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Avoid trails with inadequate
snow cover.
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When climbing a hill, approach
the summit with caution.
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Do not ride off cornices.
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Avoid riding on frozen waterways
when possible.
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When approaching a corner, reduce
your speed to avoid sliding.
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Lean
into turns with your upper body to enhance the sled’s maneuverability.
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Cross roadways at a 90-degree
angle.
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Pump your brake when going downhill
to avoid locking the brakes.
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Be aware of unmarked hazards
or obstacles hidden beneath the snow.
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Travel at reasonable speeds.
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When riding at night, use extra
caution. Wear reflective clothing and reduce your speed.
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Do not accommodate extra riders
over the delineated limit.
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Comply with signs and barriers.
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Buddy up with two or three riders
as riding solo can leave you vulnerable if you have an accident or
breakdown.
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Avoid riding in potential avalanche
areas. Use terrain to your advantage, avoiding steep slopes, cornices,
and gullies or depressions; periodically check for clues to an unstable
snowpack. Remember, one rider at a time on slopes.
Respect the rights of others including
private property owners and all recreational trail users, campers and
others to allow them to enjoy their recreational activities undisturbed.
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Be considerate of others on the
trail.
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Ride single file, keep to the
right and pass on the left only when the trail is clear.
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When stopping on the trail, pull
your sled as far right and off the trail as possible.
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Yield the right-of-way to skiers,
snowshoers and those passing or traveling uphill.
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Use common snowmobiling signals
to communicate with your group and other riders.
- If crossing private property, be sure to ask
permission from the landowner(s).
Educate yourself by
obtaining travel maps and regulations from public agencies, planning
for your trip, taking recreation skills classes, and knowing how
to use and operate your equipment safely.
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Obtain a map of your destination
and determine which areas are open to snowmobiles. Make a realistic
plan, and stick to it. Always tell someone of your travel plans.
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Contact the land manager for
area restrictions, closures, and permit requirements.
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Always check the weather forecast
and avalanche conditions.
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Understand how to operate your
vehicle and its controls.
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Prepare for the unexpected by
packing a small backpack full of emergency items.
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Wear a helmet, eye protection,
and other safety gear.
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Layer clothing and wear a durable
waterproof outer shell and footwear.
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If you suffer a breakdown, stay
with your sled, and stay on the trail.
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Make sure your snowmobile is
mechanically up to task. Be prepared with tools, supplies, spares
and a spill kit for trailside repairs.
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Take an avalanche class. It provides
skills on accessing snow conditions, performing rescues and using
safety equipment.
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An avalanche transceiver, shovel,
and probe should be worn on your body at all times.
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f a person develops hypothermia,
warm the person up by rubbing them vigorously and getting them into dry
clothes. Give them warm non-alcoholic liquids.
Avoid sensitive areas such
as meadows, lakeshores, wetlands and streams, unless on designated routes.
This protects wildlife habitat and sensitive soils from damage.
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Low snow,
don’t
go. Riding in these conditions can damage plants and soils just below
the snows
surface.
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Avoid disturbing historical,
archeological, and paleontological sites
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Be respectful
of wildlife’s
wintering habitats.
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Avoid “spooking” livestock
and wildlife and keep your distance.
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Motorized and mechanized vehicles
are not allowed in areas designated Wilderness.
Do your part by
leaving the area better than you found it, properly disposing of
waste, minimizing the use of fire, avoiding the spread of invasive
species, restoring degraded areas, and joining a local enthusiast
organization.
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Carry a trash bag on your snowmobile
and pick up litter left by others.
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Pack out what you pack in.
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Dispose of all sanitary waste
properly by packing it out or bury it in a shallow hole in the snow.
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To minimize harmful emissions,
keep your engine in tune.
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Protect the soundscape by preventing
unnecessary noise created by a poorly tuned vehicle or revving your
engine without need.
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Don’t
mix riding with alcohol or drugs
