Given the non-snowmobiling-friendly weather so far this winter (at least until recently), the Ontario Federation of Snowmobile Clubs (OFSC) is warning sledders to use check the OFSC interactive trail guide for status and conditions before heading out.
Snowmobile Safety Week runs Jan. 13-21 this year. The OFSC is using the opportunity to encourage riders to go online to consult the OFSC Interactive Snowmobile Trail Guide (ITG) before riding.
Introduced in 2010, the guide is the sole authorized source for the status of 30,000 kilometres of OFSC Snowmobile Trails, the federation said in a news release.
“With the unusually late start to this winter, this Safety Week update is especially important because most OFSC Prescribed Snowmobile Trails have been unavailable for recreational riding as of this date,” the release states.
“Making trails ready to ride requires prolonged sub-zero temperatures to set a deep frost into the ground and to freeze waterways and swamps solid, along with enough snow that groomers can pack a durable trail base. This essential and weather-dependent process is only beginning and may take a while to happen, so the OFSC emphasizes that riders must check trail status on the ITG to avoid trails that are not ready for snowmobiling at this time.”
If you’ve never check the guide before, here’s a quick update on the trail status categories:
- Available Trails are coloured GREEN, meaning that the identified route(s) is accessible with the understanding that the trail will likely vary considerably in quality, attributes and terrain over its length, and that snowmobilers enter exercising care and caution at all times.
- Limited Availability Trails are coloured YELLOW, meaning that the identified route(s) is limited with marginal riding opportunities, so snowmobilers enter with the understanding that they should exercise extreme care and caution while reducing speed.
- Unavailable Trails are coloured RED meaning that the identified route is not available at this time, access is prohibited and anyone entering the property may be trespassing, so snowmobilers must not enter under any circumstances.
“The OFSC also urges snowmobilers not to be fooled by an early snowfall or a skim of new ice into placing their lives in peril by travelling on newly formed or untested ice, riding off trail or running on public roads,” OFSC said.
The OFSC said it is appealing to every snowmobiler not to head out for that first ride of this season too soon and to always put personal safety first and ride responsibly by not taking unnecessary chances.
