"What Not To Do" or "This Would Make a Good Reader's Digest Story"

Matt and I are truly enjoying being out in Trapper Creek, and have been doing extensive four-wheeling to ensure that we know the main trail systems. The approximately 45 miles we covered in a couple of days helped us get to understand our new surroundings better and allowed us to find sufficient trail for the beginning of sledding season.
We are still waiting on snow, but at least everything in Trapper Creek is frozen pretty solid. Big Lake, on the other hand, has a couple of inches of snow that has kept the ground insulated from freezing, which is a very dangerous thing in these lowland areas.
I'm spending a couple of days here in Big Lake, helping out my buddy, Critter, and we too decided to go trail marking. Martin warmed up the snowmachine and we hooked up a dogsled by a rope to haul Critter, myself and all the tools, including two freshly filled chainsaws, Martin's favorite spudbar, a rope, a prybar, 3 shovels and trail markers. Martin was also sure to remind us to put a pair of extra mittens into a plywood box on the sled because "they'll stay dry the longest." Ok. This didn't alarm me. Martin then inquired if I was a good swimmer. Oh yeah. (I thought he was kidding, still no alarm.)
And off we went! It was great... for about a half a mile. We cruised on out of the dogyard out onto a lovely little lake, where we we successfully made it about 3/4 of the way across. Critter started bragging that if we went down into the lake he would have the easiest time jumping off, and not 5 seconds later, the snowmachine proceeded to drive / sink into what we later determined was about 10-15 feet of water and muck.
Critter had the easiest time getting out, although soaked to his neck, and scrambled out onto the ice we had come in on. I dove to the side and got about 3/4 wet while the sled sank from under me. Martin was to my right, in the same boat as me, both of us trying to work our way onto good ice, while literally floundering on ever breaking ice. We both successfully found good ice and were able to crawl out, followed by a big sigh of relief. Then Martin broke through again. His parka was so heavy with water that none of the ice would hold him. He shouted to Critter to get the rope, which brought the response from behind me of "Uh, I think it's in the sled." Well, we determined that wasn't an option. We then went for the hands on approach. Critter and I shimmied over on our stomachs and both helped pull Martin out. This time we all spread out and made it back to the good ice safely, although vehicle-less. "I guess the ice wasn't good enough yet." One of us said it, although I can't remember who.
We thankfully were all in good spirits and no worse for the wear. After drying off and warming up with a few cups of coffee in the house, we went for round two. (On Foot!) Martin succeeded in putting some posts into the ice around where the machine and sled went in. These will freeze and will be good winching posts. He also was able to hook onto something with a snowhook. Apparently we are going back out tomorrow to try to pull it out.
The incident was a good learning experience, and also raised some very pointed and interesting questions, such as:
1. If Critter were to dive in to find the sled, would it be better for him to be wearing a speedo or heavy duty winter gear?
2. Would Reader's Digest publish this story if we all drowned?
3. Will any one steal the items in the tow sled?
4. How many times has Martin done this? (He really didn't seem all that upset and knew just how to go about recovering the machine... )
5. Are the mittens in the plywood box still dry?

Well, tomorrow I'll bring the camera, and hope it doesn't go for a swim!