Any new method of transportation brings changes to the environment. If you are a snowmobiler and just rent a snowmobile in Greater Vancouver, you will get a firsthand look at nature's winter wonderland. Be sure other snowmobilers traveling on the trail after you enjoy the same undisturbed view. One easy rule to follow is to stay on the trail.
Trails go around trees and shrubs, giving plenty of room to pass without breaking off branches or damaging the bark. But are you damaging the vegetation under the snow?
You might be surprised to learn that snowmobiles have little effect on the vegetation under the snow whether it be grass, flowers, or crops. In fact, a person on a snowmobile is easier on the vegetation than a person alone.
The reason is that the effect is measured in terms of pressure. Pressure is not the same as weight. Weight is measured in pounds. Pressure is measured in pounds per square inch.
The weight of a snowmobile is distributed over every square inch of ski and track. Because the area of the skis and track are much larger than a person's feet, the weight per square inch is much smaller.
So in terms of pressure, a snowmobile is gentler on the vegetation than than a person. In fact, it would take ten snowmobiles and their riders piled on top of each other to equal the pressure of one person!
As the snowmobile travels over the snow, it packs the snow together. It is similar to picking up a large chunk of soft snow and squeezing it into a snowball. Like a snowball, the compacted snow forms a hard crust and protects the vegetation.
As you ride on the trail you may see rabbits, deer, elk or other animals. While you may be curious about the animals, do not stop your machine and stand up to get a better look. This could disturb the animals and they may stay away from the trail. Then other snowmobilers would not be able to see them.
When you come across animals, keep your vehicle running and stay seated. Do not be tempted to leave the trail to get closer to them. The animals may feel as though you are chasing them.
It is important not to chase the animals because they live on a fat reserve stored in the body during the winter. This fat provides them with the energy needed to live until the following spring. By causing them to run, they will use up their energy. Saving energy is as important to animals as it is to people.
Trails go around trees and shrubs, giving plenty of room to pass without breaking off branches or damaging the bark. But are you damaging the vegetation under the snow?
You might be surprised to learn that snowmobiles have little effect on the vegetation under the snow whether it be grass, flowers, or crops. In fact, a person on a snowmobile is easier on the vegetation than a person alone.
The reason is that the effect is measured in terms of pressure. Pressure is not the same as weight. Weight is measured in pounds. Pressure is measured in pounds per square inch.
The weight of a snowmobile is distributed over every square inch of ski and track. Because the area of the skis and track are much larger than a person's feet, the weight per square inch is much smaller.
So in terms of pressure, a snowmobile is gentler on the vegetation than than a person. In fact, it would take ten snowmobiles and their riders piled on top of each other to equal the pressure of one person!
As the snowmobile travels over the snow, it packs the snow together. It is similar to picking up a large chunk of soft snow and squeezing it into a snowball. Like a snowball, the compacted snow forms a hard crust and protects the vegetation.
As you ride on the trail you may see rabbits, deer, elk or other animals. While you may be curious about the animals, do not stop your machine and stand up to get a better look. This could disturb the animals and they may stay away from the trail. Then other snowmobilers would not be able to see them.
When you come across animals, keep your vehicle running and stay seated. Do not be tempted to leave the trail to get closer to them. The animals may feel as though you are chasing them.
It is important not to chase the animals because they live on a fat reserve stored in the body during the winter. This fat provides them with the energy needed to live until the following spring. By causing them to run, they will use up their energy. Saving energy is as important to animals as it is to people.
Voluntary Sound Management
The American Council of Snowmobile Associations (ACSA) and the International Snowmobile Racing Specialty Manufacturers Distributors Groups (ISR SMDG) have established a position opposing excessive snowmobile sound levels. Excessive noise could result in restriction of use of snowmobiles. Few other factors contribute more to misunderstanding and prejudice against the snowmobiling community than excessively noisy snowmobiles. A few people riding loud snowmobiles may leave the impression that all snowmobiles are loud. In fact, most of the public does not realize that snowmobiles are built to federally mandated noise control standards.
Each segment of the snowmobile community must realize that it cannot single-handedly solve this problem.
However, each has a role and responsibility in achieving a solution. Shifting blame and failing to adopt responsible policies on a voluntary basis can only result in greater prejudice and discrimination against snowmobiles. Ignoring this issue may result in excessive state and federal standards, more expensive, less attractive snowmobiles, and the reduction of choice in aftermarket products. It may also cause stricter enforcement of current laws and other solutions undesirable to riders and the snowmobile industry.
Based on its opposition to excessive snowmobile noise, the ACSA and ISR SMDG recommended the following:
- All snowmobiles should be sensitive to community standards and respect the rights of fellow citizens.
- Snowmobile exhaust systems should not be modified in a way that will increase sound to an offensive level.
- Organizers of snowmobile events should make excessively loud snowmobiles unwelcome.
- Snowmobile retailers should discourage the use of excessively loud replacement exhaust systems.
- The snowmobile industry, including aftermarket suppliers should adopt responsible, product designs and marketing policies limiting excessive snow-
mobile sound levels.
- Manufacturers should continue to educate their dealers and customers that louder exhaust systems do not improve the performance of a snowmobile. Law enforcement agencies should fairly and consistently enforce appropriate laws and ordinances against excessive vehicle sound levels.
- The snowmobile industry and safety instructors need to educate customers that excessive sound levels may be fatiguing to riders. It making them less able to enjoy riding and less able to exercise good riding skills.
Be a Wise Energy User
Just as animals use energy to live, you need energy to operate your snowmobile. There are ways to operate your vehicle to save or conserve energy.
You conserve energy at home by not wasting energy. As an example turning the lights off when you leave a room, or turning off the television when not watching, saves energy.
These same guidelines can be used with snowmobiles. Letting the machine warm up while you are in the house only wastes gasoline and energy. Instead, driving the snowmobile slowly for the first few minutes will let the engine warm up. Operating your machine at a lower speed is another way to conserve fuel. Keep your engine tuned correctly to get the most miles out of every gallon of gasoline.
Many trails are close to home. This too reduces the amount of gasoline needed to travel to the area. Practice the energy conservation tips above and you will get more trail riding miles per gallon!
Fragile Winter Wildlife
Winter is demanding. The survival of animals is often precarious and disturbance by humans can result in death.
Wildlife maintains itself by creatine fat reserves and limiting all unnecessary movement to conserve energy. Fat is needed to sustain body temperature in extreme cold. Since plants are dormant and maintain low nutritional value during the winter, creation of sufficient energy reserves during the summer months is critical. Unnecessary movement caused by escape from a predator in the
wintertime, or the fear generated by a human disturbance, speeds the loss of fat reserves and decreases the chance of an animal's survival.
Responsibility
Safety, courtesy and protection of the environment are important to all people who use the outdoors. Snowmobiles share the trail with other snowmobiles and non-motorized groups, such as cross-country skiers. All users should respect another person's right to the trail. The list below contains good principles to follow when on the trail. Together they form a code of ethics. While they were published by the International Snowmobile Industry Association, they should be practiced by all users of the environment. Try to think why each of these points is necessary.
The American Council of Snowmobile Associations (ACSA) and the International Snowmobile Racing Specialty Manufacturers Distributors Groups (ISR SMDG) have established a position opposing excessive snowmobile sound levels. Excessive noise could result in restriction of use of snowmobiles. Few other factors contribute more to misunderstanding and prejudice against the snowmobiling community than excessively noisy snowmobiles. A few people riding loud snowmobiles may leave the impression that all snowmobiles are loud. In fact, most of the public does not realize that snowmobiles are built to federally mandated noise control standards.
Each segment of the snowmobile community must realize that it cannot single-handedly solve this problem.
However, each has a role and responsibility in achieving a solution. Shifting blame and failing to adopt responsible policies on a voluntary basis can only result in greater prejudice and discrimination against snowmobiles. Ignoring this issue may result in excessive state and federal standards, more expensive, less attractive snowmobiles, and the reduction of choice in aftermarket products. It may also cause stricter enforcement of current laws and other solutions undesirable to riders and the snowmobile industry.
Based on its opposition to excessive snowmobile noise, the ACSA and ISR SMDG recommended the following:
- All snowmobiles should be sensitive to community standards and respect the rights of fellow citizens.
- Snowmobile exhaust systems should not be modified in a way that will increase sound to an offensive level.
- Organizers of snowmobile events should make excessively loud snowmobiles unwelcome.
- Snowmobile retailers should discourage the use of excessively loud replacement exhaust systems.
- The snowmobile industry, including aftermarket suppliers should adopt responsible, product designs and marketing policies limiting excessive snow-
mobile sound levels.
- Manufacturers should continue to educate their dealers and customers that louder exhaust systems do not improve the performance of a snowmobile. Law enforcement agencies should fairly and consistently enforce appropriate laws and ordinances against excessive vehicle sound levels.
- The snowmobile industry and safety instructors need to educate customers that excessive sound levels may be fatiguing to riders. It making them less able to enjoy riding and less able to exercise good riding skills.
Be a Wise Energy User
Just as animals use energy to live, you need energy to operate your snowmobile. There are ways to operate your vehicle to save or conserve energy.
You conserve energy at home by not wasting energy. As an example turning the lights off when you leave a room, or turning off the television when not watching, saves energy.
These same guidelines can be used with snowmobiles. Letting the machine warm up while you are in the house only wastes gasoline and energy. Instead, driving the snowmobile slowly for the first few minutes will let the engine warm up. Operating your machine at a lower speed is another way to conserve fuel. Keep your engine tuned correctly to get the most miles out of every gallon of gasoline.
Many trails are close to home. This too reduces the amount of gasoline needed to travel to the area. Practice the energy conservation tips above and you will get more trail riding miles per gallon!
Fragile Winter Wildlife
Winter is demanding. The survival of animals is often precarious and disturbance by humans can result in death.
Wildlife maintains itself by creatine fat reserves and limiting all unnecessary movement to conserve energy. Fat is needed to sustain body temperature in extreme cold. Since plants are dormant and maintain low nutritional value during the winter, creation of sufficient energy reserves during the summer months is critical. Unnecessary movement caused by escape from a predator in the
wintertime, or the fear generated by a human disturbance, speeds the loss of fat reserves and decreases the chance of an animal's survival.
Responsibility
Safety, courtesy and protection of the environment are important to all people who use the outdoors. Snowmobiles share the trail with other snowmobiles and non-motorized groups, such as cross-country skiers. All users should respect another person's right to the trail. The list below contains good principles to follow when on the trail. Together they form a code of ethics. While they were published by the International Snowmobile Industry Association, they should be practiced by all users of the environment. Try to think why each of these points is necessary.
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