What should you do if you get lost while snowmobiling?

When you find yourself lost while snowmobiling, staying put and building a shelter is the safest course of action. This strategy conserves energy and prevents you from getting further disoriented in unfamiliar terrain. Moving aimlessly can lead you deeper into danger or farther from potential help. By staying in one location, you increase the chances of being found by searchers, especially if your absence has been noted.

Building a shelter also protects you from the elements, which is crucial in cold conditions to avoid hypothermia. It provides a warm place to stay while you assess your situation and consider your next steps. While it's important to communicate your situation, relying solely on a phone or signals such as flares assumes that you are in an area with good reception or that others are nearby to see or hear your signals, which may not be the case if you are truly lost.