48 AMERICAN SNOWMOBILER • http://www.AmSnow.com ON THE WEB //^ More Sled Tests at
http://www.AmSnow.com/sledtestsAvoid avalanches by planning rides
October is a great time of
year for snowmobilers in the West.
There’s a chill in the air, replacing those
hot days of late summer and early fall and
the snowmobile events begin to populate
the calendar.■ (^) Avalanche Awareness
That was the case this past October when
the Utah Snowmobile Show hit my home-
town of Sandy, Utah. I knew it would be a
great opportunity to look at the latest
releases from the big manufacturers,
check out new clothing, gloves and hel-
mets, and search for that newest must-
have accessory.
Turns out the hottest topic, alongside
snow bikes, was avalanche preparedness.
A few of the Utah dealers at the show had
recognized this need and, working with
Adam Scott from The Motoman, sched-
uled avalanche awareness sessions that
would take place in the days and weeks
following the snow show.
I went into the avalanche awareness
session feeling that I probably needed to
know more about the subject, especially
since I had just become the president of
the Salt Lake Valley Snowmobile Club and
would be planning rides and routes for
riders with varying levels of skills and
ambitions. Little did I know that I’d come
out of the session with a passion for ava-
lanche education and preparedness.
■ (^) AIARE
The event was led by Duncan Lee with the
support of Jeremy Henke, both of whom
have great experience as long-time back-
country riders and guides, and both of
whom have lived through their share of
avalanches. Duncan and Jeremy are heavi-
■ RIDE SMART BY BOB STOCKWELL