WYOMING — The Wyoming State Trails Program released a statement on Tuesday urging safety and caution when snowmobiling this winter. The agency stated that the season has started with a “concerning number of fatalities,” stressing the presence of hazards on trails across the state.
Last week, Teton County Search and Rescue (TCSAR) posted on social media that the organization had responded to two fatalities in three recent days — at least one of which was a recreationist on a snowmobile. Earlier in January, a 46-year-old Afton resident died while snowmobiling south of Star Valley on New Year’s Day. Less than two weeks later, a snowmobiler died in an avalanche near LaBarge Creek in the Salt River/Wyoming Range forecast zone. Though not in Wyoming, on that same day, a search and rescue professional in Teton County, Idaho, died after crashing into a tree on his snowmobile. In that same time frame, TCSAR also responded to another injured snowmobiler on Togwotee Pass.
“We have already had four snowmobile-related fatalities in the state this season, and that is four too many,” State Trails Program Manager Forrest Kamminga said via press release. “While many of our high-elevation snowmobile trail systems are officially open for business, the conditions are far less than desirable. Riders are going to encounter extremely icy and hard-packed snow conditions that significantly compromise the control of their snowmobiles.”
Wyoming State Trails stated that the current danger lies in icy conditions. Lack of significant snowfall across most of Wyoming has resulted in hard and frozen base layers on most trail systems. This absence of fresh powder can compromise a user’s control of the machine, including when accelerating, cornering and braking: “What would be a manageable speed on fresh snow can become dangerously fast on ice.” Loss of traction on downhill sections can increase the risk of instability and serious accidents from the combination of speed, ice and gravity.
Low snow coverage presents its own risk, as it can hide hazards on and off trail just below the snow’s surface. Running over a rock, a jagged stump or fallen timber can cause severe injury and often major damage to a snowmobile. When traveling off trail, the chances of encountering subsurface hazards increases exponentially, per Wyoming State Trails.
The organization encourages people to continue to get out and enjoy the “unique Wyoming snowmobile experience,” but to use caution and awareness of altered trail conditions. Consider adjusting behavior and riding style to match the current conditions:
- Slow down: Reduced speed is the single most effective way to regain a manageable level of control on hard, icy trails. Create more distance and time to react and stop.
- Scale back the ride: Consider choosing routes with less ambitious terrain, or shorter rides, until conditions improve.
- Prioritize safety: “The goal of every outing should be to return home safely with a positive Wyoming snowmobile experience to share, not to push the limits of speed or machine capability in dangerous conditions,” the agency advises.
