8528-R2_MSA_October2023

- IS IT SNOWING YET? - By Denise Duperré

Y es!Yes it is! What a glorious view to wake up to as my Facebook feed floods with reports of dedicated snowmobiling friends who are head ing for higher elevations in neigh boring areas to experience there first thrill and hopefully find a cure for that ‘throttle twitch’ we all seem to have these days. I can’t help but smile.

D id I mention how much I love this time of the year? My favorite color…WHITE! Ok, technically it really isn’t a color but it’s the color of glory, hope and winter! My favorite smells remind me even more of why I love snow season. I’m working on new club member ships which are vital to all clubs in my home office and the smells of my grandma’s kitchen are making its way into every room of this house, because snowy days and baking go together like bacon and eggs. Another amaz ing smell to me is the smell of fresh fallen snow first thing in the morn ing as Jack Frost nips your nose, and of that 2-stroke cologne that brings happy thoughts to mind. But all this beauty comes with a price…and I’m not talking about shoveling, heating our homes and all that good stuff…I’m talking about hundreds of hours of dedicated men and women who have a passion for what the white stuff brings. Dedicated volunteers and employ ees who get ready and work hard, some without compensation for those many months or man-hours of getting those ‘super highway’ trails prepared for snowmobiling. They, like us, want to see and tour those majestic snowy paths or get to their weekend destinations, or those who prefer heading toward the mountains for their addiction of that fresh, white powder.

are so busy getting ready for winter themselves, that they don’t realize the havoc and headaches they cause us, as we struggle to find a balance for all of God’s creatures. Busy beavers are probably the hard est working critter in the animal king dom, and they don’t rest!

W hile many of us may be getting our snowmobiles out of hiber nation and serviced, your local snow mobile Club, some in conjunction with the UTV Clubs, have once again removed the beaver dams, fixed the crossings, diversion ditches, bridges or cut new trails to re-route or taken care of down trees in trails after the past few heavy snowfalls. Busy Bea vers, be it human or animal!! There’s always plenty to do during the white season. Volunteers are always needed throughout the year. Thanks to all the snowmobiling club volunteers throughout the northeast that make it all happen. Next time you’re cruising on your snowmo bile, flying down a pristine, freshly groomed trail…thank a volunteer, a club member, a groomer operator and the hundreds of men and women it takes to make it all come together flawlessly from one community to the next. Also, we thank you, snowmobilers, who faithfully pay to be a member of a club or many clubs; buy fundraising tickets or donate generously through out the season. Membership mon ies go a long way, especially in those small communities or in those busy, high traffic areas. Volunteer some of your time to your local club and keep us all safe and smiling as we wave at each other when our paths cross on those amazing snowmobile trails. Let it Snow!

A s I sit here in the warmth of my home, writing this piece, thanks to a snow-day and the office being closed, I’m nothing more than thank ful for living where I live (The County) and this amazing state called Maine. Most of the state is now covered in a blanket of white, and snowmobile clubs are out and doing what they do best…making ribbons of white for locals and tourists alike.

O ne of the many issues that arise throughout the summer and fall months, and into the frozen season, has to do with little furry critters who

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