Woman, Man Die in Separate Winter Sports Activities

A 63-year-old woman from Mankato and a 60-year-old man from Wisconsin died in northern Minnesota over the weekend in separate winter sports-related activities. Each occurred in Cook County and is still under investigation.

The woman from Mankato, identified as Lisa Schmitz by the Duluth News-Tribune, was administered CPR by first responders after a snowmobile crash on the North Shore State Trail near the town of Schroeder, which is close to Grand Marais. Lifesaving attempts continued for nearly an hour until a doctor at North Shore Health advised that those efforts had failed.

The woman was wearing a helmet. The report did not indicate that she was with anyone else. The Cook County Sheriff's Office will investigate and an autopsy will reportedly take place. The accident occurred Sunday morning.

Cook County was also the location of a gruesome discovery Saturday. A missing Wisconsin man who had gone skiing was found dead in the Pincushion Ski Area. A search began after authorities were alerted that he was overdue. Authorities reported no signs of trauma according to the Duluth News Tribune, and an autopsy will be performed on him as well.

Responding agencies for each incident included the US Forest Service Law Enforcement, North Shore Health Ambulance, and Cook County Search and Rescue.