We are officially in the cold season, in case you needed to be reminded of that if you haven鈥檛 bothered to pay attention to the thermometer.

It鈥檚 also that time of year when those who enjoy a ride on the snow machines head out on to lakes, rivers or solid ground to enjoy a ride. But there鈥檚 always the risk that something could go wrong, even with all the planning that goes in to ensuring you or your friends arrive alive.

The Great Slave Snowmobile Association (GSSA) is the main organization in town that looks after safe and responsible snowmobiling.

Shaun Morris, the association鈥檚 president, said there are plenty of checklists that people could use before heading out, but there are some should-haves as part of any list.

鈥淢ake sure you have enough gas, check your oil levels, do you have a spare belt in case yours breaks, can you change a spark plug or do you know how to?,鈥� he said. 鈥淚 always like to pack extra mitts, an extra balaclava and even extra wool socks because those can get wet pretty easy. The wool socks are good to help keep a Thermos warm and the socks dry.鈥�

Another handy tip is telling someone where you are in case something goes awry, he added.

鈥淗ave a plan, leave a note for your husband or wife or make sure someone else knows you鈥檙e heading out,鈥� he said. 鈥淭hat way if you aren鈥檛 back or if something happens, that person can start making calls to get help.鈥�

In addition to making sure safety comes first, the GSSA also heads out to test the thickness of ice on lakes in the Yellowknife area, which includes Niven Lake, Kam Lake, Frame Lake, Grace Lake, Back Bay and Range Lake. Long Lake, Rat Lake and Fault Lake are also part of the testing.

The GSSA recommends not going out onto a body of water unless the thickness has reached at least three to four inches or more. Once it reaches six inches, no more testing will be done on that particular spot.

鈥淲e always tell people stay off (the ice) if the thickness is three inches or less,鈥� said Morris.

In winter, snowmobiles also double as street-legal vehicles, provided they鈥檙e properly registered and licenced with the city, but Morris said sledders need to remember that others are using the road as well.

鈥淵ou have drivers, but you also have people who are walking their dogs or people out for a walk or run,鈥� he said. 鈥淛ust beware of others when you鈥檙e out because you have to share.鈥�

If you鈥檙e part of a group ride, one thing Morris said you shouldn鈥檛 do is line up right behind another sledder.

That鈥檚 because if there鈥檚 an accident, it could cause a chain reaction.

鈥淚f something happens to the person in front of you and you can鈥檛 stop fast enough, you could run over them by accident or you could hit them, which could cause the person behind you to hit you and so on,鈥� he said. 鈥淲hen we do rides with the kids, we always tell them to keep away from the rear of a sled so that way, you鈥檙e able to avoid hitting anyone if something goes wrong.鈥�

But the biggest thing Morris said will ensure you have a safe ride? Common sense.

鈥淐ommon sense isn鈥檛 so common anymore, but just be smart out there,鈥� he said.