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I was walking to the store the other day and passed by the entrance to the C105D Skidoo trail from South River. Let’s hope the weather stays cold and we can get out on the trails. 1-2-3 Skidoo!
Trails
Every year, people travel many miles in search of the best trails. Skidoo trails that is! Like so much in our lives, we tend to take trails for granted. What we forget is the people and time it takes to create those trails and then actually keep them safe and well groomed.
When you purchase your trail pass, keep in mind it’s important to designate your local club. Their main source of funding comes from there and if you don’t tell the Ontario Federation of Snowmobile Clubs (OFSC), your local club won’t have full benefit. For example, I live between Huntsville and North Bay. This makes my club the Near North Snow Drifters.
Skidoo (Some may say snowmobile or sled!)
This is the time of year we are getting ready for the trails. That poor old Skidoo of mine (1999 Grand Touring) has been under cover and waiting patiently. Now it’s time to get a new set of plugs and make sure no critters have built any nests in the air intakes! I’m going to have to hope my mechanic has time to check the machine over before I put it to work navigating the trails. I’m lucky if he’ll still do the work, he’s getting out because he just doesn’t have time for sleds. Argh!
Treat your mechanic well, there just aren’t enough of them.
Be Patient
I don’t know about you but being patient isn’t a strong suit for me when the first snow storm hits. I have to resist firing up the Skidoo (Sled or snowmobile?) The problem is the trails take time to freeze up enough and hold a good base of snow before we can get out there. Every year I see idiots out there destroying good trails because they just can’t wait.
Don’t forget, a lot of those trails are on private land that is owned by very gracious people who make them available for our use. Be respectful of their right to privacy during the off season. On top of that, clubs need time to get volunteers together to clear brush, repair bridges and get grooming machines out there. It’s especially important to give time for water to freeze over and the ice to be thick enough to support the weight of sleds and grooming machines.
Keep the faith and be paitient. Eventually your club will let you know when it’s OK to let ‘er rip!
Make it a great day!
Barry
P.S. What am I thankful for today? I’m thankful for Bombardier (Who makes great Skidoos!), Near North Snowdrifters (My local club.) and the OFSC that pulls it all together. What are you thankful for today?
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