International Snowmobile Safety Week arrives at the perfect time for the Raccoon Valley Radio-listening area as snowmobilers are beginning to take advantage of the recent winter wonderland.

Raccoon Valley Snow Chasers Media Director Jim Wyckoff reminds snowmobilers that they must have their vehicle registered through their County Recorder’s office, a permit for riding on the Raccoon River Valley Trail, and those under the age of 18 must have an education certificate issued by the Iowa Department of Natural Resources.

Before you hit the trails, Wyckoff recommends making sure that your snowmobile has been properly maintenanced, “Most snowmobiles are two cycle engines so you’ll want to check the injector oil in that snowmobile. You’ll want to do a visual inspection of the track, make sure your lights work, make sure your stop light works, of course you’ll want to make sure it’s full of gas.”

While Wyckoff says the Raccoon Valley Snow Chasers have already been out grooming the trails, he recommends at least six inches of snow on the ground for a successful ride. He also reminds riders that no ice is completely safe, but that at least five inches of new, clear ice should bear a snowmobile. You can hear more from Wyckoff during a two-part Let’s Talk Guthrie County program on air and at raccoonvalleyradio.com.