7854-R1_MSA_Jan2022_MaineSnowmobiler

An Official Publication of the Maine Snowmobile Association The Maine Snowmobiler r r r r

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January 2022 • Vol. 53 • No. 5 MSA, PO Box 80, Augusta ME 04332 United we trail, divided we fail www.mainesnowmobileassociation.com

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To say the 2021 MSA Super Raffle was a success would be an understatement. The 2021 MSA Super Raffle was a HUGE SUC- CESS. To our knowledge, we printed the most and sold the most Super Raffle tickets EVER this year. Executive Vice President Al Swett came to the table saying he thought another sled would help sales. Boy, was he ever right. As everyone knows, Covid has made snowmobiles almost impossible to come by, but that didn’t deter Al. He got in touch with Matt Stedman, the MSA North- ern Region Vice President, who is also a “Polaris Ambassador” now in his 4th year of spreading the “Polaris is the best choice” speech. Anyhow, he contacted the Polaris regional manager and somehow, they found us a sled for the raffle. Not just an entry level sled, no, a 2021 Polaris VR 1 850 Matrix Launch from Woody’s Polaris! On top of an already impressive list of prizes, now we had this. Thanks to Al for his deter- mination to make it a record year for sales and Matt for finding us a great sled. The MSA had already lined up a fantas- tic slate of prizes, including a 2022 Ski-doo

600 EFI Renegade from Moosehead Motor- sports, an Arctic Cat ZR-200 from Kramer’s, a Nitro Hybrid 2-place enclosed trailer from Nitro Trailers, a Mission 2-place open trailer from Alcom Mfg., a $500 Kittery Trading Post Gift Certificate and dozens of other gift certificates and overnight stays at MSA supporting busi- nesses. A complete list can be found on the MSA website. Thank you to all the businesses that con- tributed to the 2021 MSA Super Raffle and helped clubs raise extra funds. In this time of Covid, many club fundraisers were can- celed and this was a life saver for many. We had clubs who had never sold Super Raf- fle tickets before this year. To say they sold a few would not be true. They sold a ton! One such club was the Bowlin-Mattagamon, Shin Pond Club, who ended up being the top selling club in the Eastern Region with over $2000 in sales. Hats off to Les Hill for strong work. Fryeburg Area Snowmobile Association was the top selling club. As always, they set the bar high with their strong sales at the Fryeburg Fair. Bridgton and Norway

were the other top clubs in the Western region. As I said, Bowlin-Matagamon led the Eastern Region with Moosehead Rid- ers and Glenburn Lakeside riders follow- ing. Caribou SC had the top sales for the Northern Region as Molunkus Valley was second and Central Aroostook third. The Coastal Region top three were Southern Maine Sno-goers, Ossippee Mountaineers and the Moonlite Sno-Skimmers. Finally, the Lexington Highlanders SC led the Central Region AND took home an EXTRA $500 as they were the “Lucky Club”, being picked from a hat with the top three in sales from each region. The Hillandalers SC and Anson-North Anson SC rounded out the final two spots for the Central Region. It’s truly hard to believe, but MSA affili- ated clubs raised almost $70,000! What a year. What a raffle. And all your club has to do is sell tickets. MSA acquires the prizes and prints the tickets for your club. MSA is already looking forward to next year and raising the bar yet again. Thank You to all our clubs from MSA Prizes and top 30 club raffle sales on page 2

Super Raffle Prizes

Company

Prize

Winner City/State

Company

Prize

Winner City/State

Name

Name

Woody’s

2021 Polaris VR1 850 Matryx Launch Frank LeClair York, ME

Kramer’s Arctic Cat Kramer’s Arctic Cat Lincoln Powersports Long Lake Motor Inn

$50.00 Gift Certificate $50.00 Gift Certificate $50.00 Gift Certificate

Kerry McNally Patten, ME Jarred Gilbert Fayette, ME Douglas Wood Swanville, ME

Moosehead Motorsports 2022 Ski Doo 600 EFI Renegade

Mike Bacon

Wells, ME

Kramer’s

2022 Artic Cat ZR-200

Sally Garand

Manchester, ME

Nitro Trailers

2022 Nitro Hybrid 2-place Snow Trailer Keith Morneault Westbrook, ME

1 night stay for 2

Daryl Jewett

Alcom LLC

Alcom USA 2 place Snow Trailer

Owen Duplisea Pittsfield, ME

Martin’s Motel

$100.00 Gift Certificate

Joe Gliz

Pelham, NH

MSA

Gift Card $500.00 Kittery Trading Post Gerald Demmons Levant, ME

Moosehead Motorsports $50.00 Gift Certificate Moosehead Motorsports $50.00 Gift Certificate Millinocket, ME New England Outdoor Center One day snowmobile rental at Twin Pine P MacDougall E Taunton, MA Camps for 2 people and one lodging night North Country Powersports $50.00 Gift Certificate Joe Hunkins Greenland, NH North Country Rivers Whitewater Rafting for 2 Michael D Nye South Carver, MA Northern Door Inn 1 night stay for 2 Bridgett Nadeau Windham, ME Northern Outdoors 1 night stay for 2 Steve Cornell Overlook Motel 1 night stay for 2 Dakota Taylor Kenduskeag, ME Rangeley Saddleback Inn 2 nights lodging for 2 Brian York Port Clyde, ME Rev-it-up Sport Shop $50.00 Gift Certificate Mark StGermaine WWareham, MA Richardson’s Ski-doo Gift Card Gerard LaPierre Waterboro, ME Richardson’s Ski-doo Gift Card Ray Mills Otisfield, ME Sally Mountain Cabins 1 night stay for 2 Chelsey Dunlop Kenduskeag, ME Shin Pond Village 1 night stay for 2 Lara Bailey M&NOC Richmond, ME Striking Distance Sales SnowTrackerUSA.com / 1 kit of choice Brett Hardacker Leeds, ME Wallingford Equipment $50.00 Gift Certificate Mary Hood Shirley, MA Wallingford Equipment $50.00 Gift Certificate Lana Esty Minot, ME White Rock Outboard $75.00 Gift Certificate Susan Battistone Denmark, ME Woody’s Performance Center $50.00 Gift Card Maurice Baillargeon Bridgton, ME Woody’s Performance Center $50.00 Gift Card Scott Harris Patten, ME Charles Kuetler Springfield, ME John Wile

Abbott’s Power Equipment $50 Gift Certificate Abbott’s Power Equipment $50 Gift Certificate

Daniel Connors St Francis, ME Jeremy Lucas Nobleboro, ME Tammy SatterfieldGlenburn, ME

Bingham Motor Inn Breezy Acre Camps

2 nights lodging for 2

2 nights lodging for 2 in Eustus

Ron Martel Landon Fry

Buxton, ME

Central Maine Powersports $100.00 Gift Certificate Chandler Farms Polaris $50.00 Gift Certificate Chandler Farms Polaris $50.00 Gift Certificate

Springfield, ME

Cole Peszynski East Hampton, CT

Doug Beech

Hudson, NH

Comfort Inn & Suites, Wilton Standard Room, 1 night, Hot Breakfast, Karen Bennett use of pool and hot tub Corriveau Artic Cat Plus $75.00 toward purchase of any

Darren O’Donnell Londonderry, NH

in-stock product

Fort Kent Powersports Harry’s Powersports Huff’s Forest Products Huff’s Forest Products Indian Hill Trading Post International Motel Jackman Powersports Jackman Powersports Inn By the River

$50.00 Gift Certificate $50.00 Gift Certificate $50.00 Gift Certificate $50.00 Gift Certificate $50.00 Gift Certificate

Dirk Smith

Surry, ME

John Augusta East Falmouth, MA

Mike Hansen IL

Derek McAllister Oxford, ME Gladys Hanson Patten, ME Charles Landry Sherman, ME

1 night stay for 2

2 nights stay

Steve Walker

$50.00 Gift Certificate $50.00 Gift Certificate

Jared Rideout Oakland, ME William H Preis Jr Bridgton, ME

Top 30 Clubs for MSA Super Raffle Sales

Fryeburg Area Snowmobile Ass. Bridgton Easy Riders

Caribou Snowmobile Club Southern Maine Sno-Goers Ossippee Mountaineers SC Moonlite Sno-Skimmers Eastern Maine Snowmobilers Molunkus Valley Sno-Drifters

Lexington Highlanders Skowhegan Sno-Hawks SC Norway Trackers Central Aroostook SC Muddy River Sno-Seekers Hillandalers SC

Waldoboro Sno-Crawlers Paul Bunyan SC Anson-North Anson SC Lebanon Trail Riders Saco Pathfinders Cobbossecontee SC

Lincoln Snowhounds SC Alna SC Litchfield SC Ripley Trail Riders Alna SC Embden Travelers SC

Bowlin Matogamon SC Moosehead Riders SC Glenburn Lakeside Riders Quadcounty SC

RE/MAX North Realty 101B High Street Caribou, ME 04736 C (207) 551-9257 O (207) 498-2900

Snow Goer Magazine and the Maine Snowmobile Association have teamed up with a special discounted offer for all members. Take advantage today and start saving. Enjoy Snow Goer, the #1 snowmobiling magazine! The inside source snowmobilers trust to tell it like it is. Snow Goer is packed with new model evaluations, how-to tips, tech updates, product reviews, expert advice, adventure stories, and much more. Bring on the snow! Logon to https://simplecirc.com/subscribe/snowgoer/mesnow for your discounted subscription.

robkieffer@remax.net https://www.northrealtymaine.com

Rob works with buyers and Sellers real estate in northern Maine. Land, Camps, Homes and Waterfront. 207.551.9257

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Come join us on an Eastern Region Showcase Ride!

G ather at the Northern Timber Cruisers Clubhouse in Millinocket by 8:30 AM February 12, 2022 for a ride around the Katahdin region. Route will be determined as the day gets closer and snow conditions allow. For more information, please contact Larry or Eileen Lafland at llafland@mid- maine.com or call (207) 843-7813.

Plan to stay around for the evening and join MSA for its monthly Directors meet- ing, also at the Timber Cruisers Clubhouse. To make reservations for the evening Director’s meal and meeting, please call the MSA office. Mark your calendars and come see what the Katahdin region has to offer!!

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2021 Groomer of the Year - Travis Roderick

Know Before You Go! Always Check Local Ice Conditions Provided by The International Snowmobile Manufacturers Association

to slowly coast to a stop. Snowmobile collisions on lakes account for a significant number of crashes because riders often wrongly assume lakes are flat, wide open areas, totally free of obstruc- tions. Realize that if you can ride and turn in any direction while operating on a lake, so can other riders, so the threat of a collision can come from any direction at any time. Addition- ally, lakes are not always free of obstructions since ice heaves, slush

Know and follow safe ice thickness guidelines, which apply only to new clear hard ice: Getting Out if You Fall Through Drowning is a leading cause of snowmobiling fatalities. If you ride on ice often, consider wearing a buoyant floatation snowmobile suit. It is also a good idea to wear a set of commercial ice picks, which have spring-loaded sleeves that cover the points and are attached to a cord so they can be threaded through the sleeves of your jacket. If you fall through the ice, stay calm. Realize that air trapped inside your snowmobile suit (even a non-buoyant one) and helmet may help keep you afloat for several minutes. Extend your arms out for- ward in front of you and onto the unbroken ice surface in an attempt to catch yourself. Kick your feet to help propel you onto the ice, like a seal. If the ice keeps breaking, con- tinue kicking and trying to move toward shore or the direction from which you came. Use anything sharp like ice picks, keys, or a knife to dig into the ice to help pull you forward. Don’t remove your gloves or mitts. Once you are on the ice, crawl or roll away from the hole. Do not attempt to stand up until you are well away from the hole.

I ce can always be dangerous because of changing conditions and inconsistencies in its thickness, particularly when there is running water beneath it. The safest snow- mobiling rule is to never cross lakes or rivers since ice thickness to sup- port a snowmobile can never be guaranteed. Never venture onto lakes or rivers unless you are abso- lutely certain of a safe route across the frozen surface. In addition to the danger of plung- ing through thin ice, you have far less traction for starting, turning, and stopping on ice. Always use extreme caution and travel at lower speeds when riding on ice. Remain seated on the snowmobile to help keep the center of gravity low and to aid in controlling your machine. A snowmobile can be extremely hard to control on ice without additional traction devices; consequently fast stops are impossible and spinouts far too common on bare ice. Avoid heavy braking to stop; instead let up on the throttle allowing the machine

pockets, or frozen mounds from ice fishing can be encountered unex- pectedly and change from day to day. Never trust the judgment of other snowmobilers by simply follow- ing their snowmobile tracks across ice. You are responsible for your own safety so, if you choose to ride across ice, be absolutely certain the ice is safely frozen by testing the ice thickness. It is critical to evaluate the ice quality and type before traveling out onto it. New ice that is clear and hard is the only kind of ice recom- mended for travel. Always avoid: • Slushy ice • Ice on or near moving water (i.e. rivers, currents, channels) • Ice that has thawed and refrozen • Layered or ‘rotten’ ice caused by sudden temperature changes • Other risk factors that weaken or ‘rot’ ice are: • Snow on ice that acts as an insulating blanket that prevents hardening • Pressure ridges in the ice due to wind, current, or ice pressure

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From The Executive Board

From the President

and rail bed trails with hopes of more cold and snow for bogs and swamps to freeze and cover the “plowed ground”. We already had two snowmobiles go through the ice right after Christmas, so “know before you go”. Check with “locals” and fisherman for ice conditions where you plan to venture. Let’s be safe out there folks. December 16th was a great night as Fran LeClair of York, ME won the 2021 Polaris! The 2021 Super Raffle was a huge success for both the MSA and the MSA affiliated clubs that sold tickets. For more about this year’s Super Raffle, read the article in this issue. The MSA Showcase rides start February 12th in Millinocket. Look for information in this issue. Always, great trails, great views/ vistas, conversation and great food. The showcase rides are a chance to have a guided ride with folks from MSA who can answer questions and help you with information regarding the local area. The Northern Timber Cruisers always put on a great meal and we’ll be having our monthly MSA directors meeting that night as well. We are now in the heart of our season (hopefully) so get out there and enjoy Maine snowmobile trails. Remember to keep right, respect landowners (by staying on the marked I’d like to thank everyone for helping out and making last year a successful one. We got through the MSA Show in October and gave away some awesome prizes in December. Both with positive reviews. I’d also like to welcome Liz to the MSA. She is doing great work and we hope all hope that she is with us for a long time to come. The Vice Presidents have done a great job getting their regions up and going. There are many obstacles in the way this year. Lots of reroutes due to new landowners and logging operations. Many miles of new trail have been made to accommodate us all. The raffle went off extremely well. It was held in Waterville at the Elks Club, good snacks and happy people. Thanks to Angela Boyce for the delicious cookies and Marion Pinkham for the awesome whoopie pies. Everyone did an outstanding job! January really starts our season a few locations had snow in December and most ger due to LD-280. Speaking of bills, MSA will be watching an emergency bill, LD-1813 submitted late in December by Troy Jackson. This bill is set to amend the newly instituted weight require- ment of namely oversize ATV’s from 2000 pounds to 2500 pounds. While its intent was to keep an ATV in their class (as opposed to small Jeeps, off road full size buggies and mud trucks) and off snowmobile and ATV authorized trails, the current weight restric- tion clipped a few of the more utility and family orientated ATV’s from the list. A very respectable landowner was extremely con- cerned as they use many of these for their property management and as a result moved in a direction to grab attention and zero in on the more appropriate figure. There were very many people concerned and a shout out is due for those who stuck their necks out to solve it including the landowner. While it may not seem like much this seemingly, little decision could change the footprint of trail, as we know it. We will follow this closely. As a steering committee, our plans to start talks for a replacement Executive Director will commence. Do you know that special person that wants a special career watching Maine’s roadmap of snowmobiling? It really is a dream job for someone and really the only prerequisites are to love what you do, have patience and work with the best volunteer groups out there, and help educate the all peo- ple who snowmobile the respectful way it’s done. Communication ability is probably the number one item in the toolbox that will be needed. As for now, let’s roll into this season in a slow and safe mode building as much seat time as possible. Be proud of what we have W elcome Snowmobilers its 2022!

trail and removing all trash you see), ride safe and ride smart. We never know what is around the corner, be it a broken down sled or groomer, cross country skier or fat biker. Remember, today’s sleds are much quieter than those of the past. A cross-country skier or fat biker may not hear you coming and may be in the middle of the trail just around the corner. Always assume someone is coming the other way, just out of your sight. We are all ambassadors for our sport. Do you have a landowner that is new to the area with trail(s) on their land? Take them for a snowmobile ride and/or a groomer ride, to show them what we are, what we do and how we contribute to the local economy, especially local restaurants, hotels, cabins and fuel stations. We have nothing without all our landowners and we need to make them feel needed and wanted by Thanking them for their generosity. I will be out and about all over the state all season so flag me down if you have a question or idea to help our sport. You never know what swag I might have on board with me. Thank you to all the clubs, groomers and volunteers who make snowmobiling happen in Maine. Maine Snowmobiling Rocks! Think snow, Mike of the tip of Maine had a chance to ride. As I write this lots of locations are having an ice storm but just a little bit from my house it looks to be snowing sideways! Webcams tell a true story. The Madison Railroad branch from Oakland to Embden is going to be a multi-purpose trail for us to enjoy for many years. The bridge dedication went off well for the Harvey Williams Family of NorthAnson. TheWilliams Bridge is now a reality. It was nice to see the Williams, Joe Higgins, Lana and Candice along with Brian Bronson and longtime friend Scott Ramsay at the dedication. North Anson SC members go above and beyond making their trails work and we’re sure this will be another masterpiece Mike and I were there proud, of the soon to be new destination point for Central Maine. This will be a great ride! Heading to Oxford this month for our monthly meeting. Hope to see you there. Thanks for all you do! Happy New Year! Ride Safe, AL

Lori Hemmerdinger (207) 890-5455 544 Plains Road • Poland, ME 04274 Treasurer@mesnow.com Treasurer’s Report Respectfully Submitted, Lori Hemmerdinger, Treasurer Monthly Income $ 77,425.12 Monthly Expense $ 35,596.83 Net Revenue $ 41,828.29 Checking (12/31/21) $190,852.13 DedicatedAccount (12/31/21) $105,884.98 Pay Pal (12/31/21) $ - Special EventsAccount (12/31/21) $ 4,987.53 Credit Line (12/31/21) $ - Building Fund (12/31/21) $ 53,805.21 BrianWass Safety Fund (12/31/21) $ 1,285.07 CLUB MEMBERS Once grooming begins Submit your trail reports to: MSA@MESNOW.COM a well-attended Snowmobile Show, a very successful Super Raffle and several Trails Workshops in Shin Pond/Patten, Augusta and Strong, with ones coming up in the New- port and hopefully the Minot/Hebron areas, we also have a workshop scheduled at the Groomer Rodeo at the East Branch Sno Rov- ers in East Millinocket on January 29 th . I have held several regional meetings with my Trails Coordinators and brought on a few new faces to the Committee. With any luck, we will have started some of our “Trail” duties by the time this newspaper reaches our mailboxes. On the local Club side, I have seen many of the same things with Clubs holding their regular meetings, fundraisers and events with people turning out in record numbers. I also feel like not only have the local Clubs become more tight knit groups within. The MSA has also tried to become more involved and inter- active with our Clubs. All I can tell you is keep on doing what you’re doing because you guys (the membership) are an amazing and passion- ate group and we don’t ever give up, that is truly evident by the determination that you’ve shown over the last 24 months! Until next month folks, maybe we will meet on the Trail, at a Director’s meeting or maybe at a Workshop. Thank you for reading and as always please reach out to me with questions or anything Snowmobile related, I would love to hear from you! Mark Please include your name and club affiliation

Mike Grass, Jr., 207-368-2316 249 Condon Rd, Plymouth ME 04969 mgrassjr@gmail.com

W elcome to 2022! Let’s hope we see an end to all the Covid issues of the last many months and start 2022 with a great snowmobiling season. As I write this, some areas have started grooming “road” trails

From the Executive VP

Alan Swett, 207-872-7282 234 County Rd, Waterville ME 04901 snowtraveler@roadrunner.com Executive VP Report

Steering Committee

Trails Committee Chair Report

John Monk Chairman of Steering Committee H appy New Year All! I hope you all had a nice White Christmas and found that special snowmobiling gift under the tree (or in the trailer). Just after Christmas marks the Maine Snowmobiling’s Go Time! As of this writing, there are reports of enough to play on the roads and beds of some places and there is enough to traverse to some trail related projects but we are one healthy storm away from “Full ON”. While some may feel a bit disappointed of where we are, cite back to last year when we are almost a full month ahead of schedule. Already it is better. Clubs have also done an incredible job this season with trail prep. The pandemic has seemed to actually help the focus of getting the terrain prepped and most have almost instant reporting of their accomplishments. When it turns white, it is extremely hard to tell, but know the MSA and its members appreciate the incredible behind the scenes work. Please account for all your hours in your grants as this season the pie is a tad big-

Mark Chinnock,Trails Committee Chair 207-754-9874 435 Poland Corner Rd, Poland ME 04274 napadude66@hotmail.com H ello Everyone, Hoping you are all as excited about ringing out 2021 and ring- ing in 2022 as I am. It seems as though we are off to a much better start to the season (at least as of this writing) as far as the early snow pack goes, than we were at this juncture last year. Not only was 2021 full of all of the obvi- ous challenges, but last season’s snowfall was something less than stellar, and with the pub- lic restrictions we were not able to hold many of our fundraisers, events and workshops. Although some of those challenges are still with us we have learned how to deal with them yet still take care of business, and it makes me very happy to say that we have been able to hold with caution and forethought our events and workshops. We have been blessed with

and support it to the fullest! Enjoy the winter folks! John

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From The Executive Board

Director’s Meeting 570 - Waterville Elks, Waterville, ME - Secretary’s Report - December 16, 2021 A t 7:11 PM President Mike Grass Jr. called thAt 6:52 President Mike Grass Jr.

Christmas everybody. Mark your calendars for February 12 Showcase ride in the Millinocket area followed by a director’s meeting at the Northern Timber Cruisers clubhouse. Acknowledged the members from the Eastern Region for being well represented. Western Region: Jim Boyce- Carrabassett trail has been shut down this year. All clubs in the surrounding area have been scrambling cutting new trails. We will respect their land and hopefully we will get it back. Next meeting is at the Rock-O-Dundee Riders clubhouse in Oxford, showcase ride and director’s meeting. Southern Region: Dave Watson- Everything is going great in the coastal region. Acknowledged the coastal region so well represented. Central Region: Jack Lord- Got three inches of snow last night and rain until noon. Snow is coming to Jackman then heads down through the central region, Bingham will be next. Merry Christmas everyone. Executive Vice President-Al Swett: 85” of snow in Lake Tahoe. They got buried. 45 Congratulations to all the Super Raffle winners, thank you all for purchasing a ticket, supporting the club who sold it and the MSA. This is a great fundraiser for both clubs and the MSA which continues to grow. Clubs have been out hard at work, even without much snow yet and trails in the County will be ready when the right amount of snow comes. There are multiple re-routes so please watch the signage, as some intersections and stretches of trail won’t be where they were last season. These re-routes are very time consuming and can be expensive. Kudos to all those involved (club volunteers, landowners & contractors/equipment operators), making sure the trail system stays connected for the thousands of riders who frequent the County. Please follow signage along all trails, the club members who install & maintain them put them up for a reason, to direct you or share information with you. You may see many new pieces of grooming equipment around the County this winter, as quite a few clubs have upgraded their power

trucks on the side of the road. They said we couldn’t do it, the show was a huge success. We did it! 84K Super Raffle tickets sold. You guys are awesome. The ZR 200 came in just in time. Kramer’s have gone above and beyond helping us. Matt Stedman is the one that got the Polaris XC 850 Matryx lined up and got a great deal on it through Woody’s. Moosehead Motor Sport’s went above and beyond with the Ski Doo Renegade 2022 added many extras. The trailers were donated by Chad because it benefits all the clubs. Steering committee: John Monk- Debbie and Kerry Scates from Palermo are sitting on the committee for Sunday Hunting. A survey will be sent out to try to find a way to make both sides happy. The steering committee is working on filling the executive director’s position. Long-term trailer registrations are available for snowmobile trailers 2000 lbs. and up $5 per year with a minimum of 5 years, up to 30 years, transferable in the same name. Last two digits are the year that it expires. MSA Trails: Mark Chinook- Thanks for everyone coming out tonight. The raffle unit, drag or both. Make sure to give the folks running them a big thumbs up when you see them, and please help the clubs by joining &/ or dropping some cash in the trail maintenance jars at clubhouses and convenience stores. The machines are very expensive, and cost of operations always exceed State grant funding. As we all begin to get out on the trails, please be safe. Plan your ride, ride with a partner, ride right and ensure a safe return home for you and those you meet. Take the time to talk to others about snowmobile safety and trail etiquette while stopped along the trail, everyone approaches trail safety differently and we can all learn from other experiences and stories. If you have a question, problem, concern, or idea on snowmobiling in “The County”, get in touch with me. You can contact me at the phone # or email below. Matt Stedman Northern Region VP

drum is struggling because of all the tickets. We’ve had mapping meetings and workshops. January 6 in Strong. Another to be put together by Chris Ring in St. Albans. Good attendance, Good information. If anyone wants to have one contact me. Merry Christmas everybody. Hospitality: Gail Ryan No activity. Membership: Eileen Lafland- Memberships are coming in great even some that haven’t been active for a few years. Aroostook County is ahead, with Eastern region closing in fast Safety: Al. - Brookfield IF&W wants to work with us, helping with snowmobile safety posters printing and laminating. BIW wants to support our safety inspections by paying for all the food and drinks. Other business: Showcase ride inMillinocket February 12 and Island Falls March 12. New business: none. Pot of Gold. Carmel S.C. drawn by Liz., no director present, $400.00 forfeited. 50/50 $170.00 went to Bob Flagg. Meeting adjourned 7:22 Respectfully submitted, Brad Barker, Secretary. MSA CLUBS: To Order Needed ITS & JCT SIGNS Contact Mike Grass Sr. MSA Trails Committee 252 Condon Rd • Plymouth, ME 04969 207-368-4914 home • 207-745-2745 cell Grasslands252@gmail.com To Order Club Trail Signage Candice Pinkham, DACF/Snowmobile Program 207-287-4957 Office • 207-878-8111 Fax Candice.M.Pinkham@maine.gov G reetings Snow people, I’ve Been out for a few rides enjoying the trails, the beauty of our great state. Hat’s off to all clubs who continue to keep our trails in excellent shape. Thank you to the generous landowners for sharing your property. Have you been to the new MSA Website? It looks fantastic with so much information for all to enjoy. There is a listing of events coming up in different area’s please check it out. Congratulations to all the super raffle winners and to the clubs for selling so many tickets. If you have an event coming up please let me know I will try to attend, or I will make sure a lot of people know about it. Enjoy your riding be safe, ride right, have fun.... Dave Watson

called the meeting to order. Pledge of allegiance.

Secretary’s Report for November, posted in the newspaper, M/S/C and placed on file at the office. Treasurer’s report. Read and placed on file at the office. Dedicated account is the Super Raffle account. President’s Comments- Mike Grass Jr.: Super Raffle has been the priority at the office. Al has been making sure tickets going out and getting back. Executive Vice President: Al Swett -Thank everyone for coming from North, South, East, and West. It means a lot. Gave a brief report from Northern Region V.P. Matt Stedman - Merry Christmas to everyone and their families. Make sure your sleds are ready to go. Hope we have good snow for 2022. Keep looking for calendar events in club news the paper and Club Facebook events. There is lots going on this winter. Thank you to all of the club volunteer’s for your hard work in 2021. Eastern Region- Eileen Lafland- Merry

Northern Region VP

Matt Stedman 207-557-1921 (call or text)

PO Box 621, Ashland ME 04732 Stedman.matt@jdirving.com

H New Years’ fellow snowmobilers, Well, today was my 1st day in the groomer with the drag, a few weeks before last seasons’ 1st trip out, let’s hope that will set the pace for the season.

Stedman.matt@jdirving.com 207-557-1921 (call or text)

Western Region VP

Central Region VP

Coastal Region VP

Jack Lord Home: (207) 672-3915 • Cell: 207-717-7131 Email: jacklord5256@gmail.com Here it is Sunday the 19th, 4 inches of snow, white enough but not deep enough. The good thing is we are on our way. Last Thursday night was the MSA Super Raffle meeting, what a night a lot of winners. It was really great getting together face to face. Saw people I have not seen in 2 or 3 years, an early Christmas present. Here in the Central Region we are ready and like always the 5% we missed we will discover on our first night grooming or on our first ride out. We will take care of that and then we are golden and can ride until we are forced to go home to sleep. Now the trails are ready, is your sled mechanically ready and do you have the safety stuff, a first-aid kit, towrope, four-stroke jumper pack. Just think about what you might need, only you know where you ride and what you should have with you. We want to see you at the next MSA meeting so… BE SAFE and KEEP SMILING Jack Lord • 672-3915 Home • 717-7131 Cell E-Mail....jacklord5256@gmail.com H i Everyone,

David Watson, 207-205-1558 412 Roberts Ridge Rd East Waterboro ME 04030 dwatson6841@gmail.com

James Boyce, 207-265-6512 1168 Fosterhill Road Freeman ME 04983 Jboyce1168@gmail.com

MSA MEMBERS CHANGE OF ADDRESS Let us know when your USPS mailing address has changed - so you won’t miss an issue of the Maine Snowmobiler Members Name: ______________________________________ Old Mailing Address: __________________________________________________ __________________________________________________ NEW MAILING ADDRESS: __________________________________________________ __________________________________________________ Mail to: Maine Snowmobile Association, PO Box 80, Augusta, ME 04332 fax: 207-622-7669 or e-mail info to: msa@mesnow.com #

H Hope everyone had happy holidays and now it’s time to get the season started. As I write this I’m visiting in New York with family. Hope to get trails opened up, as is everyone else. Just a reminder Carrabassett is still shut down please follow the signs and stay off the trails if we get permission we will work to get them open as soon as possible. Many reroutes this year check with your local clubs before venturing out. Also, make sure you register your sleds it’s how clubs get funded to bring some of the best trails in the states. Remember to join a club or two and pitch in where you can. If out riding and you come across a blow down or a hazard please inform the local club if you cannot take care of it. Lastly have a safe and great season until next month. THINK SNOW.

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From The Executive Board

Lakeside Riders. I believe these three clubs were the third, fourth and fifth top selling clubs in the state. As I have said many, many times the eastern region clubs come through when needed. As I write this it is the end of December and the temperatures are slowly beginning to fall. There is even some snow on the ground, which sure is nice to see other than rain! If all goes well it looks like there will be more snow before the first of January. By the time you read this I am sure there will be people riding somewhere in the state. Everything is ready to go at our house, just waiting for the ground to freeze and snow to cover it. Please make sure you stay safe and watch for trail -routes and changes. Clubs have done a great job signing and letting people know about the changes, but there is always someone who doesn’t hear about it and tries to go where the trail has always been. Respect the landowners and their wishes and ride where it is marked. or a snowstorm comes up on you. These are all challenges that are out there while we’re riding. Don’t drink and drive. It can quickly turn a great day into a bad day. Alcohol fogs your ability to make good decisions, It’s not worth the risk Maine has some stiff laws while drinking and driving, don’t do it your future will be a dark one. Be careful when crossing roads, any road, woods roads, state highways and

Here’s your chance to take a ride in a groomer and learn what they can do. Head to the East Branch Sno-Rovers in Medway on Jan.29th. There are holding a Groomer Rodeo, doing a trail signing workshop and a trail safety presentation as well as cooking up some great food. Look for more details in this paper and mark it on your calendar. Here’s another chance to mark your cal- endar- Feb.12 th ! This is the day there will be an Eastern Region Showcase ride starting at the Northern Timber Cruisers clubhouse in Millinocket. Please gather there by 8:30 AM. The route will be determined as we get closer and depending on snow conditions. We will return the Timber Cruisers and that night, the February MSA Directors meeting will be held at the same location. For more information as the day gets closer, please contact Eileen at llafland@midmaine.com or (207)843-7813. That’s all for this month. Until February, stay healthy and ride safely. Eileen some snacks, flashlight and fire starting material and don’t forget a compass! This new space age clothing material is lite weight, windproof, waterproof along with a good helmet and gloves or mittens. Layering is the new way to dress! Register your sled and join a club, support the sport we all have a deep passion for. Stay on marked trails, do not modify your exhaust system its illegal in Maine, ride right, ride within your experience and the conditions. Stay alert watch out for others on the trail. Pick up you trash or any you may see. Ice - if you don’t knowdon’t go! Respect property, we ride on over 90% private land. If you see wildlife on the trail back off, keep a safe distance between you and them do not chase wildlife. They will get off the trail when they can. Also Take a snowmobile training course. IF&W has dates available starting in January. Check their website. Here are twelve codes to live by! 1. Never consume alcohol or drugs before or during snowmobiling 2. Become familiar with the sled you ride 3. Operate at safe and reasonable speeds 4. Stay on marked trails 5. Avoid travel on unfamiliar frozen bodies of water 6. Use caution at night 7. Keep your snowmobile properly maintained 8. 8. Become familiar with the terrain you will ride on 9. Listen to the weather forecast 10.Always wear a helmet and proper clothing 11. Never ride alone; always let someone know where and how long you are going and when you return 12.Carry emergency supplies and a survival kit 13.Ride Right Be safe out there

derful holiday and were able to gather with your families and friends safely. We sure have had a rough time with this virus and it doesn’t seem to want to go away. I guess we just need to stay as positive as possible and look for- ward to the day when we don’t have to hear Covid updates daily. The Super Raffle wrapped in December and what a success it was! There were so many tickets in the drum, it had a hard time turning. Actually, at times it did need a little help to move. Eastern region clubs you all did a great job selling tickets. Hats off the Bowlin/ Matt- agamon/Shin Pond for being the highest sell- ing club in the Eastern region. This was the first year Les Hill took on the challenge to sell tickets and did he ever along with help from his wife and others. Moosehead Riders from Greenville also did a wonderful job, coming in second in the Eastern region. This year we added a third club from each region to the Lucky Draw and that club was the Glenburn

Eastern Region VP

Eileen Lafland, 207-843-7813 PO Box 733, Holden ME 04429 llafland@midmaine.com

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appy 2022 to all MSAmembers and your families. Hopefully you all had a won-

January is Snowmobile Safety Month By Al Swett

Our favorite season has arrived! As we kick off 2022 let’s make a goal, nobody dies on our trails. We lost six fellow riders last year and had many accidents that could have been prevented. January is usually a bad start for us, many accidents occur in the days ahead. Why? Because people have not been on their sleds since last season and in some areas last year was a quick season due to lack of snow. We’re all a little “rusty sort of speak at the start” we need to slow down and remember what our snowmobiles are capable of doing.

bearings. Other items, seat, handlebars, dimmer switches emergency or kill button work like its suppose too? Any leaks in the engine compartment? Oil tank ok, gas tank good, chain case fluid been changed and drive chain adjusted? Yeah, It sounds like a big project but get it done before you head out on your first trip. It will make your season a lot easier with peace of mind that you’re all up to date! Take it easy, watch your speed, enjoy the beauty of our spectacular trail system. Watch out for animals, people, trees and other objects on the trail. You may be coming back on a trail you went on in the morning and in the afternoon, a windstorm has blown down a pine tree blocking the ride home.

when using railroad crossings. Look both ways proceed with caution. We are all suited up and it is hard to hear and sometimes see other vehicles. Be careful. Stay alert, be careful at night. It’s another obstacle you have to beware of. Slow down don’t over drive your head lights. Large fields may become hard to figure which way you’re going and you could get turned around and lost.

Get to know your sled again after the long off season. Go through your owner’s manual most have a checklist to go by before, during and after riding. Consult your dealer if you have questions. Keep your machine in great condition to avoid trouble on the trail. Make sure the headlights, tail light and brake light all work. Check the brake lever, before starting push the throttle check for free and easy movement. How’s your skis? Carbides worn out from last year? Any cracks in either ski? Change, replace and or repair. The track?Any cracks or rips? If you have studs are they all there? Slide’s or hyfax are they worn enough to replace? Boogie wheels need to be changed out? While your down there check the wheel

Accidents on lakes are sometimes deadly. Just because you’re on a lake does not mean it all flat. Pressure ridges, ice shacks, broken down sleds and other obstacles can lead to tragedy. Know how thick the ice is before you go. Check with the local business’s and snowmobile clubs. Just because there is a snowmobile track on the ice does not means it’s safe to go on. Please use caution. Drowning is the leading cause of snowmobile deaths. Don’t ride alone, take a friend with you, it’s safer! Join a club we have 100’s of clubs associated with the MSA. Join and help out too. Make sure you have a first aid kit, tool kit, survival kit, with

Riding a snowmobile is a lot of fun. Be responsible. Ride Smart, Ride Safe. Be aware of the changing conditions while you’re out, sunshine, cold, wind

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MSA Club News

Where can you stay in Island Falls? We have Vacationland Estates (207) 463-2884 & Birch Point Cabins (207) 463-2515 locally but they book up fast during the riding season! Call now to reserve your weekend. Thank you to Scot Walker, Owner of First Choice Real Estate for the help and bringing a Tucker 2000 into the fleet to help maintain the Big Valley Sno Club trails! Gloria Olko

bership form. Thank you for helping to grow the Groomer Fund. We have just over 100 members to date. This is not our usual number, it is a little low but due to the crazy weather we have had, we aren’t surprised. To make it easier for people to join online, check out our Facebook Page. The Membership form is pinned to the top of the Facebook Page with instructions on how to save, edit, sign and return. Also, there is a pinned post giving direct access to PayPal as well. If you have any questions, message the page for assistance. Hope everyone has a Safe Holiday Season and we get some snow sooner rather than later. Snow Dance is in order at this point. Charlene Fraser Club Secretary With Covid still looming over us the Club is still busy with meetings. Membership pro- motion is underway and events for members to enjoy in the upcoming months. There will be a Christmas Party in December, February members that want to participate will do an overnight ride to Madawaska and stay at Four Corners and in April there will be a Spring Dance/Raffle for all to enjoy. Had a great group of volunteers work Tues- day, November 16, 2021, performing trail maintenance. Thanks goes to Bub Anderson, Brent McKeen, Bill Weatherhead, Tom Camp- bell, Alex Laporte, and Denis Orthaus. While there was mixed precipitation most of the day, volunteers managed to get all the field mark- ers up and a lot of the signage refreshed on the trails. They reported trails were in pretty good shape with just a few areas needing attention with chain saws. The new section at the junc- tion of the Williams trails was made wider for easier access with the groomer. A small adjust- ment was made to the trail in this area to create a more convenient and safer trail by eliminat- ing one of the S turns. Thanks again everyone for the help. Many hands make light work. The groomer has had a complete mainte- nance check and will be ready for the trails this winter. Snow showers have begun in the county and hopefully this means we will be out enjoying the trails very soon. Ride safe and hope to see everyone on the trails ☺ NORDIC LAKERS New Sweden, ME Meduxnekeag Ramblers held a regular meeting on Tuesday Dec 14 with potluck sup- per, meeting and gift swap. Well, we are just waiting for snow. Groomers, drags and opera- tors are already to go. We are going to try to have our Saturday breakfasts starting Jan 1 st thru the end of March with the good Lord willing, and Covid stays away. We will be serving from 6am to 9am every Saturday. Come and join us for some good food, and great friendship. Club house is available for rentals, please call Kim at 207-538-6973. And any ques- tions regarding the breakfasts please call 207-694-0867. Respectfully submitted, Judy Big Valley is having the January meeting on January 8 th @ 6:00 pm. This is a potluck and anyone is welcome to attend! This will be held at Big Valley Snowmobile Club in Island Falls. We will be discussing club rides, trail work that still needs to be done, trail side barbeque and our 150 th town celebration on Feb 26 th , 2021! We will also be hosting an MSA club ride in March ~ more details to come on that! Happy Holidays! Barbara McKeen Club Reporters MEDUXNEKEAG RAMBLERS Littleton, ME BIG VALLEY SNO CLUB Island Falls, ME

Deadlines for club news is the 25 th of the month prior to the publications. Please submit articles to editor@mesnow.com

Picture yourself with some of that new ski- doo gear you got for the holidays, maybe even a new snow machine headed North to experi- ence what snowmobiling should be. So much white snow it’s hard to know where the trails begin and end. Breath taking scenery, frozen rivers, lakes, wide open spaces, fresh powder in your face. Meeting people who greet you with a smile because you’re sharing some of the best trails the North country has to offer. Our snowmobile club will be opening on Saturdays with a hot meal, (as of now) after January lst. Stop in and say hi, have a great meal, warm up next to our wood stove and be off again to enjoy the ride. On Saturday, March l2 th , 2022, we’ll be hosting our “Race your neighbor” races on the flats not far from Joe’s Country Store right here in St. Francis. We have a category for every sled. And Cash prizes too. Let’s see if we can put your name on our winner’s board. We have a facebook page, St. Francis Sno Angels, Check it out for our weekly meal spe- cials, trail conditions and race updates. We’d love to meet you. Respectfully, Kim M Ouellette, Secretary Hi Gang, Not really a lot going on right now. It is the 18th of December and we are all waiting for Christmas to come and go. There is no snow on the ground, and not much in sight. You guys can start the snow dances anytime. Trails are all ready to go according to Trail- master Pat Joyce, with 2 reroutes in place as I write. Signing is pretty much complete, and the bridge work is coming along nicely. The current memberships are around 100, with more coming in on a daily basis. On the social front, our annual Caribbean Cruise Raffle sold out for the 30th time and was won by Madeline Duffy, granddaughter of longtime club members Mike and Joan Duffy. Congrats. to Madeline - well done! A big THANK YOU to Randy Bates, Reid Stan- ley, Ken Delano, Alison Perrin, John Oxley, Tom Qualey and the Splanman for selling tickets this year. Please be watching for Facebook posts and local flyers, as the Snowgang will once again hold our annual fishing derby on Plunkett Pond on Feb.19th. We are looking for a big crowd, as this is also free fishing weekend!!! Well, I guess that is all the news, have a happy and safe new year, I have to go feed the mountain lion. Jim Splan Reporter @ Large P.S. Anyone want to buy a mountain lion?? P.SS. I hate beavers!! P.SSS. Saw Santa driving an Arctic Cat!! P.SSSS. .................................................! ROCKABEMA SNOW RANGERS Patten, ME Email: rockabemasnowrangers@gmail.com FB: Patten - Rockabema Snow Rangers Well, another month has gone by and mother nature did not cooperate for us to hold our monthly meeting due to icy conditions. However, the month was not lost. Some of the members have been out on the trails putting red sign posts up and attaching signs to them for instruction like Stop and Stop Ahead, directional signs, trail number signs or arrows. We were putting the lessons learned the month before into action. Our Sponsor a Mile renewal signs are displayed on the trails as well and a couple new Sponsors have joined in supporting the Groomer Fund for the Club. We would like to thank those supporting our Sponsoring A Mile Program, as well as those who sent in donations with their mem- BENEDICTA SNOWGANG Benedicta, ME

NORTHERN REGION

CHAPMAN RIDGE RUNNERS SNOWMOBILE AND ATV CLUB Chapman, ME

WASHBURN TRAIL RUNNERS sc Washburn, ME Washburntrailrunners.org Facebook @washburntrailrunners

Dear Members, Christmas 2021 has come and gone. Covid is still here, but let’s aim for spring now and hope that covid has come and gone. Stay safe everyone! We are already for snow. We have had several high windstorms with snow, only to lose it to rain. We’ve had many blowdowns to remove. But right now, we have 5” and hope to pack trails tomorrow. We need to get a base laid. Let’s hope it stays. Last year we had a late start, Jan. 23 to pack and Jan. 24 to groom. WAGM television predicts this winter will be very much like last. Let’s hope they are wrong. Our trail system has no rail beds, so we must wait until the beaver dams and water holes are frozen. As of today, Dec. 19, all water is frozen. Here’s hoping! We are still postponing membership meet- ings and having directors and groomers meet. The last event we held was our annual indoor yard sale in September, which went very well for us. We will reassess the situation in January. The groomers are getting the tracks on the Ranger, our work vehicle for the crews. It makes it so much easier to put out signs, field stakes and danger markers, especially since many members no longer have sleds with sleighs to organize the trail materials. The sign crew mounts the signs (would that be Marc?) and a rack was built in the back of the Ranger to hold signs, stakes, screws and drills, chain- saws and gas. A big “thank you” goes to our trail crew. Few people realize the work that is required to get the trails ready, not to men- tion the hours and hours of paperwork. Our treasurer, Carolyn works every day! The grant work also takes many hours. For example, clubs are required to contact every landowner annually. We have written easements with some landowners, but we still make contact every year. This allows us to deal with prob- lems as they happen, lets them know that we want to cooperate with them, that we value their input and that we appreciate their per- mission to use their property. We have some landowners who only allow snowmobile trails and some that allow ATV and snowmobiles. It can be tricky! But somehow the work gets done, year after year. Remember there is always parking at our clubhouse for trailering to get closer to the trails and check us out on Facebook. Watch our video and send us your videos or photos of somewhere on the trails You can also donate to our fundraiser by making snow angels and sending videos, texted to Christina Olsen at 551-8255. She manages our Facebook page. Donations may also be made. In closing, I wish you great riding and a long winter. Stay right and enjoy the outdoors, we can at least do that. Sue Maynard Secretary When you are reading this, the rush for that perfect Christmas gift is over and the New Year has begun. Now our winter has begun in earnest and it is drumroll…. snowmobile season. Now is the time to give yourself a much overdue Christ- mas gift and head north for some of the few remaining wide open skidoo trails. Our new groomer made its first voyage this week and the trails are groomed and awaiting you. ST. FRANCIS SNO ANGELS St. Francis, ME

Happy New Year!!! As I sit here typing this, I can’t help but reflect on the year that was. 2021, similarly to 2020, provided all of us with many challenges in our personal life, work life and family life. I hope all of you reading this had a wonderful Christmas season with your loved ones and are all in good health. I don’t know about you, but I can’t wait for the day we stop talking about that nasty word, COVID! Hopefully by the time you are reading this we will have ample snow on the ground, we have been grooming for weeks and the club- house kitchen is open for the season, making those delicious breakfast and lunch goodies we have all come to know and love. Cur- rently we are in holding pattern just waiting for Mother Nature to change her mind and let this rain we are currently having turn to snow instead. Who knows, maybe by the time you are reading this we will have taken delivery of our new Tucker and we will be out putting the first miles and hours on it. Fingers crossed!!! Just to give you an update of things we have been working on at the clubhouse, during the fall we were able to update our outside lighting to include new wall-pack lights for the park- ing lot, under the canopy where we park the groomer as well as one on the end of the build- ing to light up the ITS 83/105 intersection. Now stopping at the clubhouse in the evening won’t be so dark and desolate. We also worked on relocating the fuel tank as it was starting to lean to one direction, and we couldn’t have that! During the off season we will be looking to make a new pad to set it on so not to ever lean again. As far as trail work, we spent a lot of time this fall on 61, brushing & cuttings. We also replaced a washed-out culvert and made a transition ramp from the old trail up onto the new road that P&C has been building over the past few years. I for one cannot wait to ride that trail again! Other than that, we did some repair work to the bridges, have all the stakes out for the motel trail and 61 and made sure all our signage was in good condition. Once we get snow, we should be all set. As a reminder, the kitchen will be open this year! Friday, January 7, 2022, will be the first day we are open for the season. As usual, the hours of operation are Friday & Saturday 7AM to 2PM and Sunday 7AM to 12PM. We will also be open every day during February Break. Keep an eye on our Facebook page for more information. Dick, Audrey, and the entire Kitchen Crew are looking forward to serving up delicious meals to keep you ready for many more miles of riding. Lastly, if you are a member stop by anytime and warm up in the clubhouse. If you are not a member yet, why not? Your membership is a fantastic way of showing that you support the efforts of our club and helps us keep things going. It’s as easy as going to our website, filling out the application and paying through PayPal. You don’t need a PayPal account to do it, just a credit or debit card will work. Club meetings are the 2nd Wednesday of every month starting at 6:30PM. We hope to see you there! We hope each of you had a wonderful holiday season and wish you a prosperous new year!! Kindly, Tim Stitham – President

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