With the addition of more snow an increase in the number of avid snowmobile fans is hitting the trails.
聽鈥淓very snowmobiler is getting excited to hit the groomed trails and meet friends and family at the warm-up shelters,鈥� said Angela Scheller, treasurer of the Rough Rider Snowmobile Club.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Prior to the season all trails need to be cleared, shelters need to get stocked full of wood and trail signs need to be put up, Scheller explained. With 282 km of groomed trails through the Porcupine Forest, across open fields and along some ditches and with only a very few members, there is a lot of work to be done.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 The Rough Rider Snowmobile Club is looking for anyone who is willing to donate a few hours of their time to help get a start to the snowmobile season.
鈥淭he more volunteers that we get to help the club, the better our trails and shelters can be,鈥� she said. 鈥淎ll of this may sound intimidating but with a little help from everyone who enjoys the trails, it can be fun.鈥�
All trails have been signed and they had been groomed three times prior to the recent snowfall.
"We have had an increase in snowmobilers who are taking advantage of the great riding trails, but with the increase we are having landowners complaining about damage and snowmobilers not respecting the landowners鈥� properties," said Scheller. The club is encouraging everyone who uses the trails to stay on the marled trails and to ride at their own risk.
A snowmobile course will be held on February 10 with Johnny Petryshyn instructing the course, she said.
The club purchased a 1995 Snowcat groomer to replace the older groomer.
The executive members are: Jamin Englot, president; Jason Feely, vice-president; Becky Scheller, secretary, and Angela Sheller, treasurer. Jamin Englot and Kellen Mac are responsible for grooming the trails.
The Roughrider Snowmobile Club will be hosting its annual family snowmobiling day on February 25. Hot chocolate and hot dogs will be served at the Hinchcliffe warm-up shelter with prizes available to be won.
