Snowmobiling with kids can be a fun way to spend an afternoon! We’d been wanting to plan a snowmobile outing with friends for a while and the “try our trails” weekend was the perfect excuse to make it happen. “Try our trails” is a promotion put on by the Ontario Federation of Snowmobiles Club that promotes the use of groomed trails throughout Ontario. Normally, we find the seasonal pass to be out of our budget; coming in at a steep $270. With our winter weather being so variable from year to year and with our desire to do a variety of activities, it’s not worth the price for the amount of time we would actually use the trail pass. So when the opportunity arises for a free weekend we most certainly make the most of it!
The weather never seems to cooperate when you want it to. We were lucky that it was relatively warm but the overcast sky cast a gloom over the day – and the photos! We had originally planned on a much longer trip but those plans quickly changed to accommodate for the youngest members of the group. Our main group consisted of 7 adults and 5 kids ranging in age from 4 to 12 years old. We planned on staying on the trails close to our town, meet up with some friends from Heyden, and then travel back to eat lunch at a local restaurant.
Lessons learned when snowmobiling with young children
One thing we learned very quickly when snowmobiling with young children is that it is very important to plan ahead. We’ve taken our 4 year old on a number of short trips around our house to get him used to the machine. Keep in mind that every child’s tolerance level for such activities is different so plan the length of the trip accordingly. The last thing you want to experience is being out in the backwood trails with a crying, hysterical child. This can turn an enjoyable day trip into a negative experience for all involved.
I’ve noticed that trips with children are always very different than trips as a couple. I tend to feel needlessly anxious when doing anything remotely dangerous with the kids. The key is to pay attention to safety but not to let those anxieties prevent you from having fun. On this particular trip, I was able to calm myself by paying attention to the beautiful countryside. The rocky terrain with snow-covered trees was quite breathtaking and helped to calm me.
We made frequent stops to make sure everyone was okay and to give the kids a break. On one of these stops, our 4-year old started to complain about being cold. It was a mild day so it was hard to believe that he was really that cold. However, I always take his complaints seriously. Out came the HotHands for his hands and feet. These hand and foot warmers are great to always have in your pack as you never know when you may need them. At this point, we were on our way back to town and to warm up at a local restaurant.
In retrospect, the trip was a bit too long for the youngest members of our group. The 2 young boys fell asleep on the way back to town. Holding on to a sleeping child and a snowmachine is a different experience, although it did give my arms and legs a much needed workout! When we got to the restaurant I realized how cold our little one was. He was shivering and his teeth were chattering. Luckily, with some warm food and wrapped in my coat, he quickly recovered and was ready to get back to the trails!
Tips for snowmobiling with kids
Taking an afternoon snowmobile trip was a fun way to spend a winter day as a family. Here are some tips I have from our experience:
(1) Plan ahead but be flexible! Expect that you may have to change your plans depending on how your little ones are faring.
(2) Check to make sure your child is warm. I explained to my son that he needed to tell me when he started getting cold before we started the trip. Be prepared that your child may not actually say anything until they are REALLY cold, or they may not say anything at all.
(3) Pack an emergency kit with extra clothing, first aid kit, hand and foot warmers such as HotHands, snacks and drinks.
(4) Safety should be number one but don’t forget to enjoy yourself! That is the point of the trip after all 🙂
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