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

I ce can always be dangerous because of changing conditions and inconsistencies in its thickness, particularly when there is running water beneath it.The safest snow mobiling rule is to never cross lakes or riv ers since ice thickness to support a snow mobile 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 con trolling your machine. A snowmobile can be extremely hard to control on ice without additional traction devices; consequently fast stops are impossible and spinouts far too common on bare ice. Avoid heavy braking to stop; instead let up on the throt tle 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 obstruc tions. Realize that if you can ride and turn in any direction while operating on a lake,

so can other riders, so the threat of a col lision 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 fish ing can be encountered unexpectedly and change from day to day. Never trust the judgment of other snow mobilers by simply following their snow mobile tracks across ice. You are responsi ble 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) • Ice that has thawed and refrozen • Layered or ‘rotten’ ice caused by sud den 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 guide

lines, which apply only to new clear hard ice: Getting Out ifYou FallThrough Drowning is a leading cause of snow mobiling fatalities. If you ride on ice often, 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 for ward in front of you and onto the unbroken ice surface in an attempt to catch yourself. Kick your feet to help propel you onto the ice, like a seal. If the ice keeps break ing, 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.

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