BY LESLEY BOVIE Staff Writer
DURHAM - A snowy Boxing Day saw firefighters called to fish their first snowmobiler out of Lake Scugog this season.
Scugog Fire Chief Richard Miller said Caesarea's Station' No. 2 responded at around 1:30 p.m. to a rescue call near William's Point. The rider had already managed to pull himself out of the water by the time emergency crews arrived, he said.
"It was sheer stupidity," he said. "Nobody should be riding on that lake right now."
While the 32-year-old Stouffville man was injured in the accident, emergency crews spent some time trying to get his 1997 Skidoo out of the water, said Durham Regional Police Constable Dave Mann.
"We may actually bill him for the call," he added. "Fire, ambulance and 10 police officers responded."
Ron Purchase, general manager of the Ontario Federation of Snowmobile Clubs (OFSC), said "practically none" of the province's snowmobile trails, including those around Scugog, are open at this point.
He pointed out that's the only safe place to snowmobile.
The majority of accidents occur away from the trail, either on roads or lakes.
"The opening of trails is not governed by snow cover, but by whether the ground underneath is frozen enough ," he explained. "We understand, you get one foot of snow and everyone wants to get out there, but, you have to wait until the trail is established.
Despite December's lack of snow, the OFSC expects a good snowmobile season this year, said Mr. Purchase, who admitted riders are anxious to get out on their machines.
"But it's not unusual for the trails not to be up and running until after the new year," he stressed. "I think most of us consider it a bonus if there are.snowmobile opportunities between Christmas and New Year's."
Port Perry Snowmobile Club president Charlie Harper echoed the above warnings, adding "the lake is absolutely not safe" for snowmobilers.
Even with Wednesday's snowfall, a rider could damage a machine and the trail by taking a ride on the foot or so of powdery snow out there right now, he said.