Snowmobiling Safety

When I was 10 years old, my family took a trip to Island Park in Idaho. My aunt and uncle, who were also there, owned four snowmobiles. I had never been snowmobiling before, so my cousin made sure I knew all the dangers of riding in the backcountry. He first told me a story about a snowmobiler who lost his head because he didn’t see a line of barbed wire fencing and ran into it going full speed. Then he told me about the rider who disappeared down an icy crevasse and was never seen again. He told me story after story, and with each horror story I wanted to go snowmobiling less and less.
I eventually did go snowmobiling, but I was so preoccupied with watching out for barbed wire and icy crevasses that I didn’t enjoy it all that much. I was riding with my dad and he constantly said stuff like, “Isn’t it beautiful out here, Gabe? It’s so quiet!” All I could think in response was, “Yeah, it’s quiet because everybody who comes out here gets their heads chopped off and falls down icy pits of death.”
At one point we reached a huge clearing and my dad allowed me to ride the snowmobile all by myself. Driving the machine solo gave me a sense of freedom and I began to enjoy myself and I started thinking, “It is beautiful out here. I could ride around forever.” And that’s when the crevasse appeared. My snowmobile dipped down and it took everything I had to jump backward off the machine to save myself from the abyss. I didn’t even think about jumping, I just went into instinct mode.
I landed on my back in the snow, my helmet protecting my head from cracking on the ground. Knowing I was safe for now, my thoughts turned to the snowmobile. “Oh no,” I thought, “a really expensive piece of machinery just went down a hole in the earth!” I quickly sat up and was confused with what I saw. The snowmobile was still above ground. It hadn’t been swallowed whole. But it was also still moving forward at a rapid pace.
I stood up to begin running after it, then I remembered the crevasse. Somehow the snowmobile had cleared the void, but I would have to run around it. I looked for a route around the crevasse, but in order to run around it, I would have to find it. As I searched for the pit that had appeared moments earlier, I found nothing. There was a slight dip in the snow right where the crevasse had materialized, but it didn’t look life threatening, so I hopped over it and began chasing the runaway snowmobile.
As a 10 year old I was a pretty fast runner, at least faster than most everyone in my class at school, but I didn’t think I could catch a snowmobile going 25-30 miles per hour. But I had to try. I was shocked and amazed when I realized I was gaining on it. And then its engine quit and it came to a complete stop. That’s when I looked down and saw the ignition key dangling from my wrist on a rope. Gotta love kill switches.
In addition to watching out for barbed wire at your neckline and crevasses (hey, you never know), you should be aware of a few other dangers while snowmobiling. Snowmobiles give you access to areas of the backcountry that are potentially very hazardous. Avalanches claim the lives of more snowmobilers every year than skiers, snowboarders and snowshoers. Utah State Parks recommends that snowmobilers never ride alone and that they wear an avalanche beacon and carry a shovel and probe. You can get current avalanche conditions by calling 1-800-OHV-RIDE.
Utah State Parks also recommends taking along extra maintenance gear, such as spark plugs, drive belts, a tool kit and a survival kit with a map, compass, flashlight, extra food, extra clothing, sunglasses, first aid kit, pocket knife, waterproof matches, and candles or fire starters. Watch your fuel supply carefully. The backcountry is not a place where you want to be stranded. A car isn’t going to pass by every hour or so. You may see an animal, but animals will either eat you or not help at all.
Wear a helmet, don’t drink and drive and make sure you dress appropriately. Believe it or not, shorts and a tank top are not appropriate snowmobiling clothing. Stay safe in the backcountry and avoid snowmobiling where you’re unsure of your safety. And watch out for those crevasses!