Support Safe Snowmobiling!

The Klondike Snowmobile Association strongly believes in safe snowmobiling and works year-round to support and promote snowmobile safety. We encourage all snowmobilers to learn and use safe snowmobiling habits.

On this page you’ll find:

Some snowmobile safety statistics
A list of snowmobile safety tips
Links to avalanche safety, ice safety, and current safety course offerings

For even more snowmobile safety information, check out the Safe Riders website at www.saferiderssafetyawareness.org.

Snowmobiling is a fun, safe sport!

Statistically speaking, snowmobiling today is actually much safer than many people think. Snowmobile-related deaths are few and far between in the Yukon, and fewer than one percent of Yukon emergency room visits are related to snowmobiling. In fact, in recent years Yukoners suffered three times more injuries from skiing and snowboarding and four times more injuries from cycling than they did from snowmobiling.

Despite these promising statistics, snowmobiling is not without hazards and risks. To help with these the snowmobiling community has developed strong safety and education programs that are working well, and we encourage all snowmobilers to check them out.

For some recent statistics and percentages on snowmobile accidents in Canada, check out Statistics Canada’s great info graphic at https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/pub/11-627-m/11-627-m2021002-eng.htm.

As for environmental facts and myths regarding snowmobiles, we encourage you to check out the Canadian Council of Snowmobile Organization’s Facts and Myths document.

Snowmobile Safety Tips…

Always have a plan
– Decide where you’re going plus any alternative routes or side trips.
– Find maps to bring, check for any restrictions on snowmobile use, and look for recent condition reports.
– Pack appropriate supplies and gear.
– Have a pre-departure briefing with everyone in your group to make sure everyone knows the plan and everyone is ready to ride.

Always leave a copy of your trip plan with a responsible person in town
– Tell them where you are going, how many people are going, what you are bringing, and when you expect to return.
– Confirm they know what to do and who to call if you don’t return on time.
– Check in with them when you depart so they know when you left and be sure to check in with them again when you arrive so they know you made it.
– During longer trips use the non-emergency texting feature on your satellite device to update them with your progress.

Always check the weather forecast
– Also check ice and avalanche forecasts if available.
– Look for any recent trail or snow condition reports.

Wear an approved helmet
– Helmet use is recommended at all times when operating snowmobiles, and required by law in many areas.
– Ensure your helmet fits properly and is an approved snowmobile helmet.
– Quality eye protection with anti-fog features is also a must-have.
– Your eye protection should also provide sun protection or allow room for sunglasses.
– There is a variety of helmet and eye protection styles available, take some time to find a combination that works for you.

Use other safety gear too
– Helmets are a must, but there are many other products available that will also enhance your safety, including chest protection, neck protection, knee protection, and more.
– Always carry avalanche gear when riding in or near avalanche terrain.
– Consider wearing ice escape picks or a floating snowmobile suit if you plan to travel on frozen lakes and rivers.

Maintain your sled
– A well maintained snowmobile will be safer, more reliable, and perform better.
– Most snowmobiles come with an owners manual that includes a recommended maintenance schedule, follow this and your sled should run strong for many years.
– If you have questions or problems check with your local dealer, they’ll happy to help.
– Give your snowmobiles a thorough inspection and tune up every fall.
– A few minutes of preventative maintenance before you leave home can save you hours of trouble out in the wilderness.

Maintain your gear
– After you’ve given your snowmobile a tune up, you should also check your other riding gear.
– Check your riding bags, backpacks, tool kits, first aid kits, and survival kits at the beginning of each season and replace anything that is worn out, damaged, expired or missing.
– Make sure your helmets and other safety gear are in good condition, up to date, and ready to use.

Before the first start of each day inspect your sled
– Check that your snowmobile is not frozen to the ground.
– Open the hood and check for obvious damage, leaks, adequate fluid levels, condition of belts, etc.
– Conduct a general visual inspection your snowmobile to ensure the skis, track, suspension, steering, etc. is all secure and in good working order.

Before starting your sled always make sure the controls are functioning properly
– Sometimes things freeze up so cycle all of the controls to confirm proper range of travel and freedom of movement before starting the engine.

See and be seen
– Make sure your snowmobile has a working headlight, tail light and brake light.
– Your snowmobile should also be equipped with reflectors, amber at the front corners and red at the back corners. They should be visible from the front, rear, and sides of your snowmobile.
– A high-visibility feature on your outer clothing is also recommended.
– A quality flashlight or headlamp with fresh batteries is a valuable tool for both troubleshooting problems and attracting help.

Always be prepared
– Wear appropriate winter clothing, and use layers so you’re ready for it to get warmer or colder during your ride.
– A basic wilderness survival kit and a small first aid kit are a must.
– Always bring proper equipment (shovel, tow rope, flashlight, etc.)
– Pack extra supplies (food, toilet paper, knife, fire starter, etc.)
– Have some commonly needed spare parts (spark plug, drive belt, etc.) on your sled.
– Bring a small tool kit suitable for removing and installing your spare parts as well as making minor adjustments and basic repairs to your particular snowmobile.
– Keep in mind if you break down, get stuck, or injure yourself it may take days for help to find you, even if you are close to town.

Always have a way to call for help
– When working or playing in the backcountry always carry some form of satellite based tracker or communication device, preferably one with an easy to use emergency help button such as an inReach, Spot, or similar.
– Cell phones should not be relied on, they work great in town however there is often no signal in many snowmobiling areas.

Learn safe riding habits, and use them!
– Recent studies indicate that the majority of snowmobile related injuries and deaths are caused by poor decisions of the snowmobile operator.
– Be a safe rider and encourage your friends to do the same.
– Many tips are available on line, and formal training courses are also available.

Learn how to get un-stuck
– Even experts usually get stuck at some point during a good ride.
– Learn proper methods for getting your snowmobile unstuck, it will be much faster and much safer than trying all of the wrong ways.

Never go into avalanche terrain without avalanche gear
– Avalanches continue to pose a big threat to snowmobile safety, so all riders going into mountainous terrain need to be avalanche aware and avalanche prepared.
– When in avalanche terrain always carry a probe, shovel, beacon, and know how to use them.
– Also consider additional avalanche safety gear such as an airbag style backpack.
– All riders going into avalanche terrain should first take an avalanche safety course.
– Check your gear before each ride and practice with your avalanche gear regularly.
– Check out our Avalanche Awareness page for more avalanche information.

Be aware of ice conditions
– Drowning continues to be a leading causes of snowmobile fatalities in Canada.
– Wear ice escape picks and consider other ice safety gear.
– If you find yourself on thin ice or open water, do not stop. Keep up as much momentum as you can and gently steer towards dry land or safer ice.
– If someone does go into the water hypothermia will begin within minutes and they can become unresponsive due to severe hypothermia within an hour, so it’s important to get out, get dry and get warm fast! If there is a warm place nearby go use it, if not start a fire right away and call for help.
– Also keep an eye out for overflow and avoid it whenever possible, as snowmobiles can easily get stuck in overflow and it usually requires a great deal of time, effort and wet boots to recover them.
– Check out our Ice Safety page for more information on snowmobiling over frozen lakes and rivers.

Use extra caution when snowmobiling at night
– Statistics show that snowmobilers are significantly more likely to be involved in a crash when riding after dark.
– Make sure your snowmobile is equipped with proper lights and reflectors, and regularly check they are clean and working.
– Reduce your speed enough that you can always stop within the space that your headlights allow you to clearly see.
– Always use extra caution when riding after dark as it will be harder to see and identify obstacles, open water and other dangerous situations.
– Also keep in mind after dark navigation will be more difficult and bad weather can sneak up on you.

Always travel with someone who knows the area
– Carrying a map and/or a GPS system is also recommended.
– Cell phone service is not available along many trails and in many riding areas, so if using a phone or other electronic device for your maps make sure you have the maps downloaded onto the device itself, and keep in mind cold weather can greatly reduce battery run time.

When riding with a group make it clear that each sled is responsible for the sled behind
– The best way to keep everyone together and safe is for each snowmobile operator to keep an eye on the snowmobile behind them, stops if they are not there, and go back to investigate if they do not appear within a reasonable time.
– With this system if anyone gets lost or stuck the entire group will naturally come to a stop in a relatively short time.

Take a first aid training course
– Snowmobiling usually takes place in areas where help can take hours or sometimes days to reach you, so it’s recommended you have people in your group trained in first aid.
– Ensure your first aider is comfortable with their skills and their training is up to date. Most first aid certifications have an expiry date after which a refresher course is required.
– Always carry a basic first aid kit and some wilderness survival gear.
– First aid courses are widely available right here in the Yukon, and wilderness first aid courses are also regularly offered. Ask your employer about a course, most workplaces are required to have first aid available on site so your employer may be willing to share the cost of a course.

Always tell someone where you’re going and when you’ll be back
– If anything goes wrong someone back in town may need to initiate the search.
– Search and rescue teams will need to know who they’re looking for and where to look.
– If you’re stranded it’s usually better to stay together and with your machines. Snowmobiles and other vehicles are often easier for search teams to track and spot vs individual people.

If you are that someone and your snowmobilers have not returned:
– Take a deep, calming breath and remind yourself that 99% of the time late snowmobilers are perfectly fine and are simply outside of cell phone service either digging out a stuck snowmobile or dealing with a mechanical breakdown. Give them a couple hours and see what happens.
– If you don’t hear from them after a reasonable amount of time please contact your nearest RCMP detachment and explain the situation, they will have all the current details on how to best start a search and rescue in your area.
– Although we are not professional search and rescuers, please feel free to contact the Klondike Snowmobile Association as well for advice or assistance. We’re happy to help in any way we can.

If you come across anyone in distress stop and offer assistance
– Most snowmobile areas are not patrolled by anyone and are infrequently used.
– Your assistance may be the difference between life and death.

Please respect all trail users
– All of the snowmobile trails in the Yukon are “multi-use trails”, so be ready to share the trail with a wide variety of other users.
– Slow down to 15 km/h or less and give plenty of room when passing hikers, bikers, skiiers, dogs, etc.
– When meeting dog sled teams we recommend pulling over and turning off your snowmobile. Power yields to paws.
– A little trail etiquette goes a long way towards making everyone’s outdoor experience safer and more enjoyable.
– For many it only takes one bad experience to give all snowmobilers a bad reputation.

Ride according to your abilities
– Mastering snowmobiling takes years, and the best way to learn is to carefully build up your skills one step at a time.
– Always travel at a safe speed for the terrain, conditions, machine, and operator skill level.
– Losing control and colliding with a stationary object as a result of poor operator judgement and excessive speed remains, by far, the leading cause of snowmobile-related injuries and deaths.

Never consume alcohol or drugs before or while snowmobiling
– To be a safe rider you must be a sober rider, no exceptions.
– Alcohol and drugs continue to be a factor in about 50% of all snowmobile related deaths in Canada.

Watch for trail groomers
– These large and slow moving machines have the right-of-way, they are volunteer operated, and they may be out on any trail at any hour.

Please don’t take signs from the trails
– If you want one for your living room wall, give us a call or send us an e-mail and we’ll be happy to give you one.

Snowmobile trails are not engineered like highways
– Conditions and hazards are constantly changing.
– Expect something unexpected around every corner.

Keep right when on roads or trails
– It just makes life simpler and safer for everyone.

Wildlife is exactly that
– Wild animals can be dangerous and unpredictable.
– Most animals are more vulnerable during winter.
– Respect all animals and their habitats, you are snowmobiling in their home.
– When you see a wild animal give them lots of space and reduce your noise level as much as possible. Stop and let them pass through or go around them with lots of distance.
– Stick to established trails as much as possible, avoid digging ruts and holes in the snow, and don’t disturb any potential food sources.

Read and understand your Owners Manual
– All snowmobiles come with an owners manual containing important safety information, performance and comfort tips, and a maintenance schedule, all of which are tailored to your specific make and model of snowmobile.
– It’s important that you read, understand, and use the information in your owners manual.
– When in doubt contact your local dealer and/or the manufacturer of your snowmobile, they know your snowmobile best and will be happy to answer any questions you may have.

If trucking or trailering your snowmobile always take appropriate safety precautions while loading, hauling, and unloading
– Only use vehicles and trailers that are in good roadworthy condition, appropriately sized and equipped for your load, and rated for the weight you are hauling.
– During snow season always drive on winter-rated tires that are in good condition with lots of tread life remaining.
– Always secure your load with appropriate tie down straps, and double check your load is still secure at regular intervals during your drive.
– Always use a proper ramp that is secured and stable when loading and unloading snowmobiles.
– When loading and unloading snowmobiles slow and steady always gives the best results, if you need excessive throttle or if you need to “take a run at it” then something is wrong with your setup and you should stop and adjust.
– Wear your helmet when loading and unloading snowmobiles.
-See our Snowmobile Hauling page for more information.

Please report all trail conditions to your local snowmobile club after each ride
– There’s a quick and easy form at the bottom of our Trail Conditions page you can use to submit trail condition reports online.
– We rely heavily on trail condition reports when choosing where to send our groomers and trail crews, and the trail conditions page on our website is based entirely on reports from riders like you.
– Also please let us know if you see any damaged or missing signs, or any problems with gates, bridges, etc.

Join your local snowmobile club
– They work hard for you, both through trail maintenance and by advocating on your behalf.
– Local clubs are a great source of information for current trail conditions, events, news, maps and more in your area.
– Your membership fees are used to help make snowmobiling safer.

This is just a quick reference guide
– This page is meant to be a helpful quick-reference guide, and is in no way a substitute for any kind of formal training, instructions or manuals.
– If any discrepancy exists between the information on this website and the information contained in any of your manuals, placards or course material, please consider those sources to be more correct and current than this website.

Safety Courses

Safe Riders! Snowmobile Safety Awareness Program is a free online course and an excellent place to get started. Check it out at https://www.saferiderssafetyawareness.org.

Safe Trails North offers snowmobile safety courses in the Yukon. Please contact them via email at safetrails@elr.ca or by phone at (867) 335-1932 for more information.

Ski-Doo is offering free avalanche safety seminars. Learn more on the Ski-Doo website by clicking here.

Yukon Avalanche Association has links to a variety of avalanche training, visit them at http://www.yukonavalanche.ca/ for details.

Almost all snowmobile tours currently available in the Yukon include basic snowmobile safety training as part of every tour, if you’re unsure please double check with the tour company at time of booking.

Avalanche Safety

For information on avalanche safety please check out the Yukon Avalanche Association at http://www.yukonavalanche.ca/. Since their establishment in 2010, they have been doing an excellent job at providing training courses, forecasts, reports, events and other great resources for snowmobilers and other backcountry users. The K.S.A. highly recommends them to all backcountry users. Also, another excellent resource is Avalanche Canada, check them out today at http://www.avalanche.ca/!

In addition to the above, you can also check out our Avalanche page.

City of Whitehorse Safe Snowmobiler Card

For information about, and to obtain, a Whitehorse Safe Snowmobiler Card, please visit the City of Whitehorse’s snowmobile website at https://www.whitehorse.ca/living-in-whitehorse/our-roads/safety/snowmobiles/. This card is now required for all Whitehorse residents prior to operating a snowmobile within the Whitehorse city limits. This requirement does not apply to visitors who are in Whitehorse for two weeks or less.

Mental Health Matters!

Whether you’re a snowmobiler, volunteer, responder, or a family member, mental health is an important part of snowmobile safety, and it’s okay to talk about it. In fact, everyone in the snowmobiling community should be talking about it.

We prepare for the weather, we prepare for the conditions, we prepare for the mechanical breakdowns. But do we prepare mentally? Recent studies show about 1/3 of snowmobilers report feelings of anxiety, stress or depression related to snowmobile incidents, but only about 1/4 of snowmobilers feel equipped to support other riders during these times.

Critical incident stress can affect any snowmobiler, and it can show up in unexpected ways at unexpected times. It’s a natural human response and can happen after just one incident or it can slowly build up from repeated exposure.

How can you help? First, learn to recognize the signs. Anxiety, overwhelm, mood swings, guilt, sadness, anger, trouble sleeping, headaches, fatigue, tension and increased heart rate are all common symptoms. Second, when you notice any of these symptoms act with kindness and empathy. Be patient, offer to help with small tasks, let them talk, remind them that their feelings are valid, and encourage them to seek professional support when they are ready to do so.

Looking after yourself and building your resilience is also important. Practice deep breathing and grounding techniques. Talk before things build up. Step back to rest and regroup when you need to. Stay connected and help build strong riding teams and communities. Train your mindset by reflecting on past challenges. Taking care of your mental health does not make you soft or weak, it makes you better prepared for whatever the universe sends your way next.

Even in a tight community like ours, talking about metal health can still be hard. Check in with your friends and family and invite them for a ride, you never know how much they might need it.