b'S AFETYMany things make snowmobiling fun:AS A SAFE RIDER, YOU:Before each ride, follow the the breathtaking beauty of snow-Know your abilities and dont gopre-op check outlined in yourowners manual. lled woods,eld or mountain; thebeyond them.precision performance of a well-Follow the rules.designed machine; the satisfaction of Know your machines capabilities traversing the winter landscape withClub Newsand dont push beyond them.friends and family. Yes, snowmobilers GUEST EDITORIAL:WE HAVE MET THE ENEMY. SAFE CROSSINGsavor the winter world, and that calls Know your riding area. Get a By Mike OHara countless hours into creating andfew bad actors. Be careful when crossing rd., s of any for extra responsibility. Training,map. Talk to the local folks.The rest of the line goes, and he ismaintaining a trail system for all toI dont know who the individuals arekind. Come to a complete stop and experience and awareness are all traits us. enjoy, only to be tasked with resolving the inexcusable actions of a few. that committed the crimes describedmake absolutely sure no trac is of the accomplished snowmobiler. Learn more - reading manuals In February 2021, an incident occurredabove. They are most definitely NOT On March 10, 2025, a landownerand other materials fromapproaching from any direction. Then involving a snowmobile operator whoYou are the Safe Riders! You makesnowmobilers. They ARE criminals. went off-trail, hit a chicken, and didshut down their trail due to repeatedmanufacturers, administratorscross at a right angle to trac.snowmobiling safe! They should be treated as criminals. harassment of their horses by ridersThe location of the hit-and-run not stop. The location was a remote,and snowmobile associations, off-grid farm with an excellentstopping by their fence line, far fromincidents is Victory Road in Kirby, the trail. or watch videos or computer rapport with the Caledonia CountyVermont (Trail 2/5). The location of Snowmobile Trail Club (CCSTC), theALCOHOL & SNOWMOBILINGprograms from these sources.DRESS APPROPRIATELYThese incidents point to a greaterthe horse harassment is Waterford, Vermont (Trail 18). If anyone knows grooming club for that section. Theproblem in our sport. There is anSnowmobile clubs, state and chicken, named Big Red, was a petDO NOT MIX! the responsible individuals for anyWear layers of clothing, so that you increasing sense of entitlement thatprovincial associations o er and dearly loved by its owner. ThisForget that myth that alcohol warmsof these incidents, please reach outcan add or remove a layer or two senseless act became a stain on thethreatens our continued existencecourses, information and as an organization. Volunteers ofto us at snowmobilecaledoniavt@ to match changing conditions. A up a chilled person. It opens theyahoo.com. The Club believes the sport of snowmobiling. VAST do heroic work to recoveractivities. Many members arewindproof outer layer is especially blood vessels and removes theonly deterrent to continued unlawful Four years later, on Feb. 22, 2025,from natural disasters, pandemics,certi ed driving and/or safety a group of four snowmobiles wasfeeling of chill, but it does nothingbehavior is bringing offenders toimportant, as are warm gloves or and growing concerns about ourinstructors.environmental impact. Changes injustice. Our version of justice is tomitts, boots and a helmet.observed riding at a high rate of speedto increase body heat. Instead, it canimpose a civil penalty that makes the past signs to slow down, strikingland ownership, especially in areas increase the risk of hypothermia, alandowner whole and covers, in full,Make sure your helmet is safety-another chicken and killing it. Thewhere fences outnumber friends, have Keep your machine in top shape.landowner, who was out feedingdangerous lowering of the bodysthe cost of rerouting the trail due tocerti ed, the right size and in good made it increasingly difficult to findtheir irresponsible actions.the animals, attempted to rescueworkarounds when new owners are You have two good guidescondition. A visor is essential for clear core temperature. With alcohol, you the chicken. In doing so, she wasnot open to snowmobiling. DespiteFrom 2021 until now, the problem of may only feel warmer, while youravailable for snowmobilevision and wind protection and the struck and knocked down by thethese mounting challenges, we haveresponsible riding has only worsened. snowmobiles on the trail. The ridersbody chills dangerously.Alcoholmaintenance: the owners manualchin strap should be snug.maintained a great reputation forWe must stop this downward spiral did not stop. They never checkedincreases fatigue, fogs your abilitythat came with it and your dealer. community involvement. VAST is stillif this winter recreational hobby is to see if she was okay or returnedseen as a family sport, even thoughto continue. We absolutely love thisProper eye protection is necessary to to make good decisions, and slowsConsult both to make sure your to apologize for their actions. Theyeconomic pressures have steadilysport. However, the trend of lackingprevent injury from the sun andying your reaction time. Its part of amachine is kept in top form for just kept going. This deliberate actincreased. VAST remains highlyaccountability for ones actions isobjects.was followed hours later by threeformula for disaster. And dontdependable, enjoyable fun.regarded as an asset to the State ofweighing heavily on our seasoned Vermont. officers, directors, and volunteers. snowmobiles riding off-trail on theforget -VERMONT HAS LAWSIt is not a suitable response to upset same property, where they wereAs good as we areand we do a lot Your local club or association caught by Club officers returningPROHIBITING THE OPERATIONlandowners to simply say, We haveTHINK AHEADof great thingswe will be judged from a Club ride. The offendingOF A SNOWMOBILE WHILEmay also conduct safety and by the few bad situations caused by amet the enemy and they are us.individuals were told to leave and notUNDER THE INFLUENCE OFmaintenance programs. Remember, its you, the Safe Rider, return to Caledonia County as theyALCOHOL. that makes snowmobiling safe. Many were no longer welcome. The officers checked on the landowners well- problems will be avoided by using being, and she assured them that shecommon sense. Minor problems can was not holding the actions of the fewbe overcome by carrying a useful tool scofflaws against the snowmobiling community. kit, spare parts,ashlight,rst-aid kit, On March 7, 2025, the Club wasand a few survival items such as high informed of another incidentenergy food,re starting equipment involving the same landowner. Aand a compass.single snowmobile traveling at high speed struck a goat being brought to the barn for milking by the owner, knocking both the goat and the ownerTAKE IT EASYto the ground. Although neither of them was significantly injured, theTodays snowmobile is a mechanical snowmobile operator never stopped. marvel. It provides inspiring Refusing to speculate on whyperformance, reliability and pleasing anyone would display such a callousaesthetics, combined with essential disregard for animals and people, CCSTC is left to wonder why we putsafety design and components.8 |Vermont Association of Snow Travelers Late Winter 2025 | 31'