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Page 7, News, Tuesday, March 3 1992 The intrepid snowmobiler: your comfort is important when riding on the trail The snowmobile is a marvel of technology. Considering the physical pounding and extreme conditions to which mine is constantly subjected, it's a wonder that it simply doesn't shake itself apart beneath me. Or that it functions at all. But it does, and that's a comforting thought. And comfort is a prime con- sideration in a sport that whisks local snowmobilers miles off into the winter wilderness. So here are some comfort accessories that in my experience have proved their worth. Being cold is uncomfort- able. Being wet and cold is worse. If you've ever been caught in a freezing rain or wet snow, you know that normal snowmobile jackets soak through too easily, so I wear a water and wind proof Gore- Tex winter jacket with a removable, insulated, inner vest. The jacket has zippers that run under each arm which I can open for extra ventilation. A high collar and cuffs with velcro fasteners ensure that chilly winds stay outside. Underneath is several layers of Damart "double force" undergarments. Ugly but they work I've tried: various footwear, but finally settled on a pair of those ubiquitous, ugly green rubber boots sold at the local sporting goods store. They are mid-calf height, insulated, and best of all, unlike many fancy *fashion' boots, they are water proof. Any snowmobiler who has had a soaker stepping through ice at a swamp edge or pushing a machine bogged down in lake slush will appreciate: this boot that can be tied at the top for a snug fit. I only wish they - came in black. Many snowmobilers suffer from wet derriere. Mine is no exception. I complained about it one day while riding the Northern Corridor with Ontario Federation of Snowmobile Clubs' (OFSC) Director J.P. Ouellette. In reply he showed me his "Alaska" seat. Thick wool covers your backside and is held in place around the thighs with velcro. Income Tax Service Linda Pelto 824-3044 You can ride in comfort for hours with this seat and the waist band provides kidney support too. Another perpetual comfort problem is being able to see. I prefer an open-face helmet for two reasons: I wear glasses, which get in the way of putting a full face helmet on and off; also, I get uncomfortably hot and a little claustrophobic in a full face. But the larger field of vision which an open face hel- met gives me doesn't matter when the face shield fogs up and I can't see at all. I've tried all the various no" and "anti" for treatments. I've even tried washing the mask with dish detergent since the residue resists fog. Maybe I'm a particularly heavy breather, but nothing works for long. Then it's back to breath- ing through my mouth, wiping often and guessing where the trail goes. Like breathing through a snorkel I even tried diverting my hot breath through a snorkel taped to my helmet with the mouth piece firmly clenched between my teeth and the exhaust end over my shoulder. Actually, that works very well, but looks weird, makes talking difficult, and moist breath tends to freeze from the snorkel's end in tiny icicles down my back. Then I discovered Seer's Anti-Fog Coated Electric Face Mask. Operating on the same principle as your car's rear window defogger, the electric mask plugs into a wire run off your machine's electrical cir- cuit. There are three models: an electric kit which will fit most full helmet face shields, and for open face helmets, there's the standard electric and for a wider range of more extreme conditions, the delux Astro. It's wise to carry a spare fuse to replace the mask's in- line fuse if it should blow on the trail. I went for several days last season thinking that the face mask wiring had bumt out or that a connecting wire had broken, before realizing that the fuse e had blown. 'I may fry' And I've got to remember to disconnect myself when I get off the machine. But who cares, I can see. Other comfortable accessory include electric hand warmers (now standard on many machines), electric thumb warmers and for those with really cold feet, electric socks. In fact, I've got so many elec- - tric gadgets for my comfort that, aside from brown-out, my only worry is that I may fry, not drown if I ever go through the ice. But then I'd have the sparks to keep me warm. GO ft "crconcae ZA. asso" 824-3418 jem, TRAVEL {acme Air line ticketing and all B\N¢ hotels world wide Joe Mykietyn (Agent) P.O. Box 925 The Laprade Travel Shop Ltd. Schreiber, Ont., POT 2S0 Collings ~ Anthony is thrilled to announce the arrival of his sister, Hope Ellen Maria weighing 7 lbs 8 oz. = =X eo § a Mom & Dad are still in shock over this litle bundle. Proud grandparents are Joe & Vi DePaola of Terrace Bay and Jim & Diane Collings of Chapleau, Ont. Many PNG to Dr. Wilkes, Dr. Rohani, nurses kitchen staff for wonderful care & meals J a\ J ONTARIO GOVERNMENT NOTICE PROPOSED WHITESAND RIVER CHANNEL DIVERSION (LAKESHORE DRIVE) The Ministry of Transportation has initiated a study to examine the impacts of realigning a section of the Whitesand River at Lakeshore Drive. The proposal calls for the realignment of a 60 m length of river to one of its original channels and stabilizing the river banks. The purpose is to reduce the risk of a road washout along Lakeshore Road. Construction is proposed for the summer of 1992. : . xy | "ie pee ee PROJECT 1 rovincte pS | Park Whitesand ! Loke 2A Qtkm TO '& Stkm TO SCHREIBER a =< N.T.S. The study will follow a planning process which has been approved under the Environmental Assessment Act, R.S.O. 1980. Projects of this nature typically result in predictable, relatively minor environmental impacts and since environmental controls are provided for in the approved planning process, no individu- al approval of this project is required by the Ministry of the Environment (MOE). An Environmental Study Report (ESR) is normally filed with the MOE prior to construction. Public notifi- cation of the availability of the ESR is made at the time it is sent to the MOE. However, if it is determined, through an approved screening process, that this project will not result in any significant detrimental environmental impacts an ESR may not be required. Should this project not require an ESR, a fur- ther notice will be published regarding this decision. The pro- ject will then proceed to construction without additional notice. You are encouraged to contact Ministry of Transportation pro- ject staff at any time if you have questions or concerns regard- ing this project. If you believe, after consulting with Ministry staff, that serious environmental concerns remain unresolved it is your right to request that the project be subject to the formal Environmental Assessment review and approval process, including a public hearing. This decision rests with the Minister of the Environment. Comments and information regarding this study are being col- lected to assist the Ministry of Transportation in meeting requirements under the Environmental Assessment Act. Your comments will be maintained as a public data base and will be kept on file for use during the study and, unless otherwise requested, may be included in study documentation which is made available for public review. Please direct any comments or questions to: Mr. F. Mauro Maintenance Supervisor District 19 Ministry of Transportation P.O. Box 1177 615 South James Street Thunder Bay, Ontario P7C 4X9 Telephone: 1-807-473-2000 ext.2046 1-800-465-5034 (toll free) De plus amples renseignement en francais sont disponibles en composant 1-800-465-5034 poste 2293. Ministry Ministére of des Transportation Transports Ontario Walk Through The Classifieds You never know what great bargains you might stumble across. <--" iad eo ON 1 we a A 3 hg