“Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow” could be the song Patrick Murray is singing right now.
The vice-president of the Georgian Bay Snowriders snowmobile club said, “The equipment is all ready to go. We’re just waiting for that magic 12 inches of snow.”
Although they began some trail work after early snowfalls, they had to stop due to the recent mild weather. But that doesn’t mean snowmobilers shouldn’t buy their trail permits, priced at $260.
“Due to the poor winter we had last year, a lot of people have not bought their permit early this year,” said Murray. “If you’re caught on the trail without a permit, you are trespassing and you could receive a fine of $200 to $2,000.”
More importantly, permit fees pay for grooming, equipment like the new groomer, and trail maintenance.
“If people stop buying permits, we’ll have to stop grooming. It’s pretty simple.”
Murray points to District 16 near Wawa, where falling permit sales have closed trails to Thunder Bay, creating a missing link in the provincial trail system.
“The whole district is closed. If the money is not flowing, it becomes a spiralling effect.”
Murray said snowmobiling has a significant economic effect on the north Simcoe region: “It’s estimated at about $9 million.”
It’s not just accommodations and restaurants that benefit from business created by travelling sledders, but also gas stations, parts and service shops, and equipment sales.
“Midland alone, because of the lack of snow and open trails last year, there were at least 50 employees laid off,” Murray said, relaying information gleaned from conversations with business people. “Snowmobiling is a huge part of tourism on Georgian Bay.”
With about 25 active volunteers, the Snowriders maintain and groom 180 kilometres of trail stretching from Elmvale to Cedar Point and east to Coldwater, covering all the communities in between including Waubaushene, Victoria Harbour, Port McNicoll, Midland and Penetanguishene. Volunteers do equipment maintenance and trail preparation, plan driver training, patrol the trails, organize events and communicate with landowners.
“Most of our trails are on private land,” said Murray, “and there is a lot of work involved. Without landowners donating the use of their property, there would be absolutely no trails.”
That’s why it’s vital to wait until the trails are open, and then to stay on the marked trail. Going off trail can damage property and close trails permanently.
“You definitely want to stay on the trail. There could be winter wheat and crops that don’t like to be disturbed, or Christmas tree farms that can be damaged.”
The Snowriders, now entering their fourth decade, organize several events, including the Feb. 2 puddle jumps and polar plunge in Midland’s Little Lake Park that raise funds for the Gateway Centre for Learning (formerly the Midland Area Reading Council) and the Boys and Girls Club.
The following weekend, Feb. 9, the club will host the second annual Snowmobile Ride for Dad. Similar to the well-established motorcycle version in the summer, the ride raises awareness and funds for prostate cancer research.
Watch the website www.georgianbaysnowriders.com for event details, as well as the all-important trail updates to know when trails are open and ready for riding. For more information, or to volunteer, call 705-529-3307.
