18
SAFETY
Operator Safety
Mountainous Terrain Riding
Get Out of Harm’s Way
• Before riding, always tell a responsible person (i.e. at the lodge or gas
station) where your group is going.
• Never ride alone. Always ride in a small, manageable group. Riding
in a large group makes it more difficult to track riders or find missing
members.
• Go “one at a time”. Only one snowmobile at a time should cross,
ascend or highmark a slope. Other riders should watch from a safe
location until the previous rider exits the slope.
• Never park at the base of a slope or at the bottom of a gully or valley.
When parking to take a break or watch other riders, park at the sides
of the slope with the front of your snowmobile pointed away from the
slope.
Get to Know Your Mountain Snowmobile
The following information pertains to a deep snow/mountain
snowmobile. This type of snowmobile is longer and narrower and has a
higher center of gravity when compared to a typical trail snowmobile.
These features make riding the backcountry a safer and more enjoyable
experience.
The mountain snowmobile is slower, has a larger turning radius and will
overturn more easily than a trail snowmobile. The skis are designed to
float and provide more lift than trail skis. The track features paddles that
pack and shovel snow rather than dig in and grip the snowpack.
Because POLARIS mountain snowmobiles feature tall track paddles,
the rear suspension rails and sliders will sit above the snowpack on a
groomed trail.
Always deploy the scratchers and limit high speed
operation when trail riding.
Do not rely on the engine temperature
gauge to determine when to deploy rail scratchers. The rail sliders and
track can overheat well before the engine temperature indicates the need
for more cooling.
