Photos: Snow patrol
The Enterprise — Michael Koff
From the driver’s seat, new recruits for the State Park Police will help patrol 10,400 miles of trails — a serious business. Last season, there were 215 accidents and 12 fatalities — 93 involved unsafe speeds and 21 involved alcohol, according to Sergeant John Malysa.
The Enterprise — Michael Koff
Negotiating the snow: On Tuesday, one of 35 recruits being trained in 10-degree weather at Camp Cass in Rensselaerville rides the trail then looks behind him to do a back-up maneuver.
The Enterprise — Michael Koff
The Enterprise — Michael Koff
The recruits also did figure eights and serpentines and learned about parking a trailer and the fundamentals of unloading and loading a snowmobile.
The Enterprise — Michael Koff
Winter ready: What they’ll be looking forward to is a newer sled. Malysa recommends riders take a safety course, follow the rules of the road including speed limits, respect their machines and landowners, and don’t drink and drive.