GREENVILLE – There’s plenty of snow and the snowmobile trails are groomed, but caution and common sense should prevail when venturing out this winter.

“Just be safe,” was the message Game Warden Jim Babiarz of the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife wanted conveyed to outdoor enthusiasts.

Babiarz along with Game Warden Troy Dauphinee were the wardens who found a local woman and two young boys who became lost last week while snowmobiling in the Moosehead Lake region. What was intended to be only a short jaunt from Harford’s Point to Rockwood turned into a more than 12-hour ordeal for the trio whose snowmobile got stuck in deep snow on a little-used trail. They were wet, tired and cold when found.

As demonstrated in that incident, even the best intentions sometimes go awry, according to Babiarz.

Before heading out on a snowmobile, riders should tell someone or leave a note advising the reader where they are going, what route they plan to take, and when they plan to return, Babiarz said Friday.

“Everybody, regardless of how far they plan to drive, should have a hat in addition to their helmet,” Babiarz said. The helmet will be too cumbersome to wear if they have to walk any distance, so a hat will keep their head warm. An extra set of gloves also is important, he said. “If your hands go [freeze], you go,” he warned.

Those unfamiliar with the region they plan to travel should ask local residents or wardens about the trails, especially if the trails are over bodies of water.

“Every piece of water has its own qualities,” Babiarz said. For example, every part of Moosehead Lake varies in ice thickness. Riders should be aware of the conditions.

If the snowmobile breaks down on a marked trail, it is best to stay with the machine until another snowmobiler arrives, according to the warden. Riders should carry a cell phone from which to call for help and a GPS unit, if they have one, to pinpoint their location. Other necessities include a flashlight and matches or something suitable to start a fire, he said.

For longer rides, snowmobilers should carry food and water, a towrope, snowshoes and a shovel, according to Babiarz.

In any event, the snowmobile should be in good condition and have plenty of fuel, he said.

The department also recommends that snowmobilers ride sober, since a high percentage of snowmobile fatalities and injuries are the direct result of the irresponsible use of alcohol; stay off roads and stay on trails; ride at a reasonable speed, determined by existing conditions; use hand signals, which help keep traffic orderly and predictable; ride defensively; and ride to the right, just like driving a car.

To further promote wintertime safety, the Maine Snowmobile Association has a “Ride Right, Ride Smart” safety CD available for free at the DIF&W and MSA offices. It also can be obtained by mail for $5 from the MSA, P.O. Box 80, Augusta 04332. An 18-minute segment is available for viewing on MyOutdoorTV.com.

In addition, the DIF&W offers snowmobile safety courses throughout the state. The date, time and place of the classes can be found on the department’s Web site as soon as they become available.

A booklet titled “You Alone in the Maine Woods: The Lost Hunter’s Guide,” designed by the DIF&W for hunters, includes information on the use of a compass, building a shelter and keeping one’s composure, and can be helpful for most anyone exploring the Maine woods. The booklet is available free at DIF&W, at the department’s online store at www.mefishwildlife.com, or by calling 287-8000.

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