in the snow packed down. As I was bring up the rear I kept my head down and plodded on, every few minutes i would take a look at the shore to see how much father to the beaver damn. My partner was about 15 yards or so in front of me.
I could tell by the point we just passed we were about 40 yards from the damn when i heard and felt the ice cracking. I knew what was happening but it was too late. Before I could say anything I was under the ice in about 8 feet of water! I had on my back a small pack with a few traps and animals in it.
The first thing that went through my mind was they will find me in the spring! For some reason I was very calm as i looked around and all i could see was weeds, then I looked up. The ice bottom was very light colored but for the spot i went through, it was dark from the sun light reflecting off the ice. I knew that was MY hole.
As i was in sitting position on the bottom of the lake i stood up and reached for the hole. It was still about 2 feet above my hands, so I jumped!! I got hold of the ice and it broke again. I jumped again and got hold of stronger ice and pulled my head up out of the water and took a deep breath. AIR SWEET SWEET AIR! I let go of the ice with one hand and got my ice picks to where they would do me some good.
I still didn’t even know if my partner knew i was in the water. Using the picks I climbed out of the water and on top of the ice. It was then that i could see my friend running around by the shore looking for a long stick. I yell at him and i yelled. For some reason he didn’t hear me, might have been the wind I don’t know. So I yell again and he looked at me and said “SHUT UP I HAVE TO FIND A LONG STICK TO GET SCOTT OUT OF THE WATER!" I yelled "I am out get a fire going!!" He just looked at me.
We got to a somewhat wind sheltered spot and tried to get a fire going. Man i was getting very cold. Every time he lite a match the wind would blow and put it out. So after a few times we decided we better head out before I froze to death.
We start off. At this time we were about a mile from my house and it was getting colder. As we walked through the woods I kept saying how tired I was and that I needed to sit down and rest. My partner would yell and scream that if i sat down I would die so we plodded on.
We got to the shore of my lake and started across it. By now the only places not frozen was my crotch area and underarms. The wind was blowing harder and the temp was dropping fast.
When we got about half way across the lake I told my friend that I would be fine and for him to head home. He didn’t want to but I insisted, maybe i wasn’t thinking right anymore, as he still had another half mile walk home.
When I got home I could not get the door open as my parents had left to go see my sister and brother-in-law in the cities. Without being able to get my choppers off, they were frozen to the sleeves of my coat. All i could do was ram the door with my body. After about the 3rd time it opened. I was inside and the furnace was going!
I knew i had to get the frozen clothes off. So i stuck my hands in the toilet to thaw the choppers so i could get them off. With this done I got in the shower and turned it on with very cool water. As my clothes thawed they came off.
Then i remembered what and old guy told me. When this happens run a bath of cool water and put potatoes in the water just cut them into four pieces. He told me when a person is getting frostbite the skin loses potassium and taters are full of it and they will slow down the frostbite. So I did this and got in the tub with about 5 pounds of cut taters.
I really feel that they taters did help as I only got frostbite on my nose and cheeks. I was pretty young when this happened and i was afraid to tell my folks. But by the time they got home i had the door fixed and everything cleaned up and my wet clothes washed and dried.
It wasn’t till i was in my late 20's early 30's before I told my folks about it. So if any of you folks happen to find yourself in the water like I did remember to bathe with the taters, carrots are optional!
My friend and I would meet out on the lake i live on and walk the 3/4 mile through the woods to a small little lake we were trapping for beaver. As we walked to the along the creek that connected the two lakes we would check a few traps. As we got closer to the lake with the beaver the wind speed had picked up and it was dang cold. Being two young bucks full of life we continued on our way.
We always walking single file to keep our trail in the snow packed down. As I was bring up the rear I kept my head down and plodded on, every few minutes i would take a look at the shore to see how much father to the beaver damn. My partner was about 15 yards or so in front of me.
I could tell by the point we just passed we were about 40 yards from the damn when i heard and felt the ice cracking. I knew what was happening but it was too late. Before I could say anything I was under the ice in about 8 feet of water! I had on my back a small pack with a few traps and animals in it.
The first thing that went through my mind was they will find me in the spring! For some reason I was very calm as i looked around and all i could see was weeds, then I looked up. The ice bottom was very light colored but for the spot i went through, it was dark from the sun light reflecting off the ice. I knew that was MY hole.
As i was in sitting position on the bottom of the lake i stood up and reached for the hole. It was still about 2 feet above my hands, so I jumped!! I got hold of the ice and it broke again. I jumped again and got hold of stronger ice and pulled my head up out of the water and took a deep breath. AIR SWEET SWEET AIR! I let go of the ice with one hand and got my ice picks to where they would do me some good.
I still didn’t even know if my partner knew i was in the water. Using the picks I climbed out of the water and on top of the ice. It was then that i could see my friend running around by the shore looking for a long stick. I yell at him and i yelled. For some reason he didn’t hear me, might have been the wind I don’t know. So I yell again and he looked at me and said “SHUT UP I HAVE TO FIND A LONG STICK TO GET SCOTT OUT OF THE WATER!" I yelled "I am out get a fire going!!" He just looked at me.
We got to a somewhat wind sheltered spot and tried to get a fire going. Man i was getting very cold. Every time he lite a match the wind would blow and put it out. So after a few times we decided we better head out before I froze to death.
We start off. At this time we were about a mile from my house and it was getting colder. As we walked through the woods I kept saying how tired I was and that I needed to sit down and rest. My partner would yell and scream that if i sat down I would die so we plodded on.
We got to the shore of my lake and started across it. By now the only places not frozen was my crotch area and underarms. The wind was blowing harder and the temp was dropping fast.
When we got about half way across the lake I told my friend that I would be fine and for him to head home. He didn’t want to but I insisted, maybe i wasn’t thinking right anymore, as he still had another half mile walk home.
When I got home I could not get the door open as my parents had left to go see my sister and brother-in-law in the cities. Without being able to get my choppers off, they were frozen to the sleeves of my coat. All i could do was ram the door with my body. After about the 3rd time it opened. I was inside and the furnace was going!
I knew i had to get the frozen clothes off. So i stuck my hands in the toilet to thaw the choppers so i could get them off. With this done I got in the shower and turned it on with very cool water. As my clothes thawed they came off.
Then i remembered what and old guy told me. When this happens run a bath of cool water and put potatoes in the water just cut them into four pieces. He told me when a person is getting frostbite the skin loses potassium and taters are full of it and they will slow down the frostbite. So I did this and got in the tub with about 5 pounds of cut taters.
I really feel that they taters did help as I only got frostbite on my nose and cheeks. I was pretty young when this happened and i was afraid to tell my folks. But by the time they got home i had the door fixed and everything cleaned up and my wet clothes washed and dried.
It wasn’t till i was in my late 20's early 30's before I told my folks about it. So if any of you folks happen to find yourself in the water like I did remember to bathe with the taters, carrots are optional!