There’s nothing quite like sailing over the snow in your snowmobile, feeling the sting of the cold air and the exhilaration of the ride. It’s one of the highlights of your winter, and every time you set out for a ride, you savour every second of it. You might not think there’s any way it could possibly be better, but you’d be wrong.
There are several simple hacks for the best winter snowmobile ride ever, and today, we’re going to take you step-by-step through what they are.
Check the Weather Before You Go
What the weather’s going to be like doesn’t just mean whether it’s sunny or overcast. The temperature influences literally everything about your ride – how firm the snow is, whether or not there’s an avalanche risk, whether or not a trail is accessible, and how warmly you should dress. Miscalculating any one of these things can mean that you’re caught off-guard and unprepared for what lies ahead, and that’s plenty to ruin your ride.
Plan Your Route on Marked Snowmobile Trails
Going off-trail in Ontario is leading to fewer and fewer landowners allowing snowmobiles onto their property. You would be upset if visitors ran over your private garden; farmers depend on their yields to survive, and snowmobiles can compact the soil and damage winter wheat. Not only would you ruin their garden, but also their ability to make a living. Stay on marked trails so that the future of snowmobiling stays vibrant.
If you do run into trouble, snowmobile insurance might be able to cover the cost of getting your machine patched up, but if you get lost while you’re on your ride, it’ll be up to you and your phone (hopefully GPS-enabled) to get yourself home again.
Get A Snowmobile Check-Up
Before every ride, have your snowmobile manually checked to make sure everything’s working as it should be. If you’re out on the trail and something breaks, it’s going to be a long hike home! If you have snowmobile insurance, you won’t have to pay as much out-of-pocket for repairs. However, having your snowmobile inspected before you set out will help reduce the likelihood of this happening, allowing you to fully focus on the snow and the adventure of the ride.
Bring Along a Survival Kit
When you’re out on the trail, anything can happen. A tree could fall over, or you could lose your day’s food rations to a bold raccoon. Perhaps your leg catches on a branch, or your passenger hits their head falling off. Again, snowmobile insurance can help you pay for injuries or lawsuits once you return, but out on the trail, it’s up to you.
That’s why a survival kit can literally be a lifesaver. It doesn’t take up much space, but it’ll have everything you need to navigate an emergency. Minimally, make sure you include a flashlight, a first aid kit, a fire-starting kit, a knife, repair tools, a compass and map, and signal flares or whistles. There are plenty of other things that could come in useful, depending on the weather and where you’re riding, so make sure to plan accordingly and outfit your survival kit with what’s appropriate for your environment and circumstances.
Pack Your Documents
Driving your snowmobile is very similar to driving a car in that you need to have the right documents on you at all times. These can include your driver’s license (or MSVOL), your proof of ownership, a permit for the trails you’re riding on, and proof of your snowmobile insurance. These will be useful if you get into an accident while you’re riding or if you need to demonstrate proof of who you are to local trail authorities.
Bring Snowmobile Insurance Along for the Ride
In Ontario, if you’re not driving on your own private property, then having snowmobile insurance is required by law. There are some minimum coverages you are required to have, such as uninsured automobile coverage, and the team at Will Marshall Insurance Brokers will make sure that your snowmobile insurance has everything it needs to in order to comply with Ontario law.
For more information on snowmobile insurance or our other recreational insurance policies, give us a call at (705) 726-2551. You can also contact us directly online or request a free, no-obligation quote.