Snowmobiling - Getting All Reved Up!

By Nadene Nicholas Twin Mountains Snowmobile Club

Once again Mother Nature turned her back on snowmobilers who were looking for 2019 start to the 2020 season. The cold temperatures and early snowfall in November brought excitement and anticipation to those eagerly awaiting the upcoming season. Then, everything changed. Mild temperatures and copious amounts of rain were enough to dampen the snowmobiler’s enthusiasm as a new season approached.

Slow seasonal starts seem to be the norm in this area of Ontario, and yet snowmobile clubs always seem to be able to overcome early disappointment once January is in full swing. It may be a slow start, but usually everything falls into place and trails start to take shape.

Once 2020 arrived, trails slowly started to open one by one across the region. Initially, trail status is posted as “limited availability”. The first “early season trails” to open are usually trails on old railway beds, logging roads, unassumed roads, etc. where the underlying surface is wide and smooth. All that is needed for these trails is a good solid trail base and a decent amount of snow. Bush and other trails with rougher underlying surfaces require a greater amount of snow that is used to pack and fill in holes and other areas, in order to make the trails smooth. These trails usually take a little bit longer to open, but once they’re prepared and the groomers start rolling, they are often the most beautiful trails around. As the area receives more and more snow and the conditions improve, trail status will change from “limited availability” to “available” until such time as trail conditions change or spring creeps in.

Before planning and heading out for a ride, sledders need to know what trails are available for riding, so snowmobilers are urged to check the interactive trail guide (ITG) online or via the Go Snowmobiling app for trail availability updates. The ITG has the most current, up to date information on trail status, and is updated as trail conditions change. Trails are not available for riding unless it is reflected on the interactive trail guide.

The ITG is a great resource for other important information that sledders will also need to help plan rides and tours such as accommodations, staging, lodging, food, tour loops, etc. OFSC District 2 is located in the heart of the Kawathas, and consists of seven member clubs.

There are three recommended tour loops that cross multiple club boundaries that can easily be done in a day. Information on these loops can be found on the District 2 website https://www.district2ofsc.ca.

There are also links on the District website to all member clubs within the district, and information on special events that are being held by the clubs during the snowmobiling season, such as group rides, trail side barbeques, club meetings, volunteer opportunities, etc. Another sure fire way to stay informed of events taking place at your local club is to follow your club on Facebook and Twitter. Club volunteers post a variety of information all season long, and are availableto respond to messages and inquiries in real time. The best riding usually happens from mid January to the end of February, so get out andenjoy the trails while the conditions hold. Since the sport is weather dependent, sometimes we get lucky and enjoy a long, cold and snowys eason, and sometimes we don’t. Dedicated riders will take what they get and go where they have to in order to ride. Let’s hope this snowmobiling season extends into mid March and we all get our fill of sledding.