As winter conditions become prime for snowmobilers across the Ottawa region and eastern Ontario, experts and officials are urging safety to come first. Earlier this month, a snowmobiler had to be rescued after crashing through the ice on the Rideau River near Kemptville. “We’re happy to hear everyone is safe,” says Tim Krause, president of the Upper Canada Snowmobile Region, who reminds riders that at the time of the incident, many trails in the region were not officially open for the season. When it comes to riding on frozen waterways, Krause has a clear message. “No, ice is safe ice. That’s the simplest message I can provide; no ice is safe ice. Know before you go, and if you don’t know, don’t go.” Ottawa fire crews helped rescue the rider from frozen waters and say that the person was wearing a flotation suit, which greatly aided the situation. At Royal Distributing in Kanata, sales specialist Karen Meehan says flotation is a crucial part of any snowmobiler’s setup. “If a rider were to go through the ice, flotation can keep you buoyant up to 2.5 hours,” says Meehan. “So, it gives you a chance to realize that you’re not going to sink and that you can hoist yourself up out of the water onto the ice and save your life.” On top of a jacket and pants, it is suggested sledders have a helmet, gloves, and boots as a minimum for safe riding. “In Ontario and Quebec, we have a lot of water systems,” adds Meehan. “You’re definitely going to be traveling over them, and people will say, I don’t need it, but it does two things. It blocks wind, which is really important on cold days, and it can really make a difference if a rider goes through the ice.” On top of being outfitted properly, Ken Vandenberg, assistant store manager for snowmobile retailer Royal Distributing, says a safety kit including items such as ice picks, tow straps, first aid kits, and headlamps should be considered essential. “If you’re going to take any kind of trip for half an hour to an hour or longer, you’re definitely going to want to have some of this just so that you can maintain some form of safety.” Before the Upper Canada Snowmobile Region can safely open its 3300 trails, Krause says about one foot of snow is needed for groomers to smooth out the varying terrain. “If the trail is not available, that’s considered trespassing, and you should be staying off it,” says Krause. “The reason it’s closed, there could be a number of reasons for that, but it’s always keeping the safety of the rider in mind.” And to ensure safe riding when trails do open, Krause says there are basic guidelines. “Stay on the trail. Ride within the marked trail that you’re on and obey the signs, obey the speed limits. Ride to the conditions. Ride to your capabilities as well.”
