New Snowmobiling Regs Needed

(Aired on May 11, 2010)

Last week, I didn't agree with Kevin Krueger over his thoughts about banning big rigs from Highway 5A. Today, I am agreeing with him on another topic, the need to impose some rules against high-marking and other high-risk back country behaviour.

High marking, for those who don't know, is a popular activity performed by snowmobilers in mountainous terrain, where the snowmobile operator tries to ride as far up a steep mountain slope as possible, then turn around and come back down the hill without getting stuck, rolling the snowmobile or losing power. It's extreme, and for those who enjoy that kind of activity, probably gives them a huge rush. But it can be very dangerous, and it's time some kind of regulations were put in place.

I agree with Krueger when he says you don't want more regulation than you need, and you don't want regulations you can't enforce. The problem is that those who want the thrill are going to do it anyway. Back country activity, whether it's winter or summer fun, always carries an element of risk, and we shouldn't prevent people from undertaking that risk if they understand it, and still want to partage. But the rub comes when other lives are put in danger. When a snowmobiler or a a high country skiier, or a mountain climber has an accident, people have to go in and rescue them. And that's just as dangerous as the original activity. And why should rescuers put their lives in danger because some goomba was out for a weekend thrill? That's the fine line the government has to deal with.

We have helicopter skiing companies taking people to remote areas to ski. These companies are well trained, have good safety records and are well-prepared for emergencies. Still doesn't avoid accidents, but certainly reduces the chance. But what do you do when a group of snowmobilers decides to head out and do whatever they want on their own, with no guidelines or rules? Those are the people Krueger and the Liberals should be targeting.

We don't want to punish responsible riders for the sake of a few. Unfortunately, that might be hard to avoid to rein in the goofs who are causing most of the problem.