Getting Back: A Trailwise Guide to Snowmobile Survival

Allen Soroka is assistant law librarian at the University of British
Columbia Law Library.

John Milne, a grizzled veteran of Ontario snowmobiling, has landed
himself in some life-threatening outdoor situations; Getting Back
recounts those situations. Anyone who ventures into the wilderness will
want to read this book, which is loaded with tips, tricks, and survival
strategies. For example, if you run into a snowmobiler sporting a pair
of six-inch nails joined by a two-foot length of cord draped over his or
her shoulders, you have encountered someone who has taken Milne’s
advice to heart. The nails are home-made ice spikes, to be used if a
snowmobiler falls through the ice into the water and needs to get a
purchase while climbing out of the hole. Those wearing the “spike
scarf” have a better chance of surviving. The guide includes good
photographs and clear instructions on how to make the spikes.

Getting Back is full of useful information. It is also well written by
a man with a good sense of self-deprecating humor. The book was
published with the support of the Ontario Federation of Snowmobile
Clubs.