Winter in Ontario is outdoor heaven with the countryside carpeted in snow and brilliant blue skies overhead. And for snowmobile enthusiasts there are over 42,000 kilometers of groomed and marked trails to enjoy. If you don’t own your own machine there are still plenty of opportunities to get out and about and take part in this exhilarating sport.

There’s two ways of enjoying snowmobiling without going to the major expense of buying a machine and all the equipment and clothing needed to be safe and comfortable – a guided snowmobile safari, or a straight rental.

A guided snowmobile outing is the best way of experiencing the sport for the first time. There is more to sledding than learning how to ride the machine – there’s quite a bit of trail etiquette to learn, and this is best done while you are out and about with an experienced guide.

A good outfit will provide all the warm clothing and safety equipment, but do make sure you check on this before you leave home. Trips range from a ‘beginner’ outing of around two hours, to a full day, or longer. Our suggestion is to start with a shorter trip as it is surprising how tiring sledding can be at the start. Expect to pay $50 - $75 an hour per person depending on whether you are using a single rider machine, or there are two of you on a dual rider sled. On a longer run, the hourly rate may reduce to between $35 and $50 per hour per person.

If you enjoy your guided snowmobile trip and got the hang of all the hand signals and trail manners, then you are ready for going it alone.

Rental snowmobiles are available from some of the bigger Ontario marinas, and if you are staying at a resort, machines may be directly available on-site. Sled rentals will cost from about $220 per day dependent on how many days you will rent. A typical midweek daily rental will be in the region of $250. This usually includes a helmet, trail map and trail permit with an additional fee payable for a snowmobile suit.

Snowmobile rental normally requires all operators to be a minimum of 19 years of age and to have a valid drivers license. A waiver of liability and a security deposit are commonly required along with a signed rental contract.

This is a great activity to try out when you are staying in a cozy rental cottage. Enjoy a day out sledding and return to an open fire, perhaps a hot tub and a comfortable bed. Mmmmm – what better way to enjoy an Ontario winter.

Heather Bayer is CEO of CottageLINK Rental Management, specialising in cottage vacations in Ontario and Southern Quebec. http://www.clrm.ca

Source: www.articlecity.com