Safety Flag

Safety Flag

   i.      Purpose:  The use of Safety Flags make snowmobiles more visible to other riders. They are an excellent identifier to help locate a snowmobile when the snow is blowing or when your view is obstructed.  At 9ft, they can also be used as an avalanche probe.

  ii.      Recommendations: This is about the increasing the visibility of the riders behind to see the rider in front of them and what they are doing (i.e. stopping, curve, obstacle, etc…) It’s also about the oncoming traffic we will encounter (especially on the weekends) and their ability for them see us earlier verses later…. I have personally witnessed several close calls with an oncoming sled just missing our lead rider. The only thing the oncoming sled could have seen in time was the flag. I can’t even count the number of times the flags have saved us over the years in providing that extra visual queue in poor visibility while following another rider.

  iii.      Option & Price:

George has been working with the company Safety Vehicle (www.safetyvehicle.com) to approve their latest design a (per Pattullo2000 20 years experience)  and has gotten them to provide us with an upgraded version with the MichCanSka logo on the flag. They have also agreed to replace any damaged or destroyed flag for free and will send extras for the trip. All this and only $12.00 – $20.00 (989) 673-6130

  iv.      Additional Tips: Since we will be riding through mountainous areas, there will be risk of avalanche, Instead of each of us carrying $40 avalanche probes, we address both avalanche and sled visibility with one inexpensive solution.

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Throw rope 5/16 by 50 ft

Throw rope 5/16 by 50 ft

   i.      Purpose:  The throw rope is designed to be thrown up to 50 ft. as a rescue line with incredible accuracy to another person in trouble, either off the trail to someone who has fallen through the ice.  It can also be used to setup a tarp as an emergency shelter.

   ii.      Recommendations: The ability to throw the rope accurately is important in water rescue; this is why I am recommending a product that is designed for this purpose.   

  iii.      Example Options & Price:

1. Life Line™ Rescue Throw Rope and Bag – Kwik Tek. @ iboat.com $17.00

  iv.      Additional Tips: This should be stored in an easy to grab location on the snowmobile. Several of these could be used to help pull a really stuck sled out of a hole.

Snow Claw shovel or equivalent

Snow Claw shovel or equivalent

  i.      Purpose:  A shovel to dig out a stuck sled or to assist in building an emergency shelter.

  ii.      Recommendations: The Snow Claw is the ultimate backcountry snow shovel. One edge used for digging soft snow the other, more rounded edge, for hard snow. Also a multi-use tool: shovel, snow anchor, emergency splint, plate, sled, waterproof seat, etc. Made from high impact copolymer.   www.snowclaw.com

   iii.      Example Options & Price:

1. SNOWCLAW BACKCOUNTRY SHOVEL @ amazon.com $12.93
2. Compact Folding Shovel with Pick and compass @ amazon.com $8.75

  iv.      Additional Tips: The snow claw can be installed on the back bumper hanging down behind the mud flap with the optional straps. The compact folding shovel also includes: Shovel, Hoe, Pick, Saw Edge, Hammer, Bottle Opener, Nail Puller, Wrench, Compass, Waterproof Match Container. Extended length is 15 1/2 inches.

Additional Safety Gear

These additional items are just some of the safety items that will be  covered and addressed in a future Blog post.

Group Safety items

• EPIRB
• GPS
• Paper Trail Maps
• Flare Kit
• 150 ft of 5/16 rope (3000+ breaking load)
• First Aid Kit
• First Aid Manual
• Hatchet  & Saw

Team Safety Items

• Tow Straps
• Gas Siphon
• 10X10 tarp
• Expanded Tool Kit

Personal Safety items

• Mirror mounted on Sled or person
• Spare parts and basic tool kit