HANCOCK – The first snowmobile through the Portage Lake Shipping Canal of the winter occurred this morning.

About 10 a.m., a snowmobile ridden by a Wisconsin man fell partway through the ice about 50 to 60 yards from shore near the Canal Crossings condominiums in Hancock. The rider walked to shore and refused medical treatment, said Hancock Police Chief Wayne Butler.

Several organizations were working to pull the sled out of the canal Friday morning.

“At this point, it’s more of a civil issue, getting it out of there,” Butler said.

Butler said snowmobilers need to be mindful of the conditions.

“With the temperatures we’ve had and the currents under the ice, it’s probably not the best idea to be snowmobiling on the ice,” he said.

For more information, read Saturday’s Daily Mining Gazette.