Riding Your Snowmobile

Maneuvering on Different Terrains

Learning to read and anticipate snow conditions and the terrain ahead is crucial. Each type of terrain offers different challenges.

Deep, Loosely Packed Snow

• Snowmobiles sink deeper and don’t produce as much traction.
• If you’re on deep, loose snow, make a wide turn and move to harder-packed snow.
• Remember, deep snow may hide obstacles or other hazards.

Hard-Packed Snow Drifts

• After the wind blows snow into drifts and the snow hardens, it may conceal bumps and dips.
• Back injuries can result from riding over these drifts, especially at high speeds.
• When you are approaching a drift, reduce your speed and be alert.

Ice

• Ice presents many of the same handling problems as riding on pavement. Also, spins are common and fast stops are impossible.
• Maintain a slow, steady speed. Don’t speed up or apply the brakes abruptly.
• To stop safely, release the throttle and coast to a stop.

Frozen Bodies of Water

Do not ride on frozen rivers and lakes if you can avoid it, but if you must:

• Scout ahead.
  • Go to as high an area of elevation above the lake as possible and use binoculars to look for dark spots on the ice. This indicates slush, water, or deteriorating ice. Do not attempt to cross this ice.
  • Watch for rivulets flowing on the ice or streams flowing under it. Even when the surface looks solid, a current under the ice causes erosion from below. Ice over a flowing river is at least 15% weaker than ice over a lake.
• If you’re in a group, avoid crossing in single file. If the group leader falls through, riders in single file may not be able to stop or maneuver the snowmobile quickly enough to keep from following the leader through the ice.