Rescue snowmobile plays big role in Big Moose
By DAVID DELLECESE
Published in Go! Snowbound
Winter 2006
BIG MOOSE - Big Moose Ambulance, which provides deep-woods winter rescue service from west of Moss Lake to the Lewis County line and north to Beaver River, has had to rely on two snowmobiles donated to them for their rescue operations.
One is a 1980s model, the other, from the 1990s. In other words, both have plenty of miles on them.
But not any more.
“They didn’t have the power,” said Bob Van Slyke, president of Big Moose Ambulance Co. “They worked and we used them, but there’s more powerful units available today, and more stable units. They were just getting old and you worry about availability. You don’t want to be on a rescue and have your snowmobile conk out on you.”
Several proposals were brought forward and reviewed, leading to the decision to acquire a new rescue snowmobile. The result was the purchase of a 2007 Yamaha VK-Professional snowmobile.
The new unit has a 4-stroke motor, which runs cleaner, quieter and provides substantially more power and towing capacity. A wider track and larger skis will allow for greater stability in deep snow, and fuel injection will maintain engine idle on scene.
The new unit will add reliability and enable the Big Moose Ambulance rescue team to more readily reach difficult locations on snowmobile trails and up the Adirondack Rail corridor.
“We tow behind it a 6-foot long rescue sled that’s also on four runners, and we can package the patient and cover them up until we get them out of the woods and into the ambulance,” Van Slyke said. “Normally we have to carry a driver, an EMT and a couple of people in the rescue sled that we’re towing, so we needed the additional power to get through the woods, hills, and deeper snow.”
Taking advantage of a good deal while it presented itself, the Ambulance Company was able to make the down payment, and has, through its fundraising, reached roughly one-third of the money needed to completely pay for the snowmobile. But the fundraising continues to meet its goal.
The Big Moose Ambulance Co. embarked upon a year-long fund raising effort to pay for the new rescue snowmobile. Anyone interested in making a contribution may send it to Big Moose Ambulance Company, Inc. in care of Roger Pratt, Secretary/Treasurer, 656 Martin Rd. Eagle Bay, NY, 13331.
Published in Go! Snowbound
Winter 2006
BIG MOOSE - Big Moose Ambulance, which provides deep-woods winter rescue service from west of Moss Lake to the Lewis County line and north to Beaver River, has had to rely on two snowmobiles donated to them for their rescue operations.
One is a 1980s model, the other, from the 1990s. In other words, both have plenty of miles on them.
But not any more.
“They didn’t have the power,” said Bob Van Slyke, president of Big Moose Ambulance Co. “They worked and we used them, but there’s more powerful units available today, and more stable units. They were just getting old and you worry about availability. You don’t want to be on a rescue and have your snowmobile conk out on you.”
Several proposals were brought forward and reviewed, leading to the decision to acquire a new rescue snowmobile. The result was the purchase of a 2007 Yamaha VK-Professional snowmobile.
The new unit has a 4-stroke motor, which runs cleaner, quieter and provides substantially more power and towing capacity. A wider track and larger skis will allow for greater stability in deep snow, and fuel injection will maintain engine idle on scene.
The new unit will add reliability and enable the Big Moose Ambulance rescue team to more readily reach difficult locations on snowmobile trails and up the Adirondack Rail corridor.
“We tow behind it a 6-foot long rescue sled that’s also on four runners, and we can package the patient and cover them up until we get them out of the woods and into the ambulance,” Van Slyke said. “Normally we have to carry a driver, an EMT and a couple of people in the rescue sled that we’re towing, so we needed the additional power to get through the woods, hills, and deeper snow.”
Taking advantage of a good deal while it presented itself, the Ambulance Company was able to make the down payment, and has, through its fundraising, reached roughly one-third of the money needed to completely pay for the snowmobile. But the fundraising continues to meet its goal.
The Big Moose Ambulance Co. embarked upon a year-long fund raising effort to pay for the new rescue snowmobile. Anyone interested in making a contribution may send it to Big Moose Ambulance Company, Inc. in care of Roger Pratt, Secretary/Treasurer, 656 Martin Rd. Eagle Bay, NY, 13331.
