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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 1990-01-17, Page 5Ontario Federation of Snowmobile Clubs THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 17, 1990. PAGE 5. Clubs’ well-marked trails eliminate dangers BY BONNIE GROPP It was in the mid 1920’s when Carl Eliason and J. Armand Bom­ bardier designed several types of over-the-snow, motor-driven vehi­ cles to assist farmers, doctors, trappers and loggers in overcoming the difficulties of winter travel. Since then snowmobiling has open­ ed up new opportunities for family fun during the long winter months but not without its share of controversy. Through the years snowmobiling has developed a reputation as a dangerous sport, but with the inception of the Ontario Federation of Snowmobile Clubs in 1967, and its desire to promote safety and educate its members the tide is slowly changing. The OFSC, of which the Brus­ sels, Walton and Blyth Clubs are members, has established a mini­ highway of inter-connecting groomed trails throughout the pro­ vince. These well-marked, care­ fully maintained trails have elimi­ nated the dangers that faced snowmobilers in 1959 when the famous Ski-Doo was introduced. Then snowmobilers travelled in random style using farmer’s fields, usually without permission, and frequently leaving gates open or causing damage. Often snowmo­ bile operators were killed when they ran into fence posts or barbed wire or over embankments. Many rode on county roads or even on the shoulder of major highways result­ ing in collisions with parked or moving vehicles. Some operated their machines on frozen lakes and ponds where the ice was too thin to support the machine’s weight. Grooming techniques Eldon Thompson, seated on the Brussels-Walton Trailblazers Alpine, along with Wayne Bennewies, Rob Williamson and Dennis Bennewies, the club members who put a lot of time and effort togroom the club’s trails. Volunteers often spend as much as 40 hoursa week keeping theTrailblazers’ trails in shape. They broke through and were drowned. The OFSC’s well-mapped trails have eliminated this dangerous, haphazard approach to the sport in encouraging its members against driving through uncharted terrain. All land is used with the permission and co-operation of the landowner. Clubs are responsible for careful maintenance and grooming of the trails in addition to placing signs denoting danger and stops. This involves an extreme amount of time, work and money on the part of these clubs. Grooming is done often on a daily basis and may take six to eight hours to complete. To help finance the undertaking, those who use the trails are expected to join an OFSC club. A fee permit of $55 entitles a member to travel on any of the Federation sponsored clubs in Ontario. Any­ one who does not have an OFSC sticker is trespassing. Trail war­ dens patrol frequently to ensure that those machines on the trail are legitimate. Bruce Clark of Walton, President of the year-old B-W Trailblazers says that trespassers can be fined $54 if caught without a sticker. In addition they are escort­ ed off the trail at the first available spot. The trails are also frequently patrolled by the Ontario Provincial Police. Hebo Siertsema of the Blyth Snowmobile Club, has wit­ nessed the police on the trails several times of late and is pleased. “I’m glad to see them back on the trails as it cuts down on the drinking and driving,” he said. The OPP are presently working in conjuction with the OFSC clubs for Warden’s Day scheduled for Janu­ ary 27. Another feature of the OFSC over the years is their Driver Training Safety Course. First offer­ ed 12 years ago it has instructed 60,000 children 12 years of age and over in how to operate a snowmo­ bile safely and courteously getting the most enjoyment from their machine without causing harm to themselves or others. Dennis O’Malley, 2nd Vice-President of the OFSC says that the Federation now has 285 trained instructors across the province. Mr. O’Malley states that when the organization was first formed it was to tie all the clubs together in organized trails and make snow­ mobiling a legitimate safe sport. To that end, he believes it is success­ ful. “There have been very, very few deaths that have occurred on organized trails since the OFSC began. To my knowledge it has been one or two,” he said. He stated also, that the industry of snowmobiling is on the upswing. “It was slow rebounding for a few years but this year we expect a membership of around 55,000. This is up from last year’s number of 42,000, while three years ago there were only 34,000 in the OFSC.” He attributes the increase to the benefits offered by the Federation and claims that fewer and fewer people are using the trails without having purchased an official stick­ er. “People have seen the groomed trails and are impressed. They know what’s there; the advantages. With increases of 20% yearly in membership it shows that it’s getting better,” he finished. Snowmobile clubs promote snowmobile safety Viewing the area’s scenic de­ lights is an exciting event on a snowmobile, but sometimes rough­ ing through the bushes and into unknown terrain can make the experience less than enjoyable. Thanks to local snowmobile clubs like the Brussels-Walton Trail­ blazers and the Blyth Snowtravell­ ers Inc. exploring unknown territ­ ory can be a smooth and safe ride. Yet, while both clubs are mem­ bers of the Ontario Federation of Snowmobile Clubs (OFSC) they differ in many ways. The Snowtravellers, according to Hebo Siertsema, has been in existence since the early 1970’s. Mr. Siertsema, who has been with the club from the beginning stated that while the club has been affiliated with the OFSC from its inception it has only been in the business of trailbuilding for the last two years. The membership consists of 49 machines and two social member­ ships. Mr. Siertsema estimates that there are about 75 people involved with the club. President Bruce Howson noted that there had been a decrease in the last two years which he thought may have been contributed to by the poor weather conditions plus the ex­ pense of snowmobiles. Mr. Siertsema said that the Snowtravellers have only two or three members actively involved in the job of grooming and trailmak­ ing but have many willing volun­ teers who offer their assistance when it’s needed. The club is responsible for the maintenance of 35 miles of trail all centred around the Blyth area and up to Auburn township shed, Mr. Siertsema said. Their trails hook up to OFSC trails in Wingham, Clinton, Brussels, Walton, Colborne, and Goderich. “Grooming trails is new to us and we do it whenever we get time,” Mr. Howson says. “We’ve had the machine a while and it hasn’t been used much.” The Snowtravellers use an old double track Alpine and hope to be able to purchase a newer one in the next few years as the old one doesn’t have much power which makes grooming difficult. Groomers have a cutting blade and hydraulics that lift the blade up and down to level the trail and refine the work of the drag. The Brussels-Walton club just recently purchased a 1986 Alpine from the Listowel Ridgerunners. This is the club’s second groomer, one Presi­ dent Bruce Clark says was desper­ ately needed. The Trailblazers are responsible for grooming 60 to 70 miles of trail that extends from Brussels north to highway 86, and south through Walton to Seaforth. From Walton the trails extend east through Brodhagen and Bornholm ending in Mitchell and running west to Blyth. Of the 125 members in the club there are about 25 who are active. Three men Don Blake, Kieven Bennewies, and Rob McIntosh are trail co-ordinators but many volun­ teer to help with the grooming. It can take as much as six to eight hours a day, four to five days a week to keep the Brussels’ trails groomed. In addition the Brussels- Walton club has been having difficulties with ATV’s trespassing onto the trails and tearing them up, making extra work. But the club’s do get the chance for social activities as well. One day, every other week the Snow­ travellers host a social program or special event. They regularly sche­ dule card parties, membership drives, Kids’ Day, or an afternoon run. These are usually held at the clubhouse - the old number 16 schoolhouse in East Wawanosh which the club owns. Mr. Howson stresses that the Snowtravellers are a family club. “That’s what we try to make of it. We have family outings where you go out for a night and take the kids with you.” Mr. Clark would like to see more social events become part of the -Trailblazers club in the future. “We don’t hold enough of these events. I guess most of us like to snowmobile too hard to take time to do other things.” He did empha­ size that he would like to see something done for the landowners to thank them. “Without their land and permission we couldn’t have any trails. They are very import­ ant.” He also mentioned that he would like to see trail passes for the landowners just to use for snow­ mobile travel on the Brussels-Wal­ ton trails as a showing of the club’s appreciation. Both clubs are holding Poker Rallies - Brussels-Walton on Sun­ day and Blyth on February 10. The Blyth one is in conjunction with the Lions club. The rallies are major fundraisers for the two clubs and both hope for a fairly good turnout. Mr. Siertsema states that in pre­ vious years the club has had as many as 400 hands sold while the Trailblazers are planning this year for 150 to 200. While both clubs differ in many ways they are united in their desire to make snowmobiling a safer sport and in their love of the sport. Both support the work and plans of the OFSC in improving the sport. “With the OFSC trails there is less danger. There is little chance of running into fences or ditches and less chance of trespassing,” Mr. Continued on page 18 A family sport Hebo Siertsema, left, and Bruce Howson, front, with other members of the Blyth Snowtravellers get ready to enjoy an afternoon of their favouritespcrt. Theclubstrives to make their group a family organization.