Snowmobiling in the Kawarthas by Nadene Nicolas

snowmobilingin the kawarthas

by Nadene Nicholas

Twin Mountains Snowmobile Club Bobcaygeon, Ontario

When compared to 2018, the 2019 snowmobile season in the Kawarthas got off to a very poor start. It appears that someone forgot to tell mother nature that winter should have officially arrived on the 21st of December. That date came and went and the early sledding season that everyone wanted to see in December was no where to be found. There is nothing quite as disappointing as a slow start to the season after waiting for months to get back on the snow. Riders everywhere were chomping at the bit to get back out and ride but the weather just wouldn’t cooperate.

As the new sledding season approaches, not only are riders anxious to get out there and put on some kilometres, clubs with new grooming equipment are also eager to put their groomers out on the snow and test out the new units. Many clubs wait years in order to be eligible for new equipment. After working with old, worn out machines, it is always exciting when a club receives a new groomer and drag. Clubs don’t want to wait until February for the first test drive.

When the temperatures finally drop and the snow starts to fall however, clubs can start to prep their trails. Volunteers will begin to pack or roll trails in order to form a trail base. A solid base under the trail ensures structure and longevity. This is also why cold temperatures are needed to freeze the ground before it snows. Large accumulations of snow received before everything freezes act as an insulator and can prevent the underlying surfaces from freezing properly. Trails without a solid base are harder to maintain and are often the first ones to deteriorate during an unseasonal bout of warm weather mid-season.

Once a suitable amount of snow falls on top of the trail base, full grooming operations can commence. Most clubs run their groomers on a daily basis, usually late afternoon or evening, when lighter traffic and colder temperatures will allow the trails to set up. Coordination of grooming schedules between neighbouring clubs in a district results in a trail network of smooth, well

groomed trails that hook up with the trails of the surrounding districts.

Once trails start to open, riders can check trail status on the OFSC’s Interactive Trail Guide (ITG), in order to plan their ride. The ITG reflects current conditions and can be checked via the internet or on the downloadable app. Trails are updated by club members on a regular basis. Red indicates closed trails, yellow is for trails that are “limited”, and green is for open trails. Trails are generally posted as “limited” as a result of trail abnormalities such as water holes, logging operations, equipment breakdowns, etc.

Because the season is so short and unpredictable, special events are generally scheduled in February when decent trail conditions are more likely. The OFSC Try our Trails weekend is scheduled for February 2nd and 3rd. This year Kawartha Lakes Snowmobile Club will also hold their Family Fun Ride on Saturday February 9th and Buckhorn District Snowmobile club usually hosts a trailside BBQ on the Saturday of the February Family Day weekend. Other functions such as club rides are posted as weather and plans permit. Event information can be found on individual club websites, Facebook pages and Twitter feeds, and on the District website’s “coming events” links.

After a less than stellar January, clubs, volunteers and sledders across the Kawarthas are grateful for a cold, snowy February and March. Seasons often get off to a slow start, and then finish strong but predictability is not a term used when talking about sledding. Every season is different, with its own challenges. Snowmobilers learn pretty quickly how to make the best of each one.