My thoughts go out the the family and friends of this young man. I can not even begin to think of what you are going through. What a tragic event. Stay strong and know that there are many of us out there thinking about you.

This is the link to a longer artcle about this tragic event.

http://www.fdlreporter.com/apps/pbcs.dll...

With Christmas vacation nearing an end, Eric headed out the evening of Tuesday, Dec. 30, with his sister and her husband to do something he loved best — snowmobiling. The trio took off across the familiar open fields of the farmland Eric's parents, Chris and Sharon Schumacher, own near Van Dyne.

On that last night of Eric's life — the night he died in a snowmobile crash — the wind was blowing something fierce across the rural countryside, said Doug Bilgo, conservation warden for the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources. As darkness descended, snowdrifts began to pile up, and visibility diminished.

"My guess is he got confused, got into a drainage ditch and when he came out on the other side, he hit a large piece of dirt that had been rolled up from plowing," Bilgo said.

Very good point, butthead. I guess I just assumed he was riding alone. I would hope that a 16 year old would not ride by himself. My thoughts are still with the family

he was riding by himself. no other snownobiles around.

I'll admit, I'm not a snowmobile jockey...but these comments about riding alone have me somewhat confused.
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The article doesn't say he was "riding alone."
Only that he was alone on HIS snowmobile.
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Care to clarify...gabby or went4milk?

oh yeah and gazette should use spellcheck before posting articles, its spelled snoWmobile, not snomobile.

How sad for this young man and his family. There have been 5 deaths on Snowmobiles already this season and it is not even the 1st of Jan. yet. This one is the youngest of all the Snowmobiles deaths this year. Maybe he forgot what he learned in his Snowmobile safety class about riding alone and the need for speed, or did he take the course?

I wouldnt necessarily say keep it slow and easy on trails, that can become more of a danger to other people who come up behind you on trails. I would say know your limitations and know the trails and I make it a rule not to ride alone.

I can't even imagine . I wish your family strenghth to deal with this . May your memories last forever . God Bless !

Never ever ride alone! My thoughts are with the family and friends.