It makes sense to me to combine the two groups to do trail work. ATVers have from May 23rd (NH) until winter and can ride certain trails as long as there is enough snow and it stays below freezing. That gives an ATVer, potentially only 2 months where they aren't allowed to ride. (Mud season) Snowmobilers do well to get 4-5 months of sledding. So, I think there are more ATVers out there than snowmobilers just for the fact that they can ride longer.

 

Most of the riding around here is snowmobile at this time of year. Yesterday a snowmobiler called the local tourist info center to report a tree down on a trail. The center called our club trail boss, who answered on his cell phone while on a trip out West. He told them to call me, knowing I'm always available. I drove about 20 miles and hiked into the spot. It was a big tree, and it completely blocked the trail. Tracks in the snow and broken branches seemed to indicate that sleds were being lifted over it. About a half dozen cuts with my trusty Stihl opened the trail. Later, I learned that section of trail is maintained by the next club to the north. I'm going to run down the contact info for that club's trail boss and give it to the Information Center. Also, he owes me one.

 

Yeah, I'm kind of on the emergency call list. The club president calls me now when there's a tree down. Love my Stihls also. Have an old 031AV that still runs even after a fix for damage when a 1 1/2' wide tree rolled over it when we were dragging it out of a stream.

 

Keep up the good work guys. We need more of you. Also, more clubs that are not just focused on partying. The trail work is important, and goes a long way towards preserving a future for the next generation of riders.

 

Great news... The company I work for gives me a volunteer day off work. I called my HR and explained that I would like to take the day to clean the trails and parking facilities to the Pine Grove Furnace ATV trails in south central PA. They informed me that as long as the PA DCNR would acknoledge the action (not sure what that means) that they would honor the day as paid. This is normally reserved for other worthy causes and ACS, BSA, local shelters and others.. But this is the first such request my HR has recieved. They said I would need to secure a letter from the PA DCNR acknoledging the action and the would honor the paid volunteer day. My son is very excited as well as this also might qualify for his required volunteer time for his school as well. I will update when (if) all is approved..

 

THink about it.. many of us older guys probably grew up with Snowmobiles. I switched for a couple reasons. First, I get a longer season with my quad. Put on tracks and now I have a year round machine that goes anywhere my snowmobile could go, albiet slower. But at my age, I have pretty much gotten the speed thing out of my system anyway. Secondly, if either of us is to survive, we need to combine our efforts and share the available trail dollars. More voices equal votes, and votes get politicians to look at our issues. Lastly, we need each other. We share trails as it is anyway. Our recreation dollars keep the tourist engines rolling too, so whole economies benefit from our being there.

 

Do the ATVers and the snowmobilers in your State share the same trails? If so, hows it working out?

Bill

 

X: Did this pan out for you?

 

I think it is about being organized, and at least in Wisconsin, they see snowmobiles as a way of extending the tourist seasons. A lot of money is gerated by them. ATV groups tend to be much looser in makeup, and most riders are more non commital when it comes to helping build bridges etc. They would rather be riding than sweating. Hopefully the snowmodile crowd will rub off on them. I see you have tracks on your machine in the pictures. How do you like them? I have been considering them for some time now. I plow snow with my machine and certainly could use a little more push.

 

Yes it has.. The local office State Forest office at Michaux State Park willl sign the letter I have drafted saying our purpose. We are going to work the trails for 4 hours picking up large items and then the 2 parking lots for an hour or so each. My HR office will accept this as work performed and honor the day off. We are looking at days in June for this and will update later. Was thinking it would be great to have a small trailer to pull behind the Cat to gather the trash... still working on that. As far as my son's time.. we are still working on that. The local school district has yet to reply.