Pennsylvania Couple Dies in Moosehead Lake
March 24, 2009
A Pennsylvania couple that left a Greenville area hotel on Thursday morning for a snowmobile ride was found this afternoon in Moosehead Lake, according to the Maine Warden Service.
Clifford Achenbach, 41, and Denise Achenbach, 42, from Pen Argyl, Pa., left the Moose Mountain Inn in Moosehead Junction Township, north of Greenville, on Thursday, March 16, to ride on trails north of the town, and told a hotel attendant they were going “exploring” Maine’s outdoors.
The couple was located at approximately 12:45 p.m. today (March 23, 2009) on Moosehead Lake above the East Outlet dam by a Maine Forest Service helicopter that was manned by MFS Forest Ranger Pilots Shawn Rogers and Lincoln Mazzei and MWS Sgt. Bill Chandler and Game Warden Mike Morrison.
Mr. and Mrs. Achenbach were recovered from Moosehead Lake shortly before 4 p.m., and transported to Crosby Funeral Home in Guilford, where they will be evaluated Tuesday morning.
The Achenbachs’ family was notified of the deaths when it arrived in Greenville from Pennsylvania after 4 p.m. today. Maine Warden Service Chaplain Kate Braestrup was available to help the family.
The Achenbachs had checked into the Moose Mountain Inn on March 16, and planned to stay until Saturday, March 21. Earlier in the week, Mr. Achenbach told a hotel worker that the couple had ridden to Pittston Farm and Northeast Carry.
The Maine Warden Service received the missing persons report at 7:30 a.m. today, March 23, 2009. Family members in Pennsylvania, concerned that the couple had not arrived home over the weekend, called the Piscataquis County Sheriff’s Office, which notified the Maine Warden Service.
Fifteen Game Wardens and two MWS aircraft searched for the couple. The Maine Forest Service assisted in the search with its helicopter because that aircraft is able to position itself closer to bodies of water.
The area where the couple was located today has been the scene of snowmobile-related fatalities in the past, according to MWS Lt. Pat Dorian. Open water and thin ice are normal conditions here as the water is continuously moving due to the following reasons: Moosehead Lake feeds into the East Outlet of the Kennebec River, creating headwaters; and as winter progresses, water is drawn down to feed the Dam at East Outlet, a hydroelectric generator. If a snowmobiler is unfamiliar with the area, they could encounter thin ice or open water as close to a quarter-mile before the dam.
Some of the fatalities have occurred at night, according to Lt. Dorian. Snowmobilers are drawn to the lights on the dam and at sporting camps on the other side of the dam. Sledders focused on heading towards the lights to get off of the lake may have believed they would be traveling on solid ice towards shore, only to encounter thin ice or open water, the Lieutenant said.
The time of the Achenbachs’ deaths is not known, according to Lt. Dorian.
Eight people have died in snowmobile-related incidents this season, which began mid-December 2008.
Photo courtesy of Maine Warden Service
The bodies of Clifford and Denise Achenbach of Pen Argyl, Pa., were located and recovered from Moosehead Lake near the East Outlet dam on Monday afternoon, March 23, 2009. (To the right is Route 15. Near the top of the photo you can see the East Outlet dam.)
Photo courtesy of Maine Warden Service
Maine Warden Service Game Wardens travel by airboat during recovery mission on Moosehead Lake.
Photo courtesy of Maine Warden Service
Maine Warden Service Game Wardens Mike Favreau, Dan Carroll and Eric Dauphinee begin the recovery of Clifford and Denise Achenbach of Pen Argyl, Penn.
Tom Remington
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Very, very sad. I have two very close friends that did the same thing two years ago in Belgrade. Fortunately they survived. How about some permanant bouys placed in the summer and left year round. Bouys that say danger thin ice, dam ahead or something that can warn folks in the winter time that the area has currents and is subject to thin ice. Hell we do it for rocks in the summer. Let’s put up some warnings for winter dangers.
You know Roger, as I was posting this story I was thinking something along those lines. I’m not familiar exactly with this area but from the story retelling all of the incidents that have occurred at this spot, isn’t it time to try to do something?
article states;
The area where the couple was located today has been the scene of snowmobile-related fatalities in the past, according to MWS Lt. Pat Dorian. Open water and thin ice are normal conditions here as the water is continuously moving due to the following reasons: Moosehead Lake feeds into the East Outlet of the Kennebec River, creating headwaters; and as winter progresses, water is drawn down to feed the Dam at East Outlet, a hydroelectric generator. If a snowmobiler is unfamiliar with the area, they could encounter thin ice or open water as close to a quarter-mile before the dam.
I ask;
“what does the state of Maine, the snowmobile trail system, local snowmobile clubs,local hotels and business do to let people know that this lake is basically unsafe at all times of the year? are there signs letting people know what you state ?
“Open water and thin ice are normal conditions here as the water is continuously moving due to the following reasons: Moosehead Lake feeds into the East Outlet of the Kennebec River, creating headwaters; and as winter progresses, water is drawn down to feed the Dam at East Outlet, a hydroelectric generator. If a snowmobiler is unfamiliar with the area, they could encounter thin ice or open water as close to a quarter-mile before the dam.”
lakes with hydro generators
Chris, to answer your question of ““what does the state of Maine, the snowmobile trail system, local snowmobile clubs,local hotels and business do to let people know that this lake is basically unsafe at all times of the year? are there signs letting people know what you state ?”
The state/snowmobile clubs/businesses do let snowmobilers know the dangers of this lake. In fact they have marked trails on the lake where the ice is known to be safe. These trails cut across the lake down in Greenville Cove and also from Rockwood to Kineo. They are well marked with wooden posts and have reflectors on them making them visible at night. It is posted in most every gas station, website, and places to stay in the region that you should stay on the marked trails across the lake. Sure the locals may know better which areas of the lake are safe and they may chose to ride off the marked trail, but as someone who only goes up there once a year to ride I can tell you that I don’t venture more than a few feet from those markers. There are too many trouble areas on that lake to take any chances otherwise and I think the businesses/clubs/state have done a pretty good job making that known. Most lakes don’t have any marked trails on them. I feel safer crossing Moosehead than a lot of other lakes and ponds because it is marked, but the key to that is of course to stay on the marked trail. Unfortunately accidents like this come with the territory. Anytime you set out on a frozen body of water you assume all the risks involved. This was an unfortunate accident, no doubt, but I just wanted to make it clear that the clubs/state/business do a lot to try and keep everybody safe. After all they have a vested interest in keeping snowmobilers safe as they bring a lot of money to the region.