There is a very simple system of signals that all snowmobilers should know and use when riding on the trails. These hand signals have been approved by the Canadian Council of Snowmobile Organizations, and they allow you to convey essential information to other snowmobilers who are following or approaching you. North American Snowmachine Facts The average age of a snowmobiler is 41 years old (2012) The average family income of sledders is $68,000/year. Many clubs raise money for local causes, $3 million for charities in 2011/12. There were 1.4 million registered machines in the US, and 593,248 in Canada in 2012.
The Economic Impact of Snowmobiling:
* United States - $23 billion annually
* Canada - $7 billion annually
* Europe & Russia - $4 billion annually
Highmarkingaccounts for more than 63 percent of the avalanche fatalities involving snowmobilers in North America. Tracks on a slope do not mean that a slope is safe.
Of course, the most common incidents are the avalanches out west, where the snow is fragile, susceptible to the loud machines, and where sledders like high marking.
A snowmobiler was on the trail at 10:00 at night. Driving too fast to stop or avoid the moose, he hit his head while trying to drive under said moose. He died of head injuries.
This is the 7th sledder to die in Quebec this winter.
Except as provided in the Act respecting off-highway vehicles, it is illegal to operate a snowmobile on public roads.
It is illegal to ride within 30 m (100 ft.) of a dwelling, a health establishment, or an area that is reserved for cultural, educational, or sports activities.
Trail security officersare volunteers who patrol the trails in order to increase awareness of the importance of obeying the law. Their work requires know-how and dedication, and they deserve your respect and your complete cooperation.
The speed limit for snowmobiles is 70 km/h (43 mph). Within 30 m (100 ft.) of a dwelling, the speed limit is reduced to 30 km/h (19 mph).
Fatal accidents occurred more often on lakes (in 66% of the cases in which this information was known) than on roads (in 26%) or trails (in 8%). Weekend fatalities predominated, and deaths occurred most often during times of suboptimal lighting (from 4 pm to 8 am). The driver was killed in 84% of the cases in which the person's role was known. Alcohol use before death was implicated in 69% of the cases, the level exceeding the Ontario legal limit in 59%. CONCLUSION: Snowmobile-related deaths result from factors that are generally avoidable. Strategies need to be instituted to reduce the rate of these events.
I have written much about safe driving, especially in winter, when deer congregate in winter feeding areas.
With the bucks rutting and the ladies running from them in the fall, then hunting for food in winter, it can be crazy.
There have been several deaths due to cars hitting deer. Deer weigh between 100 - 300 lbs., they are quite heavy beasts despite their nimbleness.
Able to leap tall cars in a single bound.
My favourite yearling, Tigger, bounces around the yard. He dances, bounds, jumps, leaps. Entertaining and worth his weight in deer feed!
Each detachment keep information about individual detachment collisions. One has to visit the Police Service Board at the local township office to find the information for each Township. But here is an article I read after a press release...
OPP warn about the hazards of driving at dawn and dusk, but especially between 6 and 9 p.m. Animals are on the move during the fall seasons (Oct., Nov., Dec.). Now they are desperate for food. The story doesn't always end well for the driver. Seldom ends well for Bambi.
Use your high beams.
Watch for unsafe passing conditions.
If you can't avoid hitting the deer, due to an oncoming car, then do better the deer than the car.
Look in the ditches, watch for deer in the headlights.
Many have posted information about avoiding deer collisions. Even EMS crews are not immune. See EverydayEmsTips, for one post on how to avoid them.
storage shed/wood shed
While we have much lower stats in Ontario, our population is 1/10th of that in the US' 300 million...
When you consider the population of the US, the numbers are staggering.
In 35 states there are 7,000 collisions a year. With an increase of cars on the road of 7%, New Jersey and Nebraska have posted the largest increase: 54 percent. Kansas is next at 41 percent. Deer-vehicle collisions have jumped by 38 percent in Florida, Mississippi and Arkansas, followed by Oklahoma (34%) and West Virginia, North Carolina and Texas (33 %).
Using its claims data, insurer State Farm estimates 2.4 million collisions between deer and vehicles occurred in the United States during the 2-year period between July 1, 2007 and June 30, 2009 (100,000 per month). That's 18.3 percent more than 5 years earlier.
Same old, same old. I have rewritten this post to include current data.
Another dreadful week in Ontario. Three deaths on the roads, more drownings. Our laws say that there must be one life-jacket per person on-board a vessel. Not having one can result in a $250 fine.
As of today, Aug. 20th, the number of drownings in Ontario from January to today is 90. The total for the same time last year is 87. This includes drownings in lakes, rivers and pools."
Since May 6 toddlers have died in Ontario. Ottawa woman, 19, latest summer drowning Ottawa Citizen
One man, 26-year-old Michel Daoust, died after jumping from a cliff into Otty Lake near Perth. In the latest tragedy, police and firefighters were called to the scene. He jumped off at about 3:50 p.m. and didn't surface. His body was recovered.
A 24-year-old Mississauga man died Thursday at Sauble Beach, the latest in a string of drownings inOntario this week. The man, whose identity has not been released, had been swimming in rough waters in Lake Huron, where two other young people drowned this week.
The drowning at Sherkston Shores park Thursday evening was the second Lake Erie drowning in Ontario this week. Marco Butler, 18, of Stoney Creek.
4. Body of woman drowned near Perth found19 Aug 2010 ... Police have found the body of 19-year-old Kristen Cross, of Ottawa, who disappeared Wednesday while swimming in a lake about 30 kilometres west of Perth, S.W. of Ottawa, on Dalhousie Lake.
Locals know that the lake is a lovely shallow lake, but 400metres is a long swim, especially if you are drunk. One person dropped her off in the lake, and took off on Wednesday afternoon. On Thursday afternoon her body was found.
The law says that boats and Personal Water Craft (PWC) must have a life jacket on board, but adults make choices not to wear them.
For the most part, clever parents put life jackets on children.
I would hope that this tragedy will be a lesson that will prevent another death.
3. Another drowning: Station Beach in Kincardine On Monday, August 16th, Oksana Milovanovic, a 16-year old exchange student from Vertou, France. Her body was found at around 7 a.m. on the shores of Kincardine beach, approximately one kilometre north of where she was last seen. Oksana Milovanovic went missing in Lake Huron on her second day in Canada. Her body was found Thursday, August 19th. This is the 3rd drowning this week.
The OPP marine unit, underwater search and rescue unit, and an OPP helicopter as well as detachment members on foot and ATVs were involved in the search for Milovanovic. Condolences to the family, whom the OPP met at the airport.
19 Aug 2010 ... A 10-year-old boy is dead and a 63-year-old woman is in hospital following a canoeing mishap that led to an overnight search on Georgian Bay.
10 Jul 2010 ... Witnesses said the 31-year-old victim waded into the river to his death marks the fourth drowning in the Georgian Bay area this year.
We have had so many drownings, but the causes vary. Mandatory life jackets will not prevent swimming and alcohol-related drownings. But they should be mandatory for children on a boat. Even then, as with the Georgian Bay incident, winds come up suddenly, a current takes them down the lake or river. In addition, as the Marine Division of the OPP have been saying, kid's inflatable toys are not life preservers and belong in a pool, not in a lake, with boats and the wind creating large waves.
The family, at left, has a child in front (which is illegal) and lost the one in the back (which is just stupid). If they are going to participate in stupid, illegal activities, they are not going to follow mandated life jackets!
Immigrants are at higher risk for drowning while boating and swimming than people born in Canada, according to research from the Lifesaving Society.
Almost 20 per cent of immigrants are non-swimmers, compared to 4 per cent of people born in Canada, the study found. When they see 'locals' swimming at a fishing hole, e.g., Bala Falls, they jump in, too, unaware of the current and ignoring signage. last year in Bala, two men drowned (non-swimmers) who chased after a child floating away while wearing a life jacket.
I believe that adults should be given the benefit of making their own life choices. People swimming, non-swimmers falling into the water, high-speed boats, there are many reasons for people drowning...
waterskiing without a spotter
children swimming alone, or in dangerous water
young males swimming in dangerous places (three this year)
Poor equipment or equipment failure
seniors swimming alone (a sector that is increasing due to demographics, and a stubborn independence!)
inexperienced canoeists (two in 2009m a couple more this year)
inexperienced swimmers near a dam (one last year, 2 this year)
Personal Watercraft (PWC) operators speeding
people unfamiliar with boats (bad enough)
too many boats in a small area
fishing drunk (even worse)
boating drunk (the worst)
But the majority of drownings occur when males are fishing. Honestly! Fishing: the cause of more deaths
14 May 2009
In the decade from 1991-2000, there were 5,900 water-related deaths in Canada; of that total, 889 died fishing. More fishers drown than swimmers. And more fishers die than power boaters, canoeists, scuba divers, sailors and kayakers combined.
Ontario drownings continue.
Put the life jackets on the children at all times on a boat. But when I am quietly riding soberly in my canoe in September, when all is quiet, on a calm, still day, surely I should be able to make my own decision. The life jacket is there and no one is around. My husband demands I wear it, and I do, but I think this type of a law crosses the boundary.
There are always going to be drownings, although many are preventable. We phoned the police last year since cottage renters were drinking, setting off fireworks and being raucous in the wee hours. A bit later, after the police had visited and told them to be quiet, they then went out on the water. You could hear that they had been drinking. These people could have drowned. I heard them. They were being crazy. If we wanted to prevent drownings we could force everyone near the water or swimming to wear them. But this is ridiculous. Adults make stupid choices. Adults who fish and drink, who stand up in boats without life jackets, are taking a risk. They know it. Adults who swim in the dark while drunk make choices. We cannot legislate smart behaviour. ~~~~~~~~My Muskoka: Watery Wednesday #48 (2009)By Jenn Jilks
I was quoted in the Globe and Mail: “Nothing's changed,” said Jennifer Jilks, a Muskoka cottager for more than 40 years and author of My Muskoka. “The attitude is, they come up here and it's party time.”
1 Jun 2010 ... Moose FM CFBG 99.5 - Police confirm body parts found in Muskoka do belong to the same victim. But they won’t say what remains were found. OPP Constable Peter Leon says additional pieces of the murder victim are still missing. Police do say the white male was violently dismembered.
What is the world coming to?! Our May 24 long weekend was the safest one ever, though.
Lots of people, with lots of near-misses, but a great time had by many.
Hydro crews take a much-needed lunch break, especially after recent storms. They've been working hard to clear up after storms, and working on the trees threatening hydro wires. They work in all seasons (see below)!
Many are still recovering from our local storm from Friday night.
Wouldn't catch me climbing THIS tree! I'm with the guy with the HUGE chain saw down below!
Another storm two nights ago. Lots of lightning, as you can see from my video, but isolated, as not all of Muskoka had rain. Watch out for dry land, susceptible to fires. Quebec is having a bad time, with the city of Ottawa having issues with drifting smoke.
These guys on the barge waved madly as I appeared to be a tourist taking photos!
In terms of safety, drinking and driving incidents and drownings are down, in total in Muskoka. With a huge arrest for drugs:
MUSKOKA — OPP officers raided five homes on the morning of May 27, seizing a quantity of drugs with an estimated street value of $50,000, following a seven-month undercover operation targeting 31 Muskoka residents alleged to be involved in street-level drug trafficking.
Addiction issues in Muskoka are a problem. With fewer resources than the city (human, financial and institutional resources), many must drive long distances for counselling and therapy. Many cannot afford it. This is The Myths of Muskoka: all are happy, rich, wealthy. It takes a huge infrastructure to support a 3-season economy. And many choose this lifestyle, no question. As I explained to a Macleans reporter yesterday, not all are cottaging in multimillion dollar seasonal homes! Many have inherited modest cottages bought in the days when property (like ours in 1960) sold for $2000! Housing is a difficult issue in Muskoka. In the spring of 2009, vacancy rates for Muskoka were 2.8%. Industry standards say that 3% is considered a “healthy” vacancy rate. There are approximately 450 households waiting for rent-geared-to income housing in Muskoka (2009).
However, news reports of people 'from away' doing dastardly deeds is so unsettling. With many who live and play in Muskoka, we have great people around us. Thank goodness for our OPP who come to our rescue. Bless them all.
A couple of men tried to party crash at a rental cottage in Doe Lake, where a couple of Orillia women were renting. They told the women that the landlord sent them to check fire alarms. No deal. Sent away, they returned at 1:00 a.m., wanting to share their beer. No dice. A fight ensued and police were called.
Even the seagulls behave better than this. It took off when we ignored it eating our panini at Annie's Cafe eating in the great outdoors.
Bala Falls is a dangerous part of Muskoka.
This is a dam, intended to hold back water and regulate water depths, as in spring and winter water can be high. The most recent storm raised our water depth by about 6" in a matter of hours.
young males swimming in dangerous places (three in 2009)
seniors swimming alone (a sector that is increasing due to demographics, and a stubborn independence!)
inexperienced canoeists (two in 2008)
inexperienced swimmers near a dam (one in 2008, two in 2009)
Personal Watercraft (PWC) operators speeding or driving dangerously
people unfamiliar with boats (bad enough)
too many boats in a small area
fishing drunk (even worse)
boating drunk (the worst)
EMS crews and Volunteer Services were called for 9 drownings in summer 2008. In 2009 we had 11 drownings.
Water Safety is a basic issue of importance at the cottage.
I am continually amazed at people who insist on their right to swim in Bala Falls. It is dangerous for many, especially strangers who do not know its history.
They ignore signs warning of fast water. Last year two men drowned trying to rescue a young girl swept away by the current.
Moon River is a beautiful spot to visit, but a dangerous one, too. The swift running water sweeps souls away in an instant. The undertow is powerful.
This dad was visiting the falls with his two preschoolers and a dog. It appeared that Grandma and Grandpa were up top with another dog.
Perhaps there should be a sign or a memorial to those who drowned there. The basic 'DANGER' signs are ignored.
All it would take is one little slip. Having had three kids, I know how quick they are!
We debated interfering, but they left shortly after. We were bothrelieved.
We welcome our tourists, and seasonal residents, but this is an accident waiting to happen.
Tourist bring much-needed business to this small town. For that we are all grateful.
Snowmobile speeds in Ontario:
