Snow is beginning to pile up – and that means local snowmobile clubs are preparing for a busy season.
Steve Lang, who leads the Maple Leaf Snow Skimmers, one of several clubs in the region, says work is underway to get trails in good conditions.
He says trails aren’t normally ready to welcome riders right after the first big snowfall, but important prep work can now begin.
“We are ready,” he says. “We have done all of our trail prep. We have all of our groomers (ready). The trails won’t really be available until we get out there, do some packing of the trails and then we do our reconnaissance runs and make the decision on whether to make them available.”
He says his club will send grooming equipment out on trails in the coming days and they’re planning for a busy January and February.
His advice to snowmobilers ahead of this season is to respect the fact that many landowners agree to allow snowmobilers to travel through their properties based on agreements with the Ontario Federation of Snowmobile Clubs.
“We really do appreciate our landowners, but we have to respect the gift they’ve given us and not trespass and not be disrespectful.”
Lang says it’s important for riders to just stay on the club-groomed trails, as those who venture off, may be violating agreements made with the landowners.
The Snow Skimmers maintain about 300 kilometres of trails in an area in between Bancroft and Barry’s Bay.
Lang recommends people download an app managed by Ontario Federation of Snowmobile Club, which has live information on what trails are open across the whole provincial network.