9269-R1_MSA_February2026_Newsletter

SAFETY, SAFETY, SAFETY

Once on the trail people forget the importance of fol lowing the posted trail signs just to enjoy that open field of untouched snow.That open field is posted for a reason. The land owner has graciously allowed access to their land and deserve the respect to follow the rules. Without the land owner’s permission our trails do not exist. You have no idea what might be in that field buried in the snow, like a rock, a stump, a stone wall or foundation, a collapsed build ing, the field may have been reseeded before the snow for the spring crops, etc. Snow mobile club volunteers work way too hard and long hours, to provide a safe sledding experience for all to enjoy. Not just for the reckless aban don that a few seem to think they are entitled to. The sig nage on the trails should be adhered to and not following them can lose precious trails to the sport. When on the trail remem ber to ride at an appropriate speed for your skill and sled. Remember that you don’t know who or what is over the next hill or around the next bend. What if some kid who’s just learning their sled is cau tiously going around a corner and you rip around at a high speed on the opposite side of the trail. That kid has no idea what to do and no way to react. Everyone is out there to have fun and get home safely.

to happen the sledder, who was already as far right as possible and going carefully around the corner, went off the edge of the trail and was missed by inches. The rider behind them was also just missed by inches. The person who was in the wrong did not stop to check on the situation, they just kept on going. The sledder who was now off the trail had to have the others in their party spend 45 minutes helping them dig out and get back onto the trail, while hav ing other riders going by in both directions (none of which stopped to help). Fortunately, one member of the party knew how to get the sled back on the trail and someone had a rope to help pull the sled back on the trail. This brings up the topic of what should you have for basic gear on your sled every trip. Basics like: a tow rope, an emergency shovel (foldable), flashlight and extra batteries, a cell phone charging brick and cord, a paper map of the trails you’re riding, hot hands and an emergency blanket, extra helmet cords, a small bottle of ibuprofen (packed in cotton so not to bounce and pulverize tabs), and a small basic first aid kit with multi-sized Band Aids, safety flares or collaps ible triangles. If planning a long trip, it’s a good thing to have a trip itinerary to leave on your vehicle when you left the park-n-ride and when you plan to return and the planned route you are taking. Also, a good thing to take a spare gas can in case of miscalculated miles or trail conditions.

attempt to find the issue on the trail (no obvious sign to what was wrong), a member of the party was able to dis connect the drive belt so the broken sled could be towed off the trail. Luckily the party was only seven miles from where they were staying and some one had a rope to tow the bro ken sled.This party never saw another sled on the trail when this happened. Lucky for them in away because the broken sled was in the middle of the trail at a blind intersection. If someone coming along at a high speed and came into that intersection that could have been devastating. As mentioned earlier, what do you do if you come across a fellow sledder broken down on the trail? Do you have any thing that may be able to get them safely off? What would you do if you came across a sledder who lost both bogey wheels and their track was shredded on the track frame? Would you stop and check on them or just keep going? This poor guy was not from the area and lost both his bogey wheels at the same time. The pair of sledders who chanced by him stopped and were able to assist by having the num ber to Fort Kent Powersports and were able to ride back to the last road crossing and get the name of the road and the town. With that informa tion, the ones who stopped to help were able to get the con tact information of a recovery business and get this guy to safety and get his sled taken care of. During this 2–3-hour situation everyone became friends. The guy who broke down was so grateful for the pair that stopped. His girl friend was ahead of him and got down the trail a long way before realizing he was not behind her. She finally turned around and came back and by that time the pair who had stopped had already gotten everything going to get him safely off the trail. A special thank you to The Sled Shed for coming out for the rescue. Without their assistance it would have been much harder to get this poor guy to safety.

This subject can never be talked about enough. There are so many things to keep in mind when getting ready to ride as well as when on the trails. We all think about: Where am I going to ride? What time am I going to go out? Am I going with someone or meeting someone there? What’s the weather going to be like?

Many people probably have not considered things like: What gear should I keep on my sled for an emergency? What do I do if I come across a broken-down sledder? Can I help them somehow? Do I know what to do in an emer gency? Is that ice really thick enough to ride on?

An example of this was on the ITS 92 between Escort Station and the Gash. A sledder who got their sled the day before and was out on their first ride learning the sled was going around a corner, their partner had communicated oncoming and suddenly the oncoming was on the same side of the trail. Unsure what was about

Another sledder broke down on the Club 96 trail just north of Eagle Lake. With some

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