Snowmachine instructor highlights safety concerns

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Jeremy Larlee
  • JBER PAO
JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaska --  Snowmachining is one of the unique activities which Arctic Warriors can partake in at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson.

Riders need to keep in mind it is a privilege and not a right, said Tech. Sgt. Mike Bowser, snowmachine safety instructor.

"The actions of one bad apple can ruin this for everybody," he said. "If everybody is courteous and follows the rules, we will be fine."

He said riders on the Elmendorf side of the base are especially lucky because they can connect to the trails from their front yards. To keep that privilege, they need to recognize the hours of quiet in housing and refrain from running their machines at full throttle throughout the day as well.

Bowser said with regular riders of the trails, he often only has to update them on the status of the trails. He said the recent expansion of the base has modified the trails in some places.

"Just because you see a set of tracks doesn't mean you can go there," he said.

Another additional duty of his is to monitor the snowmachiners out on the trails as well. He said he is watching to make sure the riders are safely operating their snowmachines.

He looks to make sure their lights are functioning correctly and the machine is not falling apart.

He is also looking closely to make sure the machines are not leaking oil and gas.

"What we do during the winter can have a detrimental effect in the springtime when the snow melts," he said.
 
"We want to accommodate the rider, but we have to balance the environmental needs of the base as well."

Bowser said the liquids can leak into the ground and cause problems.
 
Also, many of the trails cross over lakes and leaking liquids could have a detrimental effect on fishing in those spots.

The weather this year has not provided prime riding conditions.

"One big concern this season has been the low amount of snow," he said. "We have to have one foot of packed snow to open the trails."

That amount of packed snow is needed to protect the ground from the high amount of torque that snowmachines are capable of producing.

Bowser said he is also concerned for the safety of the riders as well. He stresses that all riders should bring extra maintenance parts, spare gasoline and water every time they hit the trails.

He fears that riders can sometimes underestimate just how fast they are traveling.
"You can ride further in an hour than you walk in a day," he said.

Bowser said that one piece of advice that he passes on to anybody who recreates in Alaska is to always let somebody know where you are going.

"If you don't tell somebody where you are going this state will eat you alive," he said. "It's beautiful, but it's also very dangerous and not very forgiving of mistakes."