Winter is just around the corner and it‘s time to enjoy winter outdoor activities.
If you want to experience beautiful winter landscapes while having a lot of fun, snowmobiling is the right activity for you.
You can try snowmobiling by yourself or with a partner.
There are lots of snowmobile clubs located all over the snowbelt area of USA. You can easily meet new friends at these clubs who are passionate about snowmobiling.
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Explore and enjoy
Snowmobiling can be quickly learned and doesn’t require any special physical preparations. Both day trips and night trips give you a taste of fun and enjoyment.
Day trips are exciting and offer you enough time to explore mountains and the wilderness.
Conquering hilltops and sliding turns can take your ordinary vacation to a whole new and exciting level.
Why should you choose snowmobiling?
You should try snowmobiling for many different reasons. Enjoying the beauties of nature on a nice snowy day with friends and family is just one of the reasons.
Some people have a different point of view and take snowmobiling more seriously – they enjoy this sport as part of a good exercise.
Although it may be challenging, snowmobiling is a lifestyle for many people. It’s a great escape from everyday routines and offers an exciting way of spending winter days more actively.
Snowmobiling can be a good reason for a family reunion and creating good memories. This fun outdoor activity can give an additional value to a weekend or a whole week spent with friends or loved ones.
You can go snowmobiling on your own if you want to be closer to nature and admire beautiful mountain trails. Snowmobiling can reduce tensions and help you relax. Moreover, it gives you the opportunity to spend your winter days actively, so a good night’s sleep is all but assured.
There are some places where only snowmobiles can take you to during winter, and that is a pretty rewarding experience in itself. Make sure your snowmobile is in good operating condition and get ready for a fun winter, full of many memorable rides!
Snowmobiling requires proper outfit
All of the winter outdoor activities require adequate clothing and snowmobiling is no exception. Due to the snowy, cold weather in the mountains, your snowmobiling outfit should have a hood, and it should be waterproof and windproof. If you want to keep yourself warm, you should wear layered clothes.
You can either choose a nice one-piece snowmobile suit, or a windproof winter jacket and pants to wear on top of your layered outfit. A good pair of snowmobile gloves will be necessary in order to operate the snowmobile. You need to make sure your hands are well protected from the cold wind.
Helmets are required at all times because they provide warmth and protection from collisions, tree branches and falls. You should also wear a snowmobile face mask and a wool cap. Make sure you have the right colored lenses/goggles for bright days, dark days or late afternoons.
Rubber-bottom boots are an essential part of proper snowmobile clothing. These tough winter sports boots can be leather-top or nylon-top boots. They provide necessary warmth and if you combine them with wool socks, you don’t have to worry about the temperature going down. Avoid loose clothing and long scarves for your safety.
Snowmobiling equipment for a joyful ride
You have a snowmobile and proper clothes, so you are ready for snowmobiling. However, you should make sure that you have the equipment you will need during your riding adventure. Your personal items kit should include your driver’s license, snowmobile certification card, medications, high energy food and some other items.
In case of emergency, you should have your safety equipment which includes a map, a compass, a flashlight and a fire starter. A GPS unit is helpful to have in emergency situations, as it provides your exact location. A small shovel will be very useful in case you get stuck somewhere in the snow. Always make sure you have a spare drive belt and spark plugs.
For basic maintenance and easy repairs, consider having a knife, pliers, electrical or duct tape, bungee cords and a tow rope. Your emergency first aid kit should consist of gauze, a roll of adhesive tape, a thermal blanket, alcohol wipes, antibiotic ointment and a knife or scissors. First aid and CPR courses are highly recommended.
Ride your snowmobile safely and responsibly
Enjoying the breathtaking beauty of snow-white woodlands, high in the mountains, while you are snowmobiling is one-of-a-kind experience, but it also calls for serious responsibility. You wouldn’t like to ruin the fun because of not taking it as seriously as you should.
As a snowmobile rider, you should get to know your machine’s capabilities and not force it. By reading manuals from manufacturers and snowmobile associations, you can get the necessary knowledge and keep your machine in optimal condition.
Don’t drink and ride – alcohol can quickly transform the enjoyable ride into a hazardous situation. Drinking does not mix well with snowmobiling and increases the risk of hypothermia. Although it may feel like it keeps you warm – it doesn’t. Alcohol lowers your body temperature and puts you in a risky situation out there in the mountains.
Every snowmobile rider should be very careful when crossing roads. Making a complete stop and making absolutely sure that there is no traffic approaching is essential. You can overcome most of the safety issues by carrying the right tool kit, spare parts and survival items, such as fire-starting equipment, a compass, etc.
Don’t underestimate the risk factors
As exciting as it is, snowmobiling involves certain risk factors. The faster and more impressive your machine is, the sooner you will want to test its limits. Always remember that pushing your machine to its top speed is not the fun part in snowmobiling.
When snowmobiling for a few hours, your reaction time gradually slows down, so you should always take a safe and permitted trail. Although you may not feel tired, machine vibrations and weather conditions may begin to dull your capacities. You should appreciate nature and animals, and not disturb them.
When riding at night, you need to estimate distances carefully and ride slowly, especially on large open fields, or by rivers and lakes. The most important snowmobiling rule is to never cross rivers or lakes because it is dangerous if you find yourself plunging through the ice.