LETTING GO WHILE STAYING CLOSE

Feb 8

A SIX YEAR OLD’S FIRST SOLO RIDE IN FERNIE, BC

There are moments in parenthood that feel small on the surface but carry the weight of years behind them. Watching our six-year-old, Bodhi, take off on his own snowmobile for the first time was one of those moments.

Before kids, the mountains were where my husband and I spent nearly all of our time. We both work in outdoor recreation, and winter revolves around snowmobiling. Then pregnancy shifted everything. For a few seasons, I found myself watching from the sidelines, learning what it meant to press pause on parts of life I loved.

What I didn’t realize then was that it wasn’t a pause — it was simply a different season.

Bodhi was part of mountain life almost from the very beginning. Just days old, he was tucked into a carrier at a snow safety workshop. As he grew, those early days naturally turned into volunteering together at Fernie Snowmobile Association events and grooming runs. Surrounded by club members — often gaining a few new “grandparents” along the way — he learned about stewardship, safety, and what it means to be part of a community.

At a year and a half old, we bundled him into a snowsuit and helmet and took him for his first snowmobile ride in Fernie. Our expectations were low. We figured we might not even make it past the parking lot. Instead, we rode a kilometer up the Hartley trail and back. When we stopped, he looked up and said, “More.” We repeated that loop all afternoon.

When it came time for his own 120 sled, we focused on building skills before terrain. Fields became our training ground for starting, stopping, and turning. One deep backyard powder day ended with a kicked sled and a tossed helmet — a lesson in patience and ‘big feeling’ problem solving that every rider eventually learns (right?). Those short laps eventually turned to longer days riding squirrel up the mountain and into simple mountain terrain.

We learned a lot as parents too. Early on, we made a rule that Bodhi would never ride out with just one adult after real conversations about backcountry safety and potential incident scenarios. Gear mattered just as much. We researched properly fitted kids’ helmets, the interplay with growing neck muscles and taught him to speak up if he felt cold or uncomfortable. Mom and Dad had to reframe classic discussions we have with adults about tree well safety, avalanches, changing weather, avalanche transceiver and radio use so they were appropriate for a six-year-old.

When it came time for Bodhi’s first solo trail ride in early February, 2026, we were intentional. We made sure he could physically handle his 200 snowmobile, make reliable basic decisions, and follow directions over the radio first. Then we chose a day with clear skies, warm sunshine, and smooth grooming on the Corbin trail — so he could focus on riding, not reacting.

Mom led the way. Bodhi followed. Dad swept the back running interference with the edge of the trail and an emerging need for speed.

I expected to help him over the trailhead berm. Instead, he rode right over it himself. His dad and I shrugged — okay, here we go.

There were quick lessons along the way, including one forgotten brake moment, winding forest trails he cruised confidently, and an open meadow with room to play (and for mom and dad to finally breath). I cannot stress how thankful we are for clubs like the Fernie Snowmobile Association for the work done to ensure families like ours have maintained snowmobile areas to enjoy.

For families wondering if getting kids involved in snowmobiling is worth it — it is. It takes patience, intention, and doing things differently than before kids, but the confidence and connection it builds is incredible.

And for moms who might feel like they’ve pressed pause on the outdoor life they love — it does come back.

At six years old, Bodhi is beginning to stretch his independence. As parents, our role is slowly shifting from guiding every move to teaching, trusting, and learning when to step back. Snowmobiling has become one of the ways we build responsibility, decision making, respect for the world around us — one small milestone at a time. And I can’t wait to see where we go next.

WANT TO KEEP THE LEARNING GOING?

Teaching kids about safety and smart riding can be fun too.

The BC Snowmobile Federation offers a free Kids Snowmobile Safety Activity Book filled with games, colouring pages, and simple backcountry tips to help families learn together.

DOWNLOAD HERE