The Citizen, 2004-01-15, Page 7!Eves •
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THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, JANUARY 15. 2004. PAGE 7.
Clubs continue efforts to improve trail safety
Good grooming
With the new year has come a deluge of snow and snowmobilers are keen to enjoy the local
trails. Area snowmobile club representatives, however, remind that it's unsafe to travel in
areas where the trails aren't yet open or thoughtless to cross farmer's fields. Since the
snowfall, groomers have been at work getting trails in tip-top condition. (Elyse DeBruyn photo)
By Elyse DeBruyn
Citizen staff
Snowmobilers are welcoming the
winter weather and as more and
more area trails are opening,
snowmobile safety is being highly
stressed.
Well-groomed trails are the first
element for safe snowmobiling.
Bruce Howson, trail co-ordinator
for Blyth Sno-Travellers Inc.
explained how the trails are made.
Each fall area trails are created by
planting stakes in the ground,
outlining the trail area.
When winter finally shows up and
enough snow accumulates in the
fields and bushes, groomers begin
- creating the trails.
The groomers, which resemble
bulldozers, level and pack down the
trails, making them smooth for
snowmobilers.
On the Blyth trails, Howson said
the groomers usually complete 10
miles of trail every hour, making
them ready in about two days. -
He said the most popular trail in
this area is B-109, which runs from
Goderich to Clinton then through
Blyth and up to Wingham.
Staying off of farmers fields
before the trails are groomed,
obeying the speed limits and zero
alcohol consumption will help make
area trails safer for everyone.
One of the biggest problems the
clubs are faced with is waiting for
good snow conditions and eager
snowmobilers getting onto the trails
before they are completed.
"Farmers don't like them doing
that because it can ruin their fields.
It's very dangerous as well because
the trails are rough and a
snowmobiler can hit rocks and
damage their machine," said
Howson.
A permit is required before joining
the others on the trails. A trespassing
charge can be laid if caught without
one.
Permits cost $195 and can be
purchased at different locations in
the area or through a club member.
Although no specific
snowmobiling license is required to
drive on the trails, Howson said
youths between 12 and 16-years-old
need a special certificate.
Mark Gropp of Brussels, is one of
several Ontario Federation of
Snowmobile Clubs certified driver
training instructors. They hold
courses each winter for youths
between 12 and 16-years-old or for
those who don't have a drivers
licence. Only someone with a motor
vehicle licence is allowed to cross a
road on a snowmobile.
The course offers people the
knowledge of safe snowmobiling
and teaches them the responsibility
that comes with it.
"One of the most important
aspects of the course is to heighten
the awareness of issues to keep the
public pressure off them," said
Gropp.
Along with responsible driving,
students are also taught the basics of
maintenence and repair of a
snowmobile in the event of an
emergency.
When out on the trails, Howson
recommends each snowmobiler
protect themselves by wearing warm
clothing, bringing some form of
non-alcoholic beverages, obeying
the speed limit of 50 km/hour and
the trail rules.
He said there are not a lot of
accidents on the trails caused by
speed, "but there are more than we
like to see." Most of them are caused
from drunk driving.
Since the Ontario Federation of
Snowmobile Clubs (OFSC)
launched a SledSmart Public
Eduction Safety Campaign in 1993,
the overall incidence Of alcohol and
drowning in snowmobile-related
fatalities has declined, said an OFSC
report.
"Our annual SledSmart campaign
is succeeding in reducing the
number of predictable and
preventable snowmobile-related
injuries and fatalities in Ontario,"
said Dennis Burns, president of the
OFSC, in the report. "We have a five
year safety management strategy in
place that was developed by safety
and snowmobiling experts and we
are implementing it aggressively to
ensure that snowmobilers continue
to get the message."
The OFSC has joined forces with
snowmobile associations across
North America to declare the week
of Jan. 11-17 as National
Snowmobile Safety Week.
"Our message for Snowmobile
Safety Week is blunt, if you are not
prepared to take responsibility for
your own actions by following the
listed assumptions, then we don't
want you on OFSC trails," Bums
said in the report.
The event is a celebration of the
many good news stories about
snowmobiling safety and is also an
ideal occasion to remind
snowmobilers of their
responsibilities while riding a sled.
The OFSC has taken a strong
stand against drinking and riding by
endorsing zero tolerance for alcohol.
After spending hours on the trails,
snowmobilers can get a little tired
and a much need break can to the
trick.
Along most trails are clubhouses
available to passing snowmobilers as
well as signs informing them of
restaurants and gas stations in the
area.
Howson said each clubhouse has
washrooms, garbage cans,
sometimes food and a hot stove to
warm up to.
He said the Blyth clubhouse is a
portable schoolhouse which on
Saturday nights offers food, pop and
hot chocolate for those passing
through.
If no club member is there,
Howson said snowmobilers are still
welcome to use the clubhouse and
start a fire in the stove as long as it is
contained.
Although there are not many deep
water areas to be aware of on local
trails, he recommends people stay
away from swampy areas in the
bushes as it can still be dangerous at
this time of year when the water isn't
completely frozen.
"Always use the buddy system
when snowmobiling. You never
know what can happen," said
Howson.
Avon DISTRICT
BOARD
Maitland
Learning for a Lifetime
Learning inside and out
Young snowmobile enthusiasts who don't yet have a motor
vehicle licence can ride the trails after taking a driving
training course. Jim Cochrane gets some tips from
instructor Mark Gropp at a recent class in Brussels. (Elyse
DeBruyn photo)
Welcome to
Kindergarten
The Avon Maitland District School
Board and its community public
elementary schools are proud to offer
a quality learning opportunity for our
young citizens entering school for the
first time. Junior and Senior Kindergarten offer a place where your
child can grow and learn in a positive educational environment.
Kindergarten Registration 2004 - 2005
Monday, January 26, 2004 - Friday, January 30, 2004
at public elementary schools throughout Huron and Perth Counties
For Senior Kindergarten
Students must be 5 years of age on or before December 31, 2004
For Junior Kindergarten
Students must be 4 years of age on or before December 31, 2004
A complete registration and information package
is available at your nearest public elementary school or contact
Darlene Million at 1-800-592-5437 Ext 112
For further information visit our website at www.amdsb. ca .
b,„', Williams
Director of Education