RIDING THE VEHICLE
yourself plenty of room for stopping
and turning. This is especially true at
night.
Hard Packed Snow
Don't underestimate hard packed
snow. It can be difficult to negotiate
as both skis and track do not have as
much traction. Best advice is to slow
down and avoid rapid acceleration,
turning or braking.
Uphill
There are two types of hills you can en-
counter — the open hill on which there
are few trees, cliffs or other obstacles,
and a hill that can only be climbed di-
rectly. On a n open hill, the approach is
to climb it by side hilling or slaloming.
Approach at an angle. Adopt a kneeling
position. Keep your weight on the up-
hill side at all times. Maintain a steady,
safe speed. Continue as far as you can
in this direction, then switch to an op-
posite hill angle and riding position.
A direct c limb could present problems.
Choose the standing position, acceler-
ate before you start the climb and then
reduce throttle pressure to prevent
track slippage.
In either case, vehicle speed should be
as fast as the incline demands. Always
slow down as you reach the crest. If
you cannot proceed further, don't spin
your track. Turn the engine off, free the
skis by pulling them out and downhill,
place the rear of the snowmobile uphill
restart the engine and ease it out with
slow even throttle pressure. Position
yourself to avoid tipping over, then de-
scend.
Downhill
Downhill driving requires that you have
full control of your vehicle at all times.
On steeper hills, keep your cent
er of
gravity low and both hands on the han-
dlebar. Maintain slight throttle pres-
sure and allow the m achine to r
un
downhill with the engine operating.
If a higher than safe speed is reached,
slow down by braking but apply the
brake with frequent light pressure.
Never jam the brake and lock the track.
Side Hill
When crossing a side hill or travers-
ing up or downhill, certain procedures
must be followed. All riders should
lean towards the slope as required for
stability. The preferred operating po-
sitions are the kneeling position, with
thekneeofthedownhilllegonthe
seat and the foot o f the u phill leg on
the running board, or the posting posi-
tion. Be prepared to shift your weight
quickly as needed. Side hills and steep
slopes are not recommended for a be-
ginner or a novice snowmobiler.
Avalanche Hazard
When riding on m ountainous terrain,
you should be aware of the risk of
avalanches. Avalanches vary in size
and shapes a nd generally occur in
steep terrain and on unstable snow.
New snow, animals, people, wind
and snowmobiles can all trigger
an avalanche. Avoid high marking
or traversing steep terrain when
avalanche conditions are possible.
When in unstable snow conditions,
travel should be restricted to lower
angle slopes. Wind formed cornices
should be avoided. Staying off un-
stable conditions is the key to safe
mountain riding. Probably most impor-
tant is to be aware of the conditions
and dangers on a daily basis when in
the mountains. Check local avalanche
forecasts and threats ea ch day before
heading out to ride and heed forec
ast-
ers advice.
You should always carry a snow sho
vel,
probe and avalanche beacon while rid-
ing on mountains. We recommend
that all mountain riders ta
ke a lo-
cal avalanche safety training course
to become more familiar with snow
conditions and learn how
to properly
use their equipment.
________
SAFETY INF
ORMATION
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21
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