16
SAFETY
Operator Safety
Mountainous Terrain Riding
Get to Know Your Safety Gear
Following the safety gear and apparel recommendations will increase
your chances of survival if you encounter an avalanche or become
stranded in the backcountry, but even experienced and properly-
equipped snowmobilers, hikers and skiers perish in avalanches or
succumb to hypothermia. Using a beacon or probe for the first time
during an avalanche recovery operation, or not knowing how to deploy
your avalanche air bag backpack during a slide, should be considered
UNACCEPTABLE to you and all members of your riding group. It’s
critical that you
and all members of your riding group
know how to use
the safety gear.
While you may know how to use your gear, you may have to rely on
your riding group to find you in an avalanche. Make sure they know
how to use their gear.
• Dress in layers. Multiple layers of clothing provide the best barrier to
cold and wind. Layers can be removed, but if you start out without
enough layers, they cannot be added later. Avoid cotton materials,
which will freeze if they get wet.
• Wear highly visible gear.
• Try on all gear and equipment to make sure it fits and doesn’t
interfere with your riding capabilities. Place all survival aids in your
backpack and wear the backpack at all times. Non-essential items can
be stored on the snowmobile in an accessory bag.
• Read and follow the manufacturer’s user and maintenance
instructions for all gear. If you have questions about how your gear
works, contact the manufacturer for more information.
• Practice using your beacons, shovels and probes with your riding
group in real-world conditions wearing all of your gear. Have
someone hide an active “transmitting” beacon by throwing it (not
walking it) into a snowbank and timing your group’s search for it.
• Test deploying your gear. If you own an avalanche air bag backpack,
check with the manufacturer’s test deployment guidelines and bottle
weight replacement specifications. Most air bag backpack
manufacturers recommend testing the pack once a year so you know
it works and feel comfortable with the bag and deployment time.
• Make sure your probe and shovel are in good condition and that you
know how to assemble them.
