Sledders advised to use caution on lakes
Snowmobile association says riders should stick to trails; also pushing for mandatory helmet legislation
John McFadden
Northern News Services
Friday, November 25, 2016
SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE
The president of the Great Slave Snowmobile Association says common sense must prevail while riding on lakes and rivers at this time of year.
Ice is thickening on lakes in and around the city but the Great Slave Snowmobile Association is telling snowmobilers to use caution when riding on lakes and rivers. - NNSL file photo |
Bruce Hewlko has had a number of inquiries about whether the lakes are safe yet to ride on.
"The answer is yes, no and maybe," he stated in an e-mail.
"Some lakes are safe in some areas, some lakes are not (Great Slave, Prelude and Prosperous) and maybe, depending on where you are on the lake."
He advised riders to check ice thickness as they ride.
"Pull into shore, walk out a 100 metres or so from the shore and check the thickness," he wrote, adding a wise course of action this time of year is to stick to existing trails.
He is asking riders who do travel the lakes to take the time to mark their trails with spruce boughs.
Hewlko said he is a little surprised that ice is as thick as it is considering the weather has been relatively mild over the past six weeks or so with a considerable amount of snowfall.
Snow insulates ice and tends to slow down the freezing process.
Hewlko does not recall anyone going through the ice recently while on their snowmobile but does know of a couple sleds going through with riders themselves able to keep from going into the water.
He told Yellowknifer he wears ice pics around his neck when he snowmobiles. They can be used to pull one's self back up onto the ice should his or her machine go through.
Despite decent snowfalls lately, the trails remain a little rough according to Hewlko because the snow has not been packed down yet. He added rocks may be snow-covered but riders still risk scratching their machines at this point.
As far as helmets go, Hewlko said his association is lobbying the territorial government to make them mandatory for all riders. Currently, helmets are only mandatory inside Yellowknife city limits.
"There have been a number of deaths due to people not wearing helmets," Hewlko said. "I find them warmer and safer. Even if I'm going from the cabin out onto the lake I put my helmet on."
Hewlko said there could be exceptions to a mandatory helmet law including
people working on the land.
"Hunters and trappers don't want to wear them but they are going slower and they need better visibility. Working with a helmet on is not all that convenient. I can respect that," Hewlko said.
"But if you are out riding recreationally, then you generally go faster so you should therefore be wearing a helmet."
Hewlko said his association sent out a questionnaire to candidates in last fall's territorial election asking whether they supported a mandatory helmet law and more that 60 per cent of them were in favour of it.
According to the city's website, as of Monday most area lakes have at least six inches of ice.
But the thickness where the Dettah ice road runs is only measured at 2.5 inches.
