The Reminder is making its archives back to 2003 available on our website. Please note that, due to technical limitations, archive articles are presented without the usual formatting.
Inadequate riding and trail facilities increase the risk of snowmobile safety related incidents. Just a few of the risks include: cables and guide wires, fences, barbed wire, unsafe ice and ice ridges, hidden rocks, tree stumps, low hanging branches and other obstacles. Well designed, signed and maintained trails and riding areas not only provide enjoyable recreational snowmobiling opportunities, but have been proven to significantly reduce the likelihood of a snowmobiler being injured. Safe trails and user areas remain a top priority and concern of the snowmobile community. Statistics indicate that only 10 - 15 per cent of snowmobile incidents occur on well maintained and designed trails where as much as 80 - 90 per cent of all snowmobile riding takes place. There are an estimated 218,000 miles (350,837 kilometres) of signed and maintained snowmobile trails in North America, which include 74,132 miles (120,094 kilometres) in Canada. Trail Design The ideal snowmobile trail system is designed to meet multiple criteria: Safety - It is designed, signed and maintained to specifications which will eliminate or identify hazards. Environment - It is designed to avoid environmentally sensitive areas and built to strict environmental standards. Destination - It is designed to go some where (to a point of scenic interest or recreation site, to connect nearby towns, etc.). Integrated Network - It is designed to be part of a formal, long distance, integrated network which links towns, counties, states and provinces. A number of jurisdictions are now working to develop international, interstate and interprovincial systems. It is now possible to ride 70 per cent of North America's snowmobile trails through the continuous interconnections that exist. Trails developed benefit other outdoor recreationists. During the non-winter months, many of these trails are used for hiking, horseback riding, bicycling and other trail based activities. Other recreational organizations often support snowmobile trail development. For Those on the Net Contains all pertinent information, facts, statistics and links to understand the snowmobile industry and related organizations Is specifically designed with information to attract new people to join the snowmobile lifestyle and find out what snowmobiling is all about.
