Snowmobiling is a great winter activity, but it is not without risk. With the right training, proper gear, and a healthy dose of common sense, you can manage the risk and have a safe, fun experience.
Here are five tips for snowmobile safety.
Though riding a snowmobile is relatively simple compared to driving a car or riding a motorcycle, it still requires some specific knowledge and training to be safe. In the best of all worlds, all riders would complete a training and safety course before they head out on the trail. At the very least, you should read your snowmobile’s owner’s manual to understand safe operation, and take an online snowmobile education course for safety and enjoyment tips. In my home state, Michigan, the Department of Natural Resources posts a free study guide for an online course. If you’re a resident of Michigan, you can take the tests after studying the guide and get a completion document for $29.50. Michigan riders between the ages of 12 and 16 must pass this online test before they can operate a snowmobile on their own on public lands in the state. Check your home state for local laws and resources.
If you’re properly dressed, riding a snowmobile is fun and exciting. If you wear the wrong gear, it can be a miserable, possibly life-threatening experience – so pay close attention to what you wear. You don’t necessarily need to invest in snowmobile-specific gear in order to ride safely and comfortably, but if you ride often, you’ll probably want to. The basics: Start with a good base layer. Traditional waffle-stitch long underwear is great, but a thinner high-tech base layer will be more comfortable and effective. Add layers of athletic wear, and a comfortable, close-fitting wind-proof winter jacket as your outer layer. You’ll probably wind up shedding a layer as the day warms up, and as your body heats up from activity, but it’s better to have too many layers than not enough. Don’t forget your legs and feet – insulated boots and winter socks are essential, and snowmobiling pants or ski pants will be welcome. I like to ride in winter overalls, which really help to tame those nasty drafts. And, of course, a really good pair of waterproof winter gloves with gauntlets that cover the ends of your jacket sleeves are a must. Bonus points for electrically heated gloves, which some consider a luxury (but I consider a necessity).
I can’t emphasize this enough: Always wear a full-face helmet with eye protection when you ride a snowmobile. Even though you will be unlikely to approach the same speeds that you attain on a street motorcycle, falling from a snowmobile can be treacherous. And if you’re riding with others, there’s the additional peril of thrown objects. Snowmobile tracks sometimes dig through the snow and send sticks, rocks and other debris in their wake at high velocity. Only a full-face helmet with eye protection provides an acceptable level of safety. A motorcycle helmet or motocross helmet can work, but a snowmobile-specific helmet will be better in the long run, mostly for comfort and warmth.
Until you have a good amount of experience on a snowmobile and in your riding environment, it’s a good idea to travel with a buddy or group of buddies with riding experience. The best snowmobiling trails are often in remote areas where cellphone coverage is spotty at best. If you encounter mechanical problems or have an accident, a solo ride can quickly turn into a desperate situation. If you must ride by yourself, be sure to bring emergency supplies and some basic tools with you. Follow smart rules like you would if you were going on a solo hike: Tell someone where and where you’re going and when you plan to return, and check in before you leave and when you get back.
Cutting through fresh powder is very tempting, and in the right situation, it can be a lot of fun. But if you’re riding on public lands, you must stick to marked trails. This is not just the Man trying to control you. It’s for your safety, and for the continued preservation of the riding environment. Snowmobiles can be quite invasive to nature, both with their tracks and with their sound. The authorities have designated trails that balance your desire to have fun on your snowmobile with the greater good, and sometimes that has to do with your safety as well. Snow can conceal many dangers, like deep ravines and big boulders, that you don’t want to encounter at a high rate of speed. If you follow a marked trail, you’re less likely to find these dangerous obstacles – though you still have to use common sense and your best riding abilities. Another tempting sorceress is a frozen body of water. The best advice is to avoid riding across frozen surfaces, but if you do brave a lake crossing, make sure that the ice is at least six inches thick, and stay at least 100 feet away from fishing shacks, docks and skaters.
With a little education and preparation, and a good dose of common sense, snowmobiling can be a safe activity for everyone.