With the wind at his back and a fresh coat of snow on the trails, Jason Halliday has a need for speed on his snowmobile.

“I think I started when I was 5 years old. Who doesn’t love a fast machine?" says Halliday, executive director of the South Warren Snowmobile Club.

There are no shortage of winter activities in New York, but snowmobiling is one that requires riders to take serious safety precautions. According to state data, in the 2021-2022 season, New York saw 113 snowmobiling accidents.

Halliday said the key is having a plan and always knowing where you are.

“Travel with others, don't go by yourself. Tell people where you're going. You could be hours walk away from from help. So, you know, dress properly, know the weather. Look at the weather. Look ahead at the weather. Know what it's going to do. And just planning is really the biggest thing," Halliday said.

To help snowmobilers with planning, Warren County released a new safety tool through the app ArcGIS Field Maps. Uses can search “Snowmobiling in Warren County, NY” and download trail maps which can be accessed, even when riders have no cell service. It also uses GPS data to pinpoint users’ location on the trails in real time.

Amanda Beck created the app because she says safety is a priority, especially in rural parts of New York state.

“So you could park your truck and trailer spot, unload your sleds and still be the only person when you get back at the end of the day, that was there for that day. If something happens where you run out of gas or you need help, it's, you know, it's good to know where you are," said Beck, Warren County geographic information systems specialist.

Halliday says snowmobile clubs across New York are working hard to keep trails rideable so thousands can enjoy them safely.

“We all have the same purpose in mind. We open the trails when they’re safe and we close them when they’re not," Halliday said.