Off-trail snowmobiling has been growing quite a bit in the last few years and many people are moving into this very exciting niche. Sometimes, when starting a new sport or simply changing our habits from the trail to the mountain, we sometimes say to ourselves: “Why didn’t I bring this item or that extra piece of laundry or …?
Here’s a handy guide to the essentials you need to have with you, and most importantly, what you need to have a great day in the backcountry.
First, the most important item in my opinion is without a doubt the bag. It must be absolutely well adapted for mountain snowmobiling. It should be waterproof, resistant, adjusted to the body with straps for comfort and especially to avoid that it moves. If it is not securely attached to you, it could be very harmful to you during maneuvers.
In addition, it is important to choose a model with many pockets to organize the many items and not waste too much time looking for them, but still be designed to receive a shovel for example.
In my case, I opted for the FXR Ride Pack 18. I can tell you that it is waterproof, very resistant for having “shuffled” it quite a bit and the pockets are really well arranged to find all the items quickly. It also helps when you’re getting ready and can validate that everything is in its usual place. You will quickly establish a routine and an order where to put each item that I will describe below.
Here is a list of my essentials…
It is important to stay well hydrated throughout the day. Therefore, water bottles are a must. Even if, during cold days, it seems less important to drink water, it is also important to do so. Especially when you do a lot of off-trail snowmobiling. There is a good level of sweating and it is essential to keep in good shape. In addition, one could also consider bringing electrolyte loaded drinks such as Gatorade for example.
Obviously, when you leave for a full day, you have to eat. So a sandwich or some other simple food is in order. A little tip: You can wrap it in aluminum foil and heat it up in the engine compartment when you take your lunch break. It’s nice to eat hot when it’s cold outside. Speaking of warmth, a thermos with a hot beverage such as coffee or tea is definitely a “must” to have with you. It’s always comforting and helps fight the chill we all get after stopping to eat.
I also plan to have a few snacks throughout the day since a day of off-roading requires a lot of energy. So I bring foods like protein bars, nuts, beef jerky, etc. In short, anything that provides good energy while minimizing space and weight of course.
We certainly know that we will most likely end up in unfortunate positions and get stuck deep in the snow at one point or another. To get you out of trouble and to limit the efforts required, a shovel is definitely a good investment and even if it increases the weight in your back, it is worth its weight in gold to keep all your energy to drive your snowmobile.
A portable saw is also a great item to bring with you to cut a branch or even a tree in the path. When you get into a position where the only way out is forward, there is no way to turn back because it will take too much time to turn around. Thus, it will be easy to clear the few obstacles in front of us with the saw.
After long hours of “struggling” in the snow and a lot of energy expended, we need to think about a dry change for some of the items in our outfit. Thus, an extra pair of thicker gloves for the return trip is worth carrying. Also, a second balaclava is really necessary and will take up almost no space in your bag.
Bringing a second pair of goggles is a good idea because with the effort required for off-trail skiing, the humidity accumulated in your goggles may cause them to fog up and eventually start to frost. We have all experienced this situation when we come back, the temperature has dropped by ten degrees and we can’t see anything in our visor or goggles. It is frightening and especially very dangerous. We never forget it after this kind of experience.
Having an extra thermal vest is also a good practice to have since after all these efforts, we are more prone to chills and in the worst case, hypothermia… especially when our under layer is soaked.
Although not everyone is mechanically inclined, it is important to bring along a few basic tools such as; a screwdriver, a pair of pliers, a wrench, a spark plug wrench, Ty-Rap and a Swiss Army knife. Often, unexpected things happen and that’s when you wish you had them. Plan ahead.
I don’t think I need to mention it, but you never know: spare spark plugs and a belt although they should always follow you. And if it’s impossible to fix you to get back to your destination, the rope will be your best friend at that moment.
Very few people go to very remote places, but we have all heard horror stories where people had to stay more than a day, lost in the cold of winter. If you plan to go very far, a small survival kit could be in order with a thermal blanket to capture the heat, matches against the humidity, a fire starter to start a fire, etc.
This is my personal list of items that I bring with me on my off-trail snowmobile trips. Although it may seem like a long list, it makes you so happy when something happens to you and you know you are well equipped to handle the situation without too much trouble.
