I recently received this question from a reader, Rachel. Rachel is new to riding and is looking for some advice regarding riding gear.  Here’s her question and my answer, but maybe you have something more or better to suggest?  Please leave your advice for Rachel below in the comments (and if you have any, send them my way–see the contact page to find out where!)

The Question

I have a few questions about snowmobile gear that I was hoping you could help with. My boyfriend loves to ride and introduced me to his love last winter. I bundled up in everything I had and some of his stuff too in attempts to stay warm all day, without sweating. I am having the hardest time finding gear specifically designed for a woman, especially a small woman. I am only 5′3″ and about 110lbs. Can you recommend brands or specific products that will keep me warm without adding too much bulk, and maybe even look attractive in? I specifically need boots that will be warm enough, and tall enough to keep the snow out when I get stuck…I am still learning how to manuver through the wash out.

The Answer

The industry has gotten a lot better with attractive & fitting women’s clothing. Any of the sled manufacturers/dealers will have name-brand stuff that should be well suited and warm. Not sure what you’re riding or if you have any particular preference but if you go to a Polaris dealer, etc they should be happy to help. I’d check eBay too because I know one of my girlfriends gets some nice name-brand stuff for reasonable prices.

This is a good time of year to check the dealers, too, because they’ll often clear out last year’s styles.

If you don’t care about the names, and the price tags they carry, check out parts and supply catalogs. Dennis Kirk is a good one and they were featuring some nice women’s styles on the cover this year, getting a little more in tune with that market. Another one we often shop with decent pricing is Shade Tree Powersports (should be able to Google either of those).

I have to say I’m not huge into name tags and don’t usually pay the extra cost. I ride with a good pair of Sorel (Sorrel?) boots, bib ski pants (although some will argue to go with the ones made for riding because they have dual layers where you might get wet), and a Columbia 3-season jacket and gloves. The 3 season jacket is nice because I have the opttion of layers when it’s warmer riding. I’ll tell you that coat has kept me SO WARM. I’ve almost never been cold, and never seriously so, when we were riding–even when my hub and male counterparts were. And that says something because I’m ALWAYS cold, indoors and out.

Seems the chill in the air is bringing us all out of our heat-induced comas.  Everyone is getting ready online and off, waiting for big huge dumps of snow (glorious snow!!!) and gearing up their blogs and snowmobile sites.  So today it’s time to weed through some emails and send you on your way to other great sled sites of interest (at least, the ones who were kind enough to email or feature me lately ).

Rippin’ Round The Web

Kristy-Martin.com

I posted the other day about Kristy Martin’s new site.  DO NOT  forget to stop by.  She might be the coolest sled chick I [kind of] know (duh–after me of course, I’m that conceited :)  just kidding).  At the very least, she definitely has bragging rights to the coolest sled-chick pictures.  I barely have any of myself, as I’m the one always carries the camera, unless Sarah is with us (don’t listen to what I said earlier Sarah, you’re the coolest sledchick I know).  They wouldn’t be nearly so adventurous anyway.  But hey–if you have cool pics of a sled chick riding, send them in and give her a run for her money.  And by that (Men get your heads out of the gutter) I mean REAL pictures like Kristy’s–of REAL women riding REAL SNOWMOBILES.  On snow.  IN winter.  Clad in weather-protective clothing with freeze ratings and everything.  No bikini shots.

To get back on subject, here are the pages you have to visit at Kristy’s site:

There’s the Home Page,  of course, but pay particular attention to some great events and causes on this page.  You really want to read more about Kristy while you’re there, too.

ZenWaiter

We can never forget our good buddy Zen, who pops in from time to time to keep me motivated by featuring the SledChix blog on his site (click on this week’s featured snowmobile blog and see where you come back to ).  By the way, he’ll be at NOVI next week to, so give him a shout if you see him!  He’ll be the loud, hairy Canadian I’d guess LOL.  He’s doing 4 shows with snowtrailstv.com on PBS this winter, which I cannot wait to see!  Zen has a much more comprehensive list of snowmobile shows than I have, be sure to check that out.  He’s got his own page full o’ podcasts, and hey!  Zen blogs, too.  Read it here: Zenwaiter blog.  One day maybe he’ll even come by and explain that name…

SkinnyMoose’s Own CamoGirl

She’s not a sledder, but she’s a girl with a gun so don’t go pi$$ing off CamoGirl. She does have a love of the outdoors to rival any girly sledhead or guy, and from time to time she features women snowmobilers, as she did in this post last week.  Thanks for the heads up!

Okay I THINK that’s all of you for now, but since I know you are all still groggy from the long summer and still coming back to life, I know that more will be coming up soon.  Do tell!  No fair keeping secrets, share the link and we’ll share the love.  Send your website or event, or Kitty, maybe your latest snowmobile shirts and products (with pics)?

Winter is a comin’!  It’s time to come back to life!

Send it all to sledderchick@gmail.com

In case you forgot, this is the weekend–the New England Snowmobile Expo.  It happens today and tomorrow, so there’s still time to attend.

NOVI is coming up, too, at the end of the month.  More SeldChix details here (with links!).

Before I go, another thing you all need to know is that Kristy Martin has her own girly backcountry riding site up and running and promising really great things!  Stop in and have a look, but keep going back because there’s lots more in the works!

Dancing for snow….

It always happens tight after the influx of parts and apparel catalogs.  you know what I’m talking about–the fall snowmobile expo season!  Here are a couple details on a couple I’ve been made aware of thus far.

New England Snowmobile Expo

Held annually at the ‘Big E’ Eastern States Exposition Center, this year the expo is on October 18 and 19.  SAM members get in free, so maybe consider renewing membership before you go (or you can do it there at the SAM booth).

A few details….

2008 NEW ENGLAND SNOWMOBILE EXPO
October 18-19, 2008 Saturday, 10 AM to 8 PM
Sunday, 10 AM to 4 PM

SAM Members can attend the New England Snowmobile Expo FREE on either October 18th or 19th, 2008 with proof of their SAM membership.

We will be accepting your 07/08 pink slip or your 08/09 pink slip from your trail pass membership. 1 trail pass per person.

At the entrance for tickets; there will be a MEMBERS ONLY booth where SAM members will be able to have their pink ticket stamped for a wrist band for the show. (Bring ID too).

You will also be able to purchase your 08/09 SAM Member Trail Pass at the door for $50.00 per pass.

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The 17th Annual New England Snowmobile Expo at the Big E - LARGEST SELLING SHOW IN NEW ENGLAND

Travel & Tourism Exhibits
Dealer & Factory Exhibits
All Indoors
Incredible Savings
Used Sled Corral - Buy and Sell!

Here’s a link for more on the New England Snowmobile Expo, 2008.

NOVI Snowmobile Show Oct 31 - Nov 2

I have it on good faith that Supertrax will be there.  If you are too, tell them the SledChick said ‘Hello’!

• Show is located at the Rock Financial Showplace
• 214,000 sq. ft. of indoor exhibit space
• Fri: 5pm-10pm; Sat: 10am-8pm; Sun: 10am-4pm
• $10.00 adults, children under 12 admitted free
• Lodging available at: Double Tree Hotel (248)344-8800  full service & lounge
• Lodging available at: Crowne Plaza Hotel (248)348-5000 5 miniutes N of show, full food service & lounge

Snomads Snofari Club for the 8th year in a row will be putting on the Snowmobile Safety Certificate Class on Saturday, starting at 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The class provides and education in safe snowmobile operation, environmental responsibility, snowmobile laws and citizenship to snowmobilers. The class will be taught by members of Snomads Snofari Club, who are certified as Instructors by the Department of Natural Resources. The class is open to ages 12 and up. Registration is required, call (248-477-0940)

Wear your walking shoes! This show is equal to 6 football fields. And every square foot will be filled with “pure snowmobiling” action! New floor plan has been designed to allow for easier traffic flow. A reminder for parents with young children, small wagons work great to carry both purchases & children around the show.

Here’s a link for a site with more on the NOVI Snowmobile Show, 2008.

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!

Let’s play another game of “find the difference.”

Here’s the Vermont state snowmobile law governing age restrictions for ATV’s and sledding. See if you can see how it differs from Massachusetts.

Incidentally, the Vermont laws are considered leaders for sledding and ATV’s by leading snowmobile organizations in Massachusetts, including the Snowmobile Association of Massachusetts (SAM), so you have to wonder why Mass feels it necessary to go further than their mentors…

Vermont Snowmobile & ATV Restrictions

(7) By a child under eight years of age unless he or she is on land owned by his or her parents, family, or legal guardian.

(8) By a person born after July 1, 1983, on private or public land and water without first obtaining a certificate of snowmobile education, unless he or she is operating on land owned, leased or farmed by his or her parents, family or guardian or the operator is the land owner.

(A) A person who is required to have a certificate of snowmobile education shall:

(i) possess the certificate when operating a snowmobile on public or private lands and waters of the state; and

(ii) show the certificate on demand of an enforcement officer wearing an insignia identifying him or her as a law enforcement officer. However, no person charged with violating this subdivision shall be convicted if the person produces in court, to the officer, or to a state’s attorney, a certificate which was valid at the time the violation occurred.

(B) The following persons are exempt from the requirements of this subdivision:

(i) a person is operating on land owned by his or her parents, family, or guardian or the operator is the landowner;

(ii) any other person exempted by rules of the department of public safety;

(iii) any person who is under the direct supervision of a certified snowmobile safety instructor;

(iv) a child not yet 12 years of age, but not younger than eight when under the direct supervision of a parent or legal guardian who shall be liable for the actions of the child.

Vermont Snowmobile Law Resources

You can read the full text of the law here:

Vermont Snowmobile Laws

You can also read the State’s Snowmobile Operator’s manual, which summarizes and then details the law, here:

Vermont Snowmobile Operator’s Manual

Do you see the major difference yet?

Yes I’ve been gone for a bit.  It’s summer and it’s crazy.

I had mentioned before, though, that I had Maine and Vermont snowmobile age restriction laws, too.  Here’s a snippet of the Maine law, the part we’re concerned with today.  Have a look and see if you can tell me the fundamental difference between this one and Massachusetts’.

Maine Snowmobile & ATV Age Requirements

• Anyone who allows a person under 18 years of age to operate a snowmobile is liable (jointly with the minor’s parent or guardian) for any damages caused in the operation of that snowmobile). See Section 13108
• Children must be 10 years of age or older to operate a snowmobile, unaccompanied by an adult, on land other than that owned by their parent or guardian and must be 14 years of age before crossing public ways.
• Imprudent operation is not limited to state maintained trails; it is now prohibited on any trail.

Similar, yes, but not the same.  Can you spot the difference?

It’s never to early to plan for the next snowmobiling season, is it?

My plans are usually pretty simple–head north to Maine and leverage as much babysitting time as possible to get in as much riding as possible.  But you know, best laid plans….

I do have a list of places I’d love to ride.  Alaska and Glaciers are on there, but probably not until the kids are all grown and out of school.  Since the littlest is still 2+ years away from Kindergarten, that’ll be a bit.

My shorter-term plan is to one of these days get to Canada. It’s a lot closer and a lot more affordable since we are actally within driving distance.  One of the websites where I dare to dream about my Canada Snowmobling vacation is this one: Snowmobile Canada & Maritimes.

The site is very informative, including snowmobile trail maps, things to do, places to sled, and places to stay, along with a lot of other info of interest. One of these day that’s where I’ll be sledding.

What locations are on your list?  Do share!