8236-R1_MSA_January2023

Know BeforeYou Go! – Always Check Local Ice Conditions Provided by The International Snowmobile Manufacturers Association

I c e can always be dangerous because of changing conditions and inconsis tencies in its thickness, particularly when there is running water beneath it. The safest snowmobiling rule is to never cross lakes or rivers since ice

consider wearing a buoyant floatation snowmobile suit. It is also a good idea to wear a set of commercial ice picks, which have spring-loaded sleeves that cover the points and are attached to a cord so they can be threaded through the sleeves of your jacket. If you fall through the ice, stay calm. Realize that air trapped inside your snow mobile suit (even a non-buoyant one) and helmet may help keep you afloat for sev eral minutes. Extend your arms out forward in front of you and onto the unbroken

thickness to support a snowmobile can never be guaranteed. Never venture onto lakes or rivers unless you are absolutely certain of a safe route across the frozen surface. In addition to the danger of plunging through thin ice, you have far less traction for starting, turning, and stopping on ice. Always use extreme caution and travel at lower speeds when riding on ice. Remain seated on the snowmobile to help keep the center of gravity low and to aid in controlling your machine. A snowmobile can be extremely hard to control on ice without additional traction devices; conse quently fast stops are impossible and spinouts far too common on bare ice. Avoid heavy braking to stop; instead let up on the throttle allowing the machine to slowly coast to a stop. Snowmobile collisions on lakes account for a significant number of crashes because riders often wrongly assume lakes are flat, wide open areas, totally free of obstructions. Realize that if you can ride and turn in any direction while operat ing on a lake, so can other riders, so the threat of a collision can come from any direction at any time. Additionally, lakes are not always free of obstructions since ice heaves, slush pockets, or frozen mounds from ice fishing can be encountered unexpectedly and change from day to day. Never trust the judgment of other snowmobilers by simply following their snow mobile tracks across ice. You are responsible for your own safety so, if you choose to ride across ice, be absolutely certain the ice is safely frozen by testing the ice thickness. It is critical to evaluate the ice quality and type before traveling out onto it. New ice that is clear and hard is the only kind of ice recommended for travel. Always avoid: • Slushy ice • Ice on or near moving water (i.e. rivers, currents, channels) • ce that has thawed and refrozen • Layered or ‘rotten’ ice caused by sudden temperature changes • Other risk factors that weaken or ‘rot’ ice are: • Snow on ice that acts as an insulating blanket that prevents hardening • Pressure ridges in the ice due to wind, current, or ice pressure • Know and follow safe ice thickness guidelines, which apply only to new clear hard ice:

ice surface in an attempt to catch your self. Kick your feet to help propel you onto the ice, like a seal. If the ice keeps breaking, continue kicking and trying to move toward shore or the direction from which you came. Use anything sharp like ice picks, keys, or a knife to dig into the ice to help pull you forward. Don’t remove your gloves or mitts. Once you are on the ice, crawl or roll away from the hole. Do not attempt to stand up until you are well away from the hole.

Getting Out if You Fall Through Drowning is a leading cause of snowmobiling fatalities. If you ride on ice often,

Club Spotlight – Northern Region Limestone Snow Hawks Club, Limestone, Maine By Kimberly King

S tarting as early as the 1960’s Lime stone has had a snowmobile club; and while the name, clubhouse location and way we groom has changed, a few things remain the same – the member’s love of the outdoors, the comradery of being part of a club and the shared love of snowmobiling. The club was originally known as the Loring Sno-Hawks Snowmobile Club until the early 1980’s when the name was changed to Limestone Snow Hawks, Inc. After the Loring Airforce base closure in 1994, membership dropped and many

2-5, 2023. If you haven’t ridden in the County, you haven’t ridden on some of the best-groomed trails Maine has to offer snowmobile enthusiasts---we look forward to seeing you!

changes happened in the community. In 1999, Phil St. Peter became the president of the Limestone Snow Hawks and under his leadership built the present-day clubhouse and the groomer shed. Over the course of the next 20 years Phil, his wife Lisa, and his sister Karen along with other volunteers kept the Limestone Snow Hawks trails groomed, held fundraisers and organized rides. In October of 2019, Chris King was elected president of the Club and has since seen some changes including increased membership, trail modifications and a new groomer. Two of the most popular trails of the 39 miles of groomed trails, are the Bor der Trail and the Runway Loop. The Border Trail, ITS 81, runs along the Canadian bor der of New Brunswick. The trail the locals call the Runway Loop, which is officially the 100B, was developed in 2020 as a result of Club Officials listening to input from members and local riders. The Snow Hawks will be hosting a New Rider Clinic scheduled for February 18, 2023 from 9am -12pm and will be actively participating in the Snow Bowl occurring March

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