By manipulating two levers and a foot pedal, Chris McNeil tilted a snowmobile simulator up and down, left and right so Bronwyn Wright knew what would happen while riding the real thing at Beartrap Meadow on Saturday.

While not as thrilling as a mechanical bull at a cowboy bar, the unique simulator taught balance for Wright and other rookies before they mounted the two-seat, four-stroke Arctic Cat sleds for their first forays along the groomed trails on Casper Mountain.

McNeil has taught thousands of students and recreationists about the sport as part of his job with the State Division of Parks, Historic Sites and Trails.

Besides rides on the simulator, he also teaches how to dress - in layers, no cotton or sweatpants - to regulate body heat for snowmobiling success, and avalanche awareness including using beacons and other tools to find buried snowmobilers.

Avalanches have claimed a number of lives this year, including three snowmobilers on the Idaho-Wyoming border on Friday. (See story on state page.)

Too many people, eager for fun, don't prepare for the hazards of driving a powerful machine in the cold and wind up injured or worse, McNeil said. "You'd be in a lot of trouble real quick."

The Division of Parks, Historic Sites and Trails sponsored the event along with the Casper Snow Gypsies and the Wyoming State Snowmobile Association.

Tens of thousands of residents support the sport through user fees such as registration stickers, and a portion of fuel taxes pay for the trail-grooming and other programs, said Lou Grunewald Sr. of the Wyoming State Snowmobile Association.

There are about 2,000 miles of groomed and ungroomed trails in the state.

About 46 miles of groomed trails and seven miles of ungroomed trails on Casper Mountain await enthusiasts.

The snowmobile simulator gives a crash course on how to ride, lessening the possibility of crashing on the courses.

McNeil coached Wright where to place her feet on the running boards, how to keep her arms bent, and how to shift her weight forward and standing while driving uphill, and leaning back seated when going downhill.

To turn, he showed her how to steer and lean into the curves, and shifting her weight by standing and if necessary moving the leg opposite the turn onto the seat.

In case of a possible accident, McNeil identified the snowmobile's kill switch and the importance of pushing oneself off the machine before it begins to roll.

With those lessons, McNeil found appropriate clothing, helmets and gloves for the rookies with none.

For the moment of truth, Wright and the other newbies mounted their motorized steeds, from the left like with horses, located the gas and brake levers on the handlebars and turned the ignition.

The four-stroke machines are markedly quieter - and less polluting - than the two-stroke versions, which is why new regulations insist on their use in Yellowstone National Park.

But oh, the power.

Just a slight push of the gas lever jolted the Arctic Cats forward.

Trail groomer Kent Wilkens served as the trail guide, and McNeil told the rookies they didn't have to keep up with him if they didn't feel sure of themselves.

That changes quickly after the new riders, having mastered the driving techniques learned on the simulator, gunned their machines to 7,000 rpm or more and leaned into turns, stood for the uphill climbs and even went airborne a few times.

After a ride across part of the mountain ending at the Beartrap Meadow parking lot, Wilkins complimented the rookies for following him even across open ungroomed fields.

The old-timers knew they'd hooked a few more people into the sport.

"There are days when I've been out that you couldn't knock the smile off my face with a two-by-four," one said.

Reach Tom Morton at (307) 266-0592, or at tom.morton@trib.com.