Staying Safe On Your Snowmobile

With the temperature rapidly dropping here in the Midwest, many of us will start pulling out our snowmobiles, either for fun or for transport. Make sure you’re taking all the proper safety precautions every time you go out. Here at 2Brothers Powersports, we’ve provided some of the basics of snowmobile safety so you know exactly what to do and what to expect when you’re out on the trails or off the beaten path.

Clothing & Equipment

Everytime you go out on your snowmobile, make sure you’re wearing full protective gear, whether you’re going out for a few hours or a few minutes. The winter weather in the Midwest is particularly harsh and even a few moments outside without the right clothes can be extremely unpleasant.

Start With Layers

Layers will help keep you insulated and still allow you to cool off when you need without baring your skin. 

1. The first layer should be long underwear with a long sleeve shirt and then a vest. 
2. You’ll also want snow pants over your normal clothes, snow boots, and some sort of hand protection (gloves will give you more dexterity but mittens provide more warmth so consider your activities for the day).
3. Then you’ll want to have a thick, waterproof jacket. 
4. On top of wearing the right clothes, you’ll want to be wearing a helmet. Don’t rely on the soft snow to cushion any falls you may have. 
5. You’ll also want to make sure your eyes are protected, like with goggles. Try to find a pair that comes with anti-fog coating and UV light protection.

Basic Tools & Equipment

Make sure your snowmobile always has a few basic tools to help with any minor repairs you might run into while you’re out and about. Your toolkit should include these relatively small, but useful tools when you’re in a pinch:

• A medium-sized Phillips-head screwdriver
• A crescent wrench
• An Allen wrench

And make sure you bring plenty of drinking water. Hydration is incredibly important, and we wouldn’t recommend relying on the snow.

Be Smart

While there are lots of tips and tricks we could write out here, most of them boil down to proactively using common sense.

1. Check the forecast to make sure weather conditions won’t make a sharp turn for the worse while you’re out.
2. Let someone know where you’re going to be so if you need to be rescued, there’s less searching involved.
3. Never ride under the influence of alcohol, recreational drugs, or any prescriptions that are unsafe to use while operating heavy machinery (ask your doctor about your medication if you’re unsure).

Watch the Ice

We always recommend avoiding it as much as you possibly can. However, if you go snowmobiling often enough, you’ll probably run into an icy patch at some point. Make sure you’re being smart on ice. Try to use established trails where you know the ice is thick enough to hold you up. And remember, if you find yourself maneuvering through ice that’s over a body of water that ice on the edges forms faster and thicker than ice in the center. Don’t risk traveling over ice if the temperature has been warming up, even if it means backtracking.

Ice Breakthroughs

Unfortunately, many people still fall through the ice every year, so it’s important to know what to do in that scenario. 

1. First and foremost, try to remain calm and abandon your snowmobile. 
2. When you break through the surface again, kick your legs out horizontally to reach the nearest ice ledge. DON’T TREAD WATER. Place both hands on the ice ledge and pull yourself up one leg at a time, but don’t stand up. Putting too much pressure on one spot could lead to another breakthrough. Keep your weight distributed and make your way to solid ground. 
3. When you’re in a safe spot, remove your clothes and perform calisthenics (push-ups, squats, jumping jacks) to get blood pumping and increase your body temperature. 
4. Make a fire to warm you up as soon as possible. Whatever you do, don’t sit in cold, wet clothes.

In Closing

Safety is important, so you don’t want to shirk off on preparing properly for each and every ride, but don’t let the things that could happen keep you from enjoying your time out on your snowmobile. Snowmobiling is fun and exciting so take full advantage of every outing you get. If you’re in the market for a new or used snowmobile, stop by 2Brothers Powersports in Onalaska, Wisconsin. We proudly serve the areas of La Crosse, Eau Claire, and Madison, Wisconsin, as well as Winona, Minnesota and Dubuque, Iowa.