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Updated February 4th 2012 at 8:00 am


UPDATED-

I rode 2-5 and 18-102 yesterday. Everything from the Friday report still holds true but read the update at the bottom of the report.


The trails are marginal at best but they are rideable. Lots of obstacles will still be poking through due to the minimal snow cover so exercise caution. Snow does increase with elevation but not by a whole lot.

The grooming crew has done some trail compacting to try and establish a base. The problem we have been facing this miserable winter is the repeated warm spells and the rain. That cycle of warm followed by cold snaps means a lot of areas are icy or washed bare in high traffic areas. Liquid cooled machines may find it difficult to get enough snow to pack into radiators. Suspensions will also find it difficult to get snow for lubrication. When the warm spells hit, the possibility of snirt -snow mixed with dirt- makes it miserable on all machines.

We need a snow storm- and we need it now. The latest weather guess has the storm delivering 2 feet of snow out west and missing us completely. This last week we were treated to 3 inches of snow- thats all. This time last year we had 3 FEET of snow to work with.


Travel on our trail system is up to you. Check everything before you go out and check it when you get back. There will be more wear and tear on your sled in these conditions.

Trail 54 into East Burke is very dangerous. There is a significant wash out on the trail and a logging operation. Plans are to fix the wash out within the next week and put signs up before the logging area. I would not travel 54 from EX 411 to CA84 until it is repaired. I will post a report as soon as it is fixed.

Logging operations can be a nightmare for sleds. Skidder operators cant hear your machine. They are paying attention to what they are doing not what you are doing. The movement of felled trees wipes out trail signs so it it easy to get off on the wrong path. Be very careful when traveling through log yards.


Update- There is a significant amount of ice everywhere. Several times yesterday, the back end slid on my studded sled while navigating a corner. I caution anyone that wants to ride to be prepared for the unexpected. I do not want to read about death or injury on Monday in the local paper. The trails have very little cover at low elevations and near the Connecticut River. There is not enough snow to fill the larger ruts and waterbars. The ride is bumpy on most sections of our trail system. If you travel around here- be careful. The potential for overheating is great. The snow off to the side of the trail is not that deep.

Ride Right and Ride Safe!


Mike
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Caledonia County Snowmobile Trail Club Meeting Minutes
December 7, 2011


The December meeting of the Caledonia County Snowmobile Trail Club was called to order at 7:00pm by President Ken Gammell.


Directors present: Jim Carey, Bob Dexter, Bob Farmer, Ken Gammell, Ray Heath, Mike OHara, Bonnie Raboin, Ben Robinson, Dale Rowell, Rod & Kathy Smith, Dennis Towle


Directors absent: Harold Flanders, Marvin Olson


Secretarys Report


Mike OHara made a motion to accept the secretarys minutes as printed. The motion was seconded by Dennis Towle. The motion was adopted.


Committee Reports


1. Memberships


The membership total stood at 186.


Correspondence


None


Unfinished Business


1. Pisten Bully Insurance


Mike O’Hara reported that the Pisten Bully insurance policy is through Dennis, Ricker and Brown, which is less expensive than Farm Family. Mike stated he declined the $16 rider for terrorism insurance. There is a $250 deductable. The cost of $703 per year also covers the brush hog and pole saw. Bonnie Raboin will have a copy of the policy for future reference.


2. Safety Course


The Trail Club hosted their annual Snowmobile Safety Course on December 3, 2011 at the Waterford Ridge Runners clubhouse. There were 16 students including two parents that took the course. All those taking the course passed and received their safety certificate.


It was agreed to continue to schedule the safety course on the first Saturday of December. Kathy Smith said she would contact Dexter Willson about teaching next year’s safety course. Mike OHara stated that if Dexter did not want to teach the course, Mike would become certified so that he can teach the course rather than having to ask the Sheriff’s Department.


New Business


1. Bob Dexter said that the club now has an account at Reed Supply.


2. Bob Farmer stated that Jim Rust, owner of Pettico Junction, wants his bridge replaced as soon as possible.


3. Bob Farmer stated that the new drag is being built and will be shipped as soon as the company has a load coming east. Mike OHara suggested some positive publicity about the new drag and the support for the community. Mike stated he would contact Darcy McCann of the Chamber of Commerce about the upcoming arrival. Bonnie Raboin suggested announcing the drag on 105.5 country radios community events. It was suggested to contact webpage manager, Val Davis, about announcing it on the radio too.


Trails


  • 1. The trails will be open for Dec. 15.
  • 2. Bob Farmer stated the East St. Johnsbury trail is in but might have to go through the housing development on Pierce Road and New Boston Road rather than the sand pit.
  • 3. Bob Farmer reported that the club received permission for one year to come in behind Pat Davis and shape up the old trail to get away from the face of the sand pit. If the housing lots don’t sell, the trail might be able to remain there for next year too.
  • 4. Bob Farmer said he had sent the construction paperwork to VAST. The total was just under $5000 for one project. The second project was $13,800. It was estimated that it would cost $910 for Ray Heath to complete the repairs to the Pettico Junction trail.
  • 5. It was reported that the trail over Kirby Mountain was bad. The work crew had put the ditch where they thought it would be the best location. However, the landowner, Mr. Kroeger, did not like the location. Mr. Kroeger has blueberries planted in the right of way which belongs to Milt Lund. Milt Lund gave the Trail Club permission to use the right of way. Bob Farmer said that he informed Mr. Kroeger that if the groomer has trouble at the bottom of the hill, they will have to use the right of way.
  • 6. Bob Farmer also reported that the waterbars had been repaired. When the work crew got to the top of the trail, they drained the swamp as best they could.
  • 7. Bob Farmer further reported that the bridge on Bishop’s property is very bad. The crew moved the AMFI drag bridge up there and recycled the planks again.
  • 8. The bridge on LeClerc Road in Concord should be almost finished.
  • 9. LeClerc Road should be finished. (bridge)
  • 10. It was noted that the stakes on Bonas property are directly across from each other. Dennis Towle stated that he had marked the stumps so they would know where not to go.
  • 11. The cost of the new drag is $21,600. The Trail Club is responsible for half of the cost.
  • 12. Bob Farmer reported that Trail Club director and VAST Vice President, Henry Whipple’s grandson, Phillip suggested naming a section of trail in Henrys memory. It was noted that the most visible section of trail that Henry worked on crossed the Willey farm. Many of the other trails have been relocated.
  • 13. Bonnie Raboin suggested the feeder trail into All Around Power and St. Johnsbury Center since Henry Whipple lived in St. Johnsbury Center. Dennis Towle suggested placing the sign at the trail by the I-91 so people can see it from a car. It was further suggested having one sign on each end of the section of trail. Another suggestion was placing the sign on the mound near Lemieux.
  • 14. Garren Calkins will get in touch with Ray Heath about the placement of the porta-potties at the trail head in St. Johnsbury.
  • 15. Kenny Gammell and Ben Robinson repaired the trail on either side of the tube under US Route 2. They also fixed the end of the Sleepers River Bridge. Kenny was worried about the trees on the downstream side of the bridge that washed down the river during the flooding in May. The water is swirling around the trees and could take out the end of the bridge. Reggie Garand would like to get the trees cut up and off his daughter’s property. It was suggested that Howard Bennett might be willing to help clean up the cornfield by Diane Gilmans.


    The meeting was adjourned at 8:10pm. The next meeting of the Caledonia County Snowmobile Trail Club will be held on January 4, 2012 beginning at 7:00pm at Ray Heaths office.


    Respectfully submitted,


    Kathy E. Smith
    Secretary



    		•

    Caledonia County Snowmobile Trail Club
    35th Anniversary



    By the mid-1970's snowmobiling in Caledonia County had grown to include trails from one end of the county to the other St. Johnsbury, being the largest town in the county, naturally became the center for the sport.


    Each winter the dealers were selling more and more sleds. The riders needed more and better trails to accommodate the rapidly increasing number of enthusiasts. In an effort to meet these demands, members of several of the local clubs in the county met to determine the best way to improve the riding in Caledonia County and fill in the missing sections of trails.


    The representatives from the various clubs formed a committee to improve the trail situation. At that time, VAST was nine years old having been established in 1967. VAST would provide funding for trail construction and maintenance to the clubs. However, the committee overseeing many of the trails in Caledonia County was not an organized club. In 1976, in order to receive funding from VAST, the committee quickly organized into the Caledonia County Snowmobile Trail Club. As one of its priorities, the club quickly undertook the construction and improvement of the trail between St. Johnsbury and Island Pond. Most of that trail over Kirby Mountain continues to be used today.

    The Trail Club quickly became the largest club in Caledonia County and assumed responsibility for the section of Route 2 & 5 going east from St. Johnsbury Center as well as west into Danville on corridor Route 2. In an effort to improve the quality and continuity of the trails, the Trail Club also accepted the responsibility for many miles of trails between their club territories which were not being maintained or claimed by any particular club.

    Corridor trails were becoming wider to accommodate the increasing width of the snowmobiles. The recommended trail width was 8' but with the winding trails and wider groomers, the trails needed to be at least 12' wide. The first snowmobile trails were little more than paths through the trees so it took almost five years before all the existing and new trails could be widened out to the 12' width. Bridges also needed to be built to accommodate the width and weight of the Tuckers.


    The Trail Club took possession of two brand new Pisten Bully 100s in October 1998. That winter the Trail Club accepted the responsibility of filling the gap in the grooming in the Burke and Lyndonville areas.

    The club purchased a new awesome drag in 1996 which to meet the increasing demand for better groomed trails, the Trail Club directors obtained a loan to purchase the club's first Tucker Sno-Cat in 1976. Since that time, the club has owned a 1971 Tucker, a 1979 model, and a 1988 model. In 1998, the Trail Club became part of the VAST Pisten Bully program.


    By the early 1980's, the Trail Club was grooming almost 150 miles of trails and owned two of the few Class A groomers in Caledonia County. The club groomed east and north from St.Johnsbury and Waterford over Kirby Mountain, through Victory and north to Island Pond.


    As time passed, the smaller clubs within Caledonia County began growing. These clubs quickly accepted the responsibility for the trails in their local areas. With the smaller clubs doing more of the grooming, the Trail Club did not need to cover such a large area.

    After five years of grooming the trails in Lyndonville and Burke, the Trail Club sold their second Piston Bully and the Lyndonville and Burke both bought their own groomers. With the sale of the second Pisten Bully, the Trail Club was able to purchase a new Trail Bully, which is the next size larger than the PB100. (Read the story in the "Snowmobile Stories" column).


    Today several other clubs groom the trails once groomed by the Caledonia County Snowmobile Trail Club. The Trail Club continues to groom the Route 2 & 5 trails from the tube under US Route 2 near the St. Johnsbury/Danville town line through St. Johnsbury Center. On the east of St. Johnsbury, the Trail Club grooms to Kirby and then onto Concord.



    Going southeast the Trail Club grooms the Route 18 trail through Waterford to Moore Dam and along the reservoir on Route 102. The route going north and east covers the trail to the pipeline in Victory, then on to Burke Mountain for a total of 63 miles in the grooming contract.


    In addition to the corridor trails that the Club maintains, the club groomers also take care of the feeder trails into Vinny's and Changing Seasons Motel on the St. Johnsbury/Lyndonville town line, as well as the Holiday Inn in St. Johnsbury.

    The directors of the Caledonia County Snowmobile Trail Club continue to look to the future and find ways to improve the trail system. The Trail Club built a bridge over the Sleepers River to connect the two sections of Caledonia County which were divided by US Route 2. In 2004, when the bridge was put in place, it was the longest "I" beam snowmobile bridge in Vermont.

    In conjunction with the bridge, corridor Route 2 & 5 between Alright Springs and St. Johnsbury Center were relocated to get the trail out of the road into the fields. By 2009, the deck on the Sleepers River Bridge had worn and rotted to the point it needed to be completely removed and replaced.

    2004 was an exciting year for the Caledonia County Snowmobile Trail Club when long time director and groomer operator, Bob Farmer, was elected "VAST Snowmobiler of the Year".


    The following year, in 2005, the dream of having a warm garage to work on the Caledonia County Snowmobile Trail Club's Pisten Bully became a reality because of the dedication and hard work of Bob Farmer and Ray Heath. Working with about 30 volunteers, Bob organized the dismantling and moving of the old Quonset hut, located at the abandoned radar base on East Mountain in East Haven, Vermont to a piece of land owned by Ray Heath on the north side of St. Johnsbury, a distance of about 30 miles.


    Once the Quonset hut was in St. Johnsbury, the volunteers put the building back together exactly the way they had taken it apart, using the numbers they had painted on each piece as a guide.


    The hard work paid off not only by having a warm, dry place to maintain the Pisten Bully, but the Caledonia County Snowmobile Trail Club was awarded the "2005 VAST Project of the Year" at the VAST Annual Meeting held on September 17, 2005 at Lyndon State College.


    In 2007, the Caledonia County Snowmobile Trail Club had several trail relocations and changes. Safety is always the primary concern with trail conditions. With safety in mind, the Trail Club changed the trail to eliminate some of the "S" turns. One such change was on the Route 2 & 5 trail between the tube under US Route 2 and St. Johnsbury Center. Another "S" turn in St. Johnsbury on Route 2 & 5, where a rider was injured, was also changed.


    Another major trail change took place in St. Johnsbury Center to relocate Route 2 & 5 around a new housing development. The average rider probably won't notice the difference because they ride over the trails so much faster than the work can be completed. However, the safety factor is very noticeable.


    In 2006, the Trail Club began holding snowmobile safety classes on the first Saturday of December each year. The Waterford Ridge Runners graciously donates the use of their clubhouse for the classes each year.


    The safety course is required for anyone born after July 1, 1983. In the four years that the Trail Club has been conducting the classes, there have been approximately 100 students receive their safety certificate. The directors are delighted to have helped so many young people to learn to ride safely on the trails. The directors of the Trail Club plan to continue to offer the Safety course each December.


    Another big change in the way the Trail Club sells TMAs will happen this year. Beginning this year, Trail Club TMAs will be available online with payment through PayPal.

    The current Caledonia County Snowmobile Trail Club directors thank all the directors who have served in the past and given so much of their time helping to build the Trail Club into one of the largest snowmobile clubs in Vermont.


    The directors of the Caledonia County Snowmobile Trail Club also extend a sincere thank you to all our landowners. It is through the generosity of the landowners that we are able to enjoy a winter sport second to none. The beautiful vistas and winding trails through the woods are because so many landowners are willing to share.


    The Caledonia County Snowmobile Trail Club directors are always looking for ways to make snowmobiling in the Northeast Kingdom better. We thank everyone for their continued support.

    The determination and dedication of a few snowmobilers worked to get the trails open. It is this dedication to the sport that continues to make snowmobiling in Caledonia County exceptional.


    Think Snow!


    Kathy E. Smith

    Secretary
    All Material Copyright ©2011 Caledonia County Snowmobile Trail Club
    This website was rescued and is maintained by Val Davis and NEK Media (www.nekmedia.com)