The recent post about the questions Duke had for the ABS Avalanche backpack has attracted the interest of our resident adventure guide, Jason Hendricks, aka The Adventurist.  In the comments section of that post he asks,

Alright, Mary. You have piqued my interest. What he!! [ed] is an ABS Avalanche backpack? What is it used for? Have you made another post concerning this? It is a bit intriguing that here might be something out there that I have never heard of-at least I don’t think.

I have to admit I thought for a moment about screwing with him, but after yelling at my kids who have been out of school far too long I just don’t have the creative energy to do it.  So to answer the question seriously, here is where Jason and you can find more information about the ABS Avalanche backpack.

The Lowdown on the ABS Avalanche Backpack

To answer your question very basically, Jason, the backpack is a life-saving device used by mountain sledders (and others I would imagine) designed to keep them atop the avalanche and prevent suffocating when the downslide settles. At least that’s what I uderstand it to be; I only ride trails, so it’s not something I have a use for but some of my readers (obviously) do.

Here is how the maker, Mountain Safety Sysytems Ltd, explains it:

An avalanche consists of different particles of snow. Those particles move underneath each body and push it to the surface by rotating until the avalanche slows down. This fact and the change of direction of the avalanche are the reason why approximately half of all avalanche victims end up on top of the avalanche….

A completely different scenario exists for those who do not end up on the surface of the avalanche. Once the avalanche slows down, rotation and lifting abilities also slow down. The victim cannot reach the surface anymore due to the higher density and lesser volume. In most cases this burial is deadly.

With the ABS you have 150 liters more volume …

Once activated, the ABS equalizes the volume and density of the victim relative to the surrounding snow by working on the principle of “inverse particles” .

As with a life vest in the water, the victims swims on the surface of the avalanche. The added volume of 150 liters has been calculated to be needed for cold, dry and loose snow. If the snow is denser, wetter and heavier less volume is needed. The statistics show that all victims carried down by a moving avalanche stayed on top and survived the incident (see the statistics) .

You can learn more about the products at the ABS Avalanche Backpack website.  And yes, we did talk about it here a while back; this post on SledChix blog talks about the new terms for distribution in North America and changes to the contract Klim has as its distributor.

Hope I was successful at telling you something you didn’t already know!

You might recall a while back when I posted about Klim taking on a broadened role as North American distributor of the ABS Avalanche backpacks. That sparked a question from one of my readers who wanted to buy American where he could, and wondered about the manufacture and construction of the backpack and components. Duke asked,

…do you know if any part of the ABS system is made here. IS the canister made in USA?

The answer wasn’t immediately apparent, but after emailing a very helpful customer service rep at Klim I was able to get an answer to Duke’s question. Here was Klim’s response, for those of you who want to know:

The ABS backpack is a German product and Klim has become the U.S. distributor for them… therefore it is not a U.S. made product. There is not a life saving avalanche pack in existence that is made in the U.S. right now. Where they have them made are a few different places I will list for you. The reason it is not made in one place is to make a bag to work so well with the greatest quality and best parts they found the best resources for each one of the pieces in various places.

The actual airbags inside the pack are manufactured in Germany .

The triggers used to set off the canisters are manufactured in Germany as well.

The bag itself fabric is made in the U.S. and is welded in China .

The canisters for the pack are manufactured in Canada and filled in the U.S.

You can find more information about the pack on their website www.abssystem.com or on our website www.klim.com.

So there we have it; components of the pack have US ties, but the pack in its entirety does not (not that much of anything is completely made here in the US anymore, anyway). You won’t find an avalanche backack that does at this point in time, but at least you can buy one whose major component is manufactured in the United States.

Hope that helps, Duke; stay safe!

Every state [with snow] has its own set of regulations governing who can and cannot ride snowmobiles. Some states are quite liberal–mostly those states that embrace the support as a family recreation and rely on its health and well-being as an income source– and others are quite restrictive (we won’t mention names, Massachusetts, but I’m sure there are others). For the record, do note that I have told you time and again that we ride in Maine even though we are Mass residents, so I won’t tell you that my young children ride in Massachsetts.

Why won’t I tell you that? Because that would be illegal. Thank you, great state, for taking away one of my rights as a parent–the right to let my children ride recreational vehicles as I see fit. Understand, too, that this doesn’t just apply to snowmobiles. This applies to all types of recreational vehicles, including ATV’s, and all sizes, including snowmobiles and ATV’s designed specifically for children–even those that govern down to 5 or 8 miles per hour. It doesn’t, however, apply to the battery-operated “toy” types that are less well built and go just as fast.

What I Think About Kids Riding Snowmobiles And ATV’s

I won’t bore you by rattling off all the laws of all the states; I’ll leave you to your own devices to find out what laws might apply to you (you might be surprised). Or maybe I’ll do that another day. For today I just want to talk about this in general. But I can tell you that the Massachusetts law is so restrictive that no child under 12 can ride legally in the state–even on your own property! Not even in sanctioned and approved racing events, either. Even at age 12 the law is restricting, and the ages for real riding increase to more like 14 to 16.

In case you haven’t guessed what I think about this yet, I think it is crap. I think that for a few reasons. The first of which is my parental rights being decided by another. Aside from beating my children and other reasonable leglities, I don’t like that. I don’t like it when other peple tell me how my kids should be raised. Especially people that know little to nothing about my lifestyle.

However, I’ve got better reasons, too. I believe that when you start kids young and teach them well they learn well. They learn how to enjoy a sport like snowmobiling and they learn from a responsible adult how to do it safely. At age five my child will listen to me. At age 16 that same child, placed with a high-horsepower sled under his thumb for the first time, will nod impatiently and gun the throttle. Lessons be damned.

Kids learn better at an early age. They have more respect for teachers and parents at an early age. And they have more fear of getting hurt. This is somehting you can capitalize on when kids start riding and respecting the ride from a young age. But it’s a window of opportunity that is missed by the time they are teenagers.

In my own humble opinion I think the states do a great disservice to children when they limit their snowmobiling opportunities when they are young. They mistakenly take away an important window of opportunity that could be used for far more good.

What do you think? Agree or disagree, but tell me why. Comments are open below.

Is it right to make this illegal?

We’re not mountain riders in our part of the country, but I do know we have some readers who are, so it seemed appropriate to pass along this update from AmSnow on the production and management of the ABS Avalanche backpacks.

As reported by American Snomobiler, Klim will continue to be the distributor for the packs for North America, Canada included; but major changes have been made that affect you as a consumer.  From AmSnow: “ All warranties will now be handled at Klim, where before, there was a third party handling warranty issues. Another major change is that canisters will now be filled here in North America”.  The latter part is especially important, as it means that the bottles will be easier to find and buy.

You can read the full post by AmSnow here, and you can also access a link there that takes you to a video which details how to use the pack properly.

As AmSnow reports, the increase in incidences of avalanches over the last couple years has made preparedness all the more important, so for you backcountry mountain riders, this post & pack are worth a look!

 Get more snowmobile news and product updates faster; susbscribe to the SledChix snowmobile blog.

Things like this just undesrcore the dangers of extended snowmobile seasons into warm weather. Read the full article from the Bangor Daily News.

 Basically the article is about a suspended search for a missing Connecticut snowmobiler.  The sled was found, but between high winds and thinning ice, the search had to be suspended for today. 

 The bigger point is that sledders really need to take care riding in early and late-season.  Another man drown a couple of weeks back when crossing water with an unexpected wide-open channel.  Even the warden who had gone by earlier that night said it was hard to tell in the dark that it wasn’t solid ice.

Sad situations all.  If you’re lucky enough to still be enjoying the nice, long snowmobiling season, please take care and stay off the water!

When I was looking up the links at the Maine Inland Wildlife & Fisheries Department the other day I also came across a posting on their site listing Snowmobile Facts for various seasons.  This year’s facts are not yet listed, since it’s an ongoing season (yes!  There is still riding going on in Maine!  Unfortunately I’m stuck here in MA).

 Now, mind you these are only statistics for the State of Maine.  The larger national picture would be much, well, larger.  Nevertheless I thought these statistics were telling of the real nature of our sport, as opposed to the reputation it is sometimes saddled with–one of being reckless and dangerous (of course we know there is danger inherent in snowmobiling, as there is in driving your car, crossing the street, and waking up in the morning…it’s all what you [and the other guy] do with it.

 Case In Point

Here’s an example of what I mean; look at the stats [from Maine IF&W] for the last 2 seasons on report:

2006-2007 Snowmobile Season:

• Registrations: 91,733
• Accidents: 172
• Injuries: 155
• Fatalities: 6. Helmets were worn by four of the victims; alcohol was not a factor in three of the deaths. One victim was hit by an SUV user who had consumed alcohol. Helmet and alcohol use was unknown in two of the deaths.
• Drownings: 1
• OUIs: 18

2005-2006 Snowmobile Season:

• Registrations: 75,235
• Accidents: 117
• Injuries: 92
• Fatalities: 7. Helmets were worn by all of the victims; alcohol was not a factor in five of the deaths. Alcohol use was unknown in two of the deaths.
• OUIs: 17

Considering the amount of registrations, to me the stats for accidents and fatalties do not look that bad.  If you consider that there were 91,733 snowmobile registrations in Maine [alone] last year, and only 155 injury-producing accidents out of those, then well under 1% of registrations produced snowmobile injury. (Feel free to correct me if my very rusty algebra skills are wrong!).

If we take this a step further and make some educated assumptions [based on our own riding habits] we can assume the sport to be even safer–I would assume that nearly 92,000 registrations equates to many more rides; the average snowmobiler doesn’t just register their snomobile to ride it once per season.

 While it is of course important to always remember that this sport can be more dangerous if you let it be (as in the case of the half of accidents that included alcohol as a factor), I take from this that the sport is probably much safer than most people think; the odds that you will die while snowmobiling appear to be very low, much lower than the low odds of being injured in a snowmobile accident.  I guess it’s like everything else in life–be aware, but don’t let miniscule chances of injury scare you away from a sport you love!

The Maine IF&W website has more sled-friendly tools on their site than just the snowmobiling video.  They also have helpful links to regstrations, safety info, and useful forms. 

 One of those forms you’ll find here:  Snowmobile Trip Itinerary from Maine IF&W

The form is, as you might have guessed, a trip itinerary form that you can fill out to outline your route for friends, family, and game wardens should you get lost.  We’ve talked about the importance of doing this before, and this quick & handy form let’s you know just what info to include so that you can be found easier in the case of a break-down or emergency.  It’s a general form, so you really don’t have to be snowmobiling in Maine to use it.

 There are even more useful things on the Maine IF&W website, and I’d venture that other sled-heavy states offer even more.  Stop by and see what you can use!

The Maine Snowmobile Association, in cooperation with the Maine Inland Fisheries & Wildlife Department, has made available a free snowmobile safety CD.  It’s an interactoive CD aimed at educating snowmobilers to Ride Safe.  It’s being promoted as a tool for sledders new and old, and for snowmobilers looking for tools to help educate their children in regards to safe riding practices.

 The CD itself is free for anyone in the US and Canada, but there is a cost to ship it.  To avoid the measly $5 shipping fee you can pick one up in person at an MSA location or event.

Here’s the low-down from the MSA:

Interactive Snowmobile Safety CD

INTERACTIVE SAFETY CD

Since the MSA and IF&W introduced the Ride Right, Ride Smart interactive snowmobile safety CD several years ago, thousands of snowmobilers have used this fun and innovative product to increase their safety knowledge. The program is designed for use on your personal computer, allowing you, your friends and family to take the course in your own home! Copies of the CD have been supplied to every middle and high school library in the state of Maine for the use of snowmobiling young people state-wide.
The course leads the rider on a virtual snowmobile trip across Maine. Using video and displayed text, the student learns the basics of snowmobile safety along the way. At various times on the trip, the rider must refuel their sled by taking a short quiz. Upon completion of the course, the rider can print out the tests and a completion certificate.
The CD is being distributed free of charge at the MSA office, 7 Noyes Place in Augusta, at the IF&W Info Center on State St. in Augusta, and at MSA meetings and events. If you wish to have a copy of the CD mailed to you (U.S./Canada only, please), we ask that you include $5 to cover postage and packaging. Send your request, mailing address and $5 per CD to: Safety CD, MSA, PO Box 80, Augusta ME 04332. If you require a Mac-compatible version of the CD, please note this on your request. (Fees waived for educators, librarians, youth/scout leaders, corporate safety committees, etc. - contact the MSA with your requests.)
The Ride Right, Ride Smart Safety CD was produced by Ursus Productions. Funding for the $20,000+ project was supplied by the Maine Outdoor Heritage Fund, IF&W Dedicated Snowmobile Enforcement Fund and the MSA’s Brian Wass Safety Education Fund.

*****

 You can also access the safety video directly through the Maine If&W website and view online.

More great and low-cost ways to teach and educate about safe snowmobiling!

Finally a Maine snowmobile accident story with a happy ending!

This story was in this afternoon’s Bangor Daily News. 

A New Hampshire man, his wife, and 12 year old daughter were riding the other night.  The father, apparently in the lead, became disoriented when snows turned to white-out conditions, and both he and his daughter (all on separate sleds), fell through thin ice on Lake Umbagog in Roxbury, Maine.  The daughter, thank God, got herself out quickly but the husband couldn’t make it out.  The quick-thinking wife took off her snowsuit and threw one end to her husband, and she and the daughter pulled him out to safety.  All three of them rode out on the one remaining snowmobile (the wife’s).  The man and wife were experiencing symptoms of hypothermia, but were able to reach a camp after 8 miles where they took shelter.

Read the full text here in the Bangor Daily News.

Wow!  Scary, but how smart?  Nice to hear something ending happy, and nice to hear that a 12 year old has the fortitude to keep it together in a perilous situation and save not only herself, but her Dad, too!  Somebody must be raising her right!

Glad to hear that all are OK.

Monday saw another snowmobiling fatality in Maine, this time a rider from Massachusetts who failed to negotiate a corner while riding at an “imprudent speed for conditions” (this coming from information in an article on Boston.com); that makes five (including the four over the weekend detailed in this post).  The situation, which brings the total for snowmobile-related deaths in Maine from the beginning of January to 9, has prompted the Maine Warden service to redirect their efforts “…toward snowmobile safety in the final weeks of the snowmobile season.”

 The Maine Warden Service has been fairly vocal over the past week, attempting to bring these incidences to light so that snowmobilers will remember to ride right and at reasonable speeds, ride defensively, and ride sober. As one representative is quoted as saying, “Snowmobiles are powerful machines, some reaching speeds in excess of 100 miles per hour and Maine trails simply are not designed for these high rates of speed…”  and sadly,  6 of these deaths were attributed to excessive speed (I believe one or two others were failure to stop at road crossings…more needless deaths).

The Maine Warden Service is stepping up patrols on snowmobile trails in an effort to prevent such deaths and warn that snowmobilers should expect to see more wardens on the trails in the last few weeks of the snowmobiling season.  I guess it remains to be seen whether this will really have the desired effect.

As a sledder, I think this also highlights a couple of facts–

•  Ours is a great but inherently dangerous sport, at least to a degree.  This won’t keep me from riding, but makes me a little more conscious of the fact, which is always good and I hope it spreads.
• You always have to be careful of others on the trail–even if you’re in control, there’s no guaranteeing the guy or girl around the next corner is.
• Careless riding and needless accidents draw negative attention to the sport, and increased policing of trails and riding….we all have seen how these things can end in our ever-increasing police states, so please, preserve the freedom of our sport by keeping it under reasonable control!

A sad state of affairs all around; what have you got to add to the discussion?