8722_MSA_Here&Back_SpecialEdition

The Maine Snowmobiler

Supplimental Special Edition

An Official Publication of the Maine Snowmobile Association

May, 2024

Here and Back How one Loser won big with the 1 st Annual KAST Poker Run

By Jason Johnson

I first learned about Snowmobile Poker Runs two years ago when I moved to Smyrna and opted to check out a local Club’s Poker Run at the urging of my friend Jared Brewer – a native of Blaine and avid sledder in his younger days before he moved downstate. “You’ve got to go on a Poker Run,” said Jared when I asked him about the various poker runs in the County. “They’re a lot of fun.” Until last year my only experience with Poker Runs was by ATV. Those Poker Runs were akin to being in a Westward Ho! Conestoga wagon train – everyone lined up their ATVS and UTVs behind a leader who very slowly and painstakingly led the group to our first stop where we spent 20 minutes or so drawing cards before loading up for the next long, slow ride to our sec ond stop and so on and so forth. I was pleasantly surprised to find with Snowmobile Poker Runs it really isn’t a case of playing Follow the Leader as everyone rides at their own pace and order, stopping at pre-cho sen spots where cards are drawn and

recorded. In short, doing a Poker Run by sled was a lot of fun and I was look ing forward to the KAST Poker Run to the point where I plotted out a nice route by sled. That plan however was two weeks ago . . . and before I had the dubious distinction of throwing a stud into not one, but two intercoolers on my Renegade . . . not to mention having some wonky issue in the chaincase. My sled would be out of commission for awhile . . . maybe for the rest of the riding season. Never one to dwell on the negative I decided to take my proverbial lem ons and make lemon-ade and do the Poker Run by car. I mean I like driving so it could be fun to drive to a few of the stops, right? And then I thought, instead of just hitting a few of the stops . . . why not drive to all ten of the stops and kill a few hours? I’ll fast for

“What am I doing? This is crazy. I really should be doing something more productive today,” I muttered to myself as I opened my car door and sat down in the driver’s seat. I stared down at my car’s dashboard. It was 6 a.m. on a Saturday – February 24 th – and 25 degrees outside. I began to think of all the chores I should be doing around the house today . . . and the realization I would most likely instead spend most of the day watch ing Sled Neck videos, flipping through Facebook and playing Gardenscape. “Screw it, this will beat staying home” and with that I depressed the Push-To-Start button of my black Toy ota Camry TRD, punched in a Mat tawamkeag address and cranked up the radio which was playing the latest Pearl Jam hit. Time to head south to the Katahdin Area Trail System’s 1 st Annual Poker Run. As I sped south on I-95 I took a min ute to reflect on how I got here. I mean this wasn’t my original plan for today. When I heard about the KAST Poker Run I figured it would be a fun day of riding my Skidoo Renegade in southern Aroostook with a dip or two south to hit some of the Northern Penobscot snowmobile trails.

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ward the story a bit here to say that no matter how much one enjoys driving, trust me . . . driving a Camry on tarred roads in later-Winter with the inevita ble frost heaves can never compete to driving a sled on those white ribbon highways whether it be blasting up a railbed, zooming through a hayfield or zigzagging through the tight twisties of a woods trail. On the Friday before the KAST Poker Run I loaded up Google Maps and began to figure out the best and most efficient course by road. Through the power of Google it looked like the entire run could be done in 229 miles and in 4 hours and 44 minutes . . . of course Google has no idea that I am part Irish and have the gift of gab not to mention the fact I fully intended to stop and eat lunch somewhere along the way. It was however during my plotting and planning that another thought occurred to me . . . rather than just quickly stopping, grabbing a poker card and then hurriedly moving on, I thought it might be worth the time to meet some of the men and women who volunteer in the various clubs. I mean I’m relatively active in my own snowmobile club, but I am also guilty of having ridden right past other snow mobile club houses when out trail riding as I often have a destination in mind or want to reach a certain spot by a certain time. In the past I have not really stopped to talk to the folks who are actually grooming the trails, putting up the informational signs and rebuilding the bridges. And so here I was . . . barreling down I-95 heading towards my first stop of the day. Just barely visible through the weak sun of the morning dawn was my first – and certainly not the last – view of Mt. Katahdin.

Fro Dough Pizza in Mattawamkeag 10 minutes to 7 – the starting time of the Poker Run – fully expecting to see a number of cars, maybe even a line of folks, waiting to draw their first poker card. Instead I found an empty parking lot and closed pizza shop. As I settled in to wait I took a few min utes to peruse Facebook. In those few moments I also found myself amazed to a degree. It is no surprise this past Winter and its lack of snow has been tough on businesses and snowmo bile clubs alike. As I flipped past photo after photo of groomers out and about doing their business I thought to myself that it really has been something to see the trailmasters and groomers pull off a virtual miracle by somehow pre serving what snow is on the trails and keeping the trails open . . . in a normal winter seeing photos of the groomers laying down flat tracks in late-Febru ary would be no big deal, but this year seeing them still going at it even now is pretty special. After 15 minutes of looking at Face book and surfing the Net I began to get nervous. Was I in the right area? Had they moved the stop? Fortunately, that was right about when Naomi Smith – who with her husband Chris Smith has been instrumental in getting KAST up and running – showed up. A few minutes later Kasie Gray, a member of the Mattawamkeag Road Runners Snowmobile Club, showed up with paperwork and signs. Kasie and I chatted a bit about the Road Run ners which is one of the legacy clubs which sprang up in the early-1970s when snowmobiling began to take off for the first time here in Maine. The Road Runners – with their dis tinctive logo of a scarf-wearing, snow mobile-riding road runner– maintain 80 miles of trail. Like so many other clubs, a lack of volunteers has Kasie and her husband “Bear” (Kasie says even Bear’s own friends don’t know

Mattawwamkeag Road Runners

Founded: 1970s

Members: 20

Miles of Trail: 80

Groomers: “Two blue groomers.” Kasie

Best Tip: Kasie says the best rides are either to ride through the Mattawamkeag Wilderness with its great views or take the trail to Benedicta which has some great views of the mountains and sees very little traffic. Why volunteer? “My husband and I enjoy riding. We saw a need with the club needing volunteers as there are a lot of older members and not a lot of younger people joining the club to help out.”

This isn’t good. I pulled into the gravel parking lot of

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NorthernTimber Cruisers

Founded: 1969

Members: 200

Miles of Trail: 35

Groomers: Tracked Kubota tractor, Polaris UTV and two wide track snowmobiles for the cross country ski trails Best Tip: “We have a new trail to East Millinocket that will be opening up. It’s so new that it doesn’t even have a name yet, but it really offers some great views.” Why volunteer? “I love the sport. I’m a two wheel guy – I raced motocross for years, but when the mill closed we lost a lot and while nothing can likely replace the mill in terms of jobs, snowmobiling is one piece that can help . . . besides if I don’t volunteer, who else will?”

First stop in Mattwamkeag

his real name) concerned. “We have maybe 20 members and of those even fewer are active mem bers,” says Kasie, who juggles home life with her husband and children, work and going to school to become a registered nurse along with helping out the club. With many of the Road Runners growing ever older and inter est waning in the club, Kasie says her husband and her along with a few oth ers are holding on the best they can as she really doesn’t want to lose the trail . . . a familiar refrain I would hear from other club members throughout the rest of the day. Mattawamkeag Road Runners may not see as many sledders in their area, especially out-of-state visitors, but my next stop has been well known as a Snowmobile Destination for many years – Millinocket, Maine. Millinocket’s Northern Timber Cruisers are one of the older, if not oldest clubs, in the area going all the way back to 1969. This club’s hospitality in serving both sledders and the community is legendary. This year marked the 11th year the Club has participated in the Snow ball Run for Cancer. A highlight each

year for the Club is the Snowmobile Parade in downtown Millinocket along with their Antique Snowmobile Show. In addition the Club maintains cross country ski trails for local skiers. I walked into the Club House to the smell of bacon, eggs and toast wafting out of the kitchen. Sledders and locals alike were beginning to file in for a breakfast worthy of an old time lum berjack – a tradition the club has main tained every Saturday for a number of years now. TheTimber Cruisers can boast of hav ing over 200 members, but those num bers do not tell the entire story accord ing to Club President John Raymond. “The money we receive from mem berships certainly helps,” says John. “Every membership is appreciated since like most other snowmobile clubs the money we get reimbursed from the State always falls short of our actual expenses. However, we also need people to brush the trails and put up signs and this is where we typically only get a handful of volunteers to help out.” Unlike many clubs, theTimber Cruis ers have chosen to hire private con tractors for some of their projects, such as building bridges. This is com pletely understandable when one real

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NorthernTimber sleds

NorthernTimber crew

Twin Pines

Founded: 20+ years ago

Members: 70

Miles of Trail: 60

Groomers: 4 BR 400 Bombardier groomers

Best Tip: Dave recom mends taking the Logan PondTrail counter-clock wise as it offers a num ber of views facingThe Mountain. Great Brook Trail/ITS 85 heading north also offers a good view of Mt. Katahdin. Why volunteer? “Why volunteer? Well person ally for me it’s part of my livelihood. I work here.”

izes that their newest bridge which is slated to open this Summer for ATVs, hikers, bikers and sledders in the Win ter comes with a price tag of over $200,000 and will be 80-feet long. TheTimber Cruisers were also rather progressive by being among the first snowmobile clubs in Maine to embrace ATVers and form a joint ATV-Snowmo bile Club at a time when many snow mobilers cast a jaded eye at ATVers. John, a formerTown Councilor, keeps busy these days as both Club President and President of ATV Maine. He does have a dirty secret though – John con fesses that he doesn’t own a sled or an ATV as he simply has no time to ride.

So why does a guy who doesn’t own a sled volunteer as president of the local snowmobile club? John says when the paper mill was shuttered it hurt the town financially. While he recognizes snowmobilers alone will not be able to replace the lost revenue from the mill, he says the increase in tourism from the snowmobilers during the winter time has helped soften the blow. A short ride down the road heading towards Baxter State Park will bring you to the Twin Pines Snowmobile Club which operates out of the New England Outdoor Center. Here I found Twin Pines Secretary David Weather

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Twin Pines Groomers

Ebeemee Snowmobile Club

Founded: 1977

Members: 110

Twin Pines

Miles of Trail: 60

bee working the front desk of NEOC. For David snowmobiling and making a liv ing go hand in hand as NEOC depends on snowmobilers in the winter. “Without the snowmobile trails this place would be nowhere near as suc cessful,” says David, who confesses regrettably the most snowmobiling he has done this year is back off a sled or two from a trailer due to a bad knee and need for knee surgery. NEOC is a decidedly upscale sport ing camp when compared to some of Maine’s more rustic sporting camps. Along with lodging, gas and snow mobile rentals, folks can grab a great meal at the River Drivers Restaurant or micro-brew or wood-fired pizza at Knife Edge Brewing. In short, NEOC looks like a perfect place for a winter time get-away. It was here that I met my “competi tion” . . . who it turned out are prac tically neighbors as the couple stand ing in line behind me came down from Merrill to rent a sled for the day. After some chatting and being told they could also pick up a poker card where they rent the sleds, they left and shortly thereafter I bid adieu to David to head further south. Don’t blink or you might miss see ing the Ebeemee Snowmobile Club’s Snack Shack off Rt. 11 . . . even with their distinctive bright red-and-black checkered plaid colors . . . and this is

not something you want to miss. While some Clubs will list scenic views from high atop a mountain, a unique historical location or a partic ularly pretty trail, for folks riding the Ebeemee trail system the one must see stop is in fact their Snack Shack, seemingly in the middle of nowhere. A growing Club, Ebeemee opened their trail side Snack Shack during the riding season last year and ran it out of an ice fishing shack. This year, thanks to an anonymous $30,000 donation, club members have a much more spa cious, insulated Amish-built camp they are using as their Snack Shack/Club House. Hot cocoa, coffee, chili and other home-made meals are available every Saturday from 11 to 3 during the riding season. It’s easy to see why Ebeemee received MSA’s 2020 Snowmobile Club of the Year. Here you may come as a stranger, but you leave as a friend. Here you get a sense that the Club members believe in the joie de vivre – and their enthusi asm and friendliness is infectious. The Club members almost feel like family . . . and in fact President Laurie Plourde and Trailmaster Pete Plourde are hus band and wife. “But don’t let that make you think we don’t get into some heated debates from time to time,” jokes Laurie. The Plourdes began traveling to the area from Winslow around 2001 and eventu ally joined the club a few years later.

Groomers: BR 275 Bombardier groomer, two Skidoos

Best Tip: Get off the ITS and try the ClubTrails.

Why volunteer? “I love this sport. We’ve been coming up here since 2001 and in 2005 we took the next step and joined the club and became more active.”

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I pet Fiona – an exceptionally well behaved (and calm) young Jack Rusell terrier who seems to be the defacto mascot of the club – as Laurie and I talk about how the Club has evolved over time and how this once quiet spot in the sweet snowbelt of Maine is becoming less of a secret these days as the club’s Park and Ride often fills up early on weekend mornings in the Winter.

I ask for two bacon and cheese burri tos and a Diet Coke to go . . . a small snack to tide me over until lunch as I missed breakfast . . . and then ask how much I owe the club. “Whatever you want to donate is fine,” is the answer. In fact, that’s all the Club will take when it comes to the Snack Shack food and drinks – only donations. As I get in my car to leave I cannot help

but think the Ebeemee Club I have seen today must be a lot of what it was like to belong to a snowmobile club back in the early 1970s when snowmobilers and even non-sledders alike rallied together for a good cause and found they could have as much fun off the trails when in a club as they could on the trails with a sled. Here, it truly is “not about the mileage, it’s all about the smileage.”

JoMary

much warmer as the wind is still whip ping through the open doors, but I lin ger anyway to look over all of the raf fles the club has going on as well as their club shirts and hats they are sell ing. As my hands slowly begin to grow numb I begin to wonder if they have any gloves for sale to match the hats. I chat with the crew for a bit as hypo thermia slowly sets in.Truthfully I could have spent more time here talking with the club members as one can tell this is a fun-loving crew who despite the cold weather appear to be having a great time. I snap a quick photo of Mt. Katahdin in the distance and then make a hasty retreat to my compara tively warmer car. It’s right around 11 a.m. and I’ve fin ished off my first hand . . . I’ve got a King and Queen, but unlike my cousin who is counting on winning the Mega Millions as her retirement plan, I sus pect I’m not going to win the $1,500 first prize for the winning hand based on the other cards I drew this morning.

I pull into the final stop of the morning – the last stop to fill out my poker hand – 5 Lakes Lodge where the Jo Mary Riders Snowmobile Club has set up a trailer outside. The view here of Mt. Katahdin against the bright blue sky is rather picturesque. The Jo Mary Club is one of the younger snowmobile clubs I am visit ing today, having formed in 2000.That said, they also maintain one of the largest trail systems with a whopping 146 miles of trail, which are groomed with their four Bombardier groomers. Today the club members huddle around the warming BBQ grills as the club members get ready to cook up burgers for the lunch-time crowd. Other club members are dressed as if they are ready to go riding . . . and it’s no wonder . . . the wind coming off SouthTwin Lake is making me well aware that my choice of a fleece jacket and hoodie are not really adequate to stay outside for much more than 15 or 20 minutes. The inside of the Jo Mary trailer isn’t

JoMary Riders

Founded: 2000

Members: 200

Miles of Trail: 146

Groomers: 3 BR 275 Bombardier and 1 BR 350 Bombardier groomers

Best Tip: Ragged Mountain Lookout, Greenleaf Mountain Lookout, the High Cross Over alongTrail 109 Why volunteer? “I do it for the enjoyment of others. It’s quite something when you realize the work you’ve done on the trails is attracting folks from all over New England.This sport really brings a lot of people to this area.”

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JoMary Groomer

record, Randy is a veteran. The Snow Gang’s history is inter esting. Incorporated in 1991, legend has it that one of the first members mortgaged his own home to allow the club to purchase a groomer. Fast for ward several years later and the club was essentially down to one active member Jim Splan. Fortunately the Club reversed its fortune to the point where they now can boast of having 123 members and these days Jim is almost viewed as a consigliere of sorts as his opinion is highly sought after by club members. As the club improved, so did its com munity involvement. These days the Snow Gang hosts a Fishing Derby on nearby Plunkett Lake. It is here I also meet up with Chris Smith – Benedicta Snow Gang mem ber and one of the key leaders respon sible for forming KAST two years ago. Chris says he started the group with support from interested clubs after realizing that while the State provides plenty of signs for the trails, there was little to no support for the businesses which support the clubs and rely on business from snowmobilers. KAST has already racked up an impressive list of accomplishments, which include publishing an area map and installing 24 informational kiosks at key trail intersections. This year’s Poker Run was conceived as a fun way to attract sledders to the area and raise some funds for the Shri ners.While the Snow Gang had a Poker Run in years past, the KAST Poker Run is perhaps unique by involving all ten snowmobile clubs in KAST as stops and having stops in both Aroos took and Penobscot Counties. Having cash prizes and other give-aways tal lying more than $2,500 is also rather impressive. With a fully belly I put the Camry in gear and head towards Shin Pond . . . but not before catching a stellar view of Mt. Katahdin – or as many locals sim ply call it “The Mountain” – off Rt. 11.

In Benedicta I meet up with the Bene dicta Snow Gang and pony up another $25 to start a second hand. I draw a card. It’s a Seven of Clubs. Not a very auspicious start. However, I still feel lucky . . . at the Parish Hall the Snow Gang has laid out enough food to feed a small army. Seeing as it is lunch time I figure this is as good a time as any to have lunch. While I have had plenty of options for places to eat today, I think I made a good decision here as long-time club member “Rina” insists I try her home made baked beans. Now I do love a good bowl of home-made baked beans, but I have to admit I can be a bit fussy about my beans – they’ve got to be soft but not mushy, flavorful and with chunks of salt pork or bacon. Mon dieu – I have struck gold here. Rina’s beans are perfect. I use chunks of a home-made yeast roll – also made by Rina – to sop up the bean juice. The two red snapper hot dogs in the grilled rolls as the main entree to this Maine five course dinner is perfect. I wash it all down with a Coke Zero. I’m stuffed, but Rina’s son insists I stuff a M & M bar, pumpkin cookie and pumpkin whoopie pie with cream cheese frost ing into my pocket for a later snack. The Snow Gang is a friendly group. I feel completely at home with the crew.Treasurer Mark Fichter strikes up a conversation with me during lunch. Originally from Philadelphia, Mark confesses he and his wife fell in love with Benedicta and the area, bought a camp and now lives here year-round. I immediately peg President Randy Bates as either a veteran, sheriff’s dep uty or game warden. Randy says this happens to him all the time. Blame it on the khaki cargo pants and super polite “Yes Sir. No Sir” speech. A Nutmegger who came to Maine as a kid, Randy said he misses his family, but could never go back to Connecticut as he has found a home and sense of belonging in this community. It’s not where you are born – it really is where your heart lies. I get it. I really do Randy. For the

Benedicta Snow Gang

Founded: Incorporated 1991

Members: 123

Miles of Trail: 62

Groomers: Two New Holland tracked tractors

Best Tip: ITS 83, although next year there will be a trail to the Contact Center of the National Monument which will provide the “ultimate view” of Mt. Katahdin Why volunteer? “As a retired Air Force veteran I wanted to be a part of something. Joining the Club has allowed me to help out and be a part of the community.”

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Benedicta Snow Gang

Bowlin Matagamon Shin Pond Snowmobile Club

I find a small cadre of Bowlin Matagamon Shin Pond Snowmobile Club members inside the Shin PondVil lage Restaurant. This may well be the best spot of the day to sell hands to the Poker Run as sledders are constantly coming and going . . . not to mention that it’s hard to beat a place like this with good food and great company. There is a reason why Shin Pond is a proverbial hot spot for sledding. Part of it is the abundant amount of snow, which can typically be found here, but it’s also the scenery. And while many Clubs can boast of great views or sce nic stops, Shin Pond is perhaps one of the best places to unload one’s sleds if you want to take a trip to the aban doned locomotives at Eagle Lake. I draw another card . . . correction . . . another lousy card . . . and chat with Club SecretaryTerry Hill for a bit before hopping back in the car for my next stop.

Shin Pond Village is always a busy place. If there is a snowmobiling mecca in this area, it would be here. It seems as if every sledder in the area even tually ends up here to top off the fuel tank, wolf down some food or have a beer before returning to the trails. I take a few minutes out of my trip to see Ralph Ellis – owner of The Motor Sports Doctor. Two weeks ago when my Renegade unexpectedly died 26 miles away from Shin Pond it was Ralph who came to my rescue as he has started a business where he res cues dead sleds and stranded sledders with his custom-made trailer he pulls behind his Polaris snowmobile. In between working on sleds and being a would-be hero, Ralph also maintains Shin Pond’s fleet of rental sleds. I chatted a bit with Ralph, thanked him again for his help two weeks pre viously and then left him to return to working on repairing a sled.

Bowlin Mattagamon Shin Pond

Founded: 1988

Members: 60

Miles of Trail: 130

Groomers: ?

Best Tip: Roberts Mountain, Cunningham Mountain and the Locomotives Why volunteer? “This is a way to give back to the community. I figure how am I really a member of the snowmobiling community if I don’t volunteer in a club?”

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Bowlin Matagamon Shin Pond Snowmobile Club Groomer

Rockabema Snow Rangers

Founded: 1971

Rockabema Snow Rangers

Members: 100

Connor whips out his smart phone and in short order brings up a tally. As I leave the parking lot it occurs to me that it will be young men like Con nor and others like him who will be the true future of snowmobiling in Maine. Perhaps there is hope as long as we have “kids” like Connor who are will ing to give up a Saturday to help out the local club. According to President Michael Bot ting, Big Valley was the first club to purchase a groomer with a grant. Bot ting says they were also one of the first, if not the first, club to sponsor a large event – the Log Driver’s Cook out which featured bean hole beans, home-made biscuits and doughnuts all cooked outside. Island Falls also can brag about a presidential visit . . . or at least a visit from a future President of the United States. In 1878 20-year-old Teddy Roo sevelt visited the area and struck up a friendship with guide Bill Sewall who set them up at a camp where the First Brook and West Branch of the Mat tawamkeag come together. Sewell noted virtually every day young Teddy would take his bible and go to a secluded location to read it – a place today known as Bible Point. Teddy returned two more times the following years. In 1921 a plaque was erected at the spot and in 1971 the land was pre served as a state historic site. Today, sledders can ride right to Bible Point. Big Valley Sno Club at Island Falls has some bragging rights.

The atmosphere at the Rockabema Snow Rangers Club House is decid edly low-key compared to the hustle and bustle at Shin Pond. Inside the club house I find Secretary Krissy Rut tenberg, her 13-year-old son and whiz kid Connor and Laura “Mom” Kennedy who is a pastTreasurer andTrail Master. I pick another card . . . aTwo of Hearts . . . this is not going well at all for me. Krissy offers to heat up a breakfast sandwich for me. I am briefly tempted by some baked goods lined up next to some Rockabema apparel, but I must admit I am still quite full from lunch. Instead I talk with the trio about the Rockabema Club which is by their own admission an older club formed in 1971. Krissy openly worries about the club’s future and wonders if there will be a trail system for Connor when he grows older and has children of his own. “I do this to help out the community,” says Krissy. “I often think if someone does not step up to do this, who will?” For her part Laura says she has stuck with the club because without any vol unteers there would be no trail system. Connor pipes up . . . “And I do this because Mom drags me everywhere with her.” What Connor doesn’t say, but is readily apparent is that he really doesn’t mind helping, although given the choice of driving the snowmobile he shares with his mom or hanging out in the club house all day I am rea sonably sure he would prefer to hit the trails. I casually wonder out loud how many folks have come out on the Poker Run.

Miles of Trail: 70

Groomers: Two Piston Bullys andTwo New Holland Tracked Tractors Best Tip: Head West on 112 towards the National Monument for some “spectacular views of Mt. Katahdin” Why volunteer? “I’m starting to ask that question myself. Why do we volunteer? It’s because if we don’t volunteer . . . plain and simple there won’t be any trails.”

Big Valley Sno Club

Founded: 1971

Members: 60

Miles of Trail: 200

Groomers: None owned by the Club

Best Tip: 62A for a great view ofThe Mountain

Why volunteer? “I volunteer because if it wasn’t for sledding this area would be hurting.”

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Islansd Falls

Smoki Groomer

These days Island Falls is perhaps less known for its famous presidential visit and more for their Fishing Derby, Spaghetti Dinners and local racing and radar runs on the lake which helps raise funds for grooming. Unlike many other clubs Big Valley does not own their own groomers, but instead contract the work out to groom ers who own a Tucker 1000, 2000 and Bombardier. A large club with over 200 members, Botting says those numbers are a bit misleading as all but approximately 15 of those members are not local mem bers which means there is a very small pool of volunteers responsible for put ting up signs, brushing, etc. My last stop of the day is the Club I joined when I moved to Smyrna two years previously – the Smoki Haulers in Oakfield with their distinctive log cabin club house. My first question for President Brent Stover is one which has perplexed me since joining the club. What is the meaning behind the Smoki Haul er’s name? The club’s patch shows a stylized bear wearing a military cam paign hat which bears a slight passing resemblance to the more famous wild fire preventing bear if you squint just right at the logo. I wonder out loud if the spelling was done to avoid copy right infringement or if the reference is to the early two-stroke snowmobiles which could often leave a trail of blue gray two stroke smoke in the wake of their exhaust? Nope. Nothing so fanciful. It turns out the original founders who formed the club back in the 1970s lived on Smoki Hauler Road in Smyrna. While the name of the Club may not be super imaginative, the club itself has never strayed far from its commit ment to being a part of the community. Besides sponsoring a Family Fun Day in the Winter, the club provides free rental snow shoes, ice skates and cross

country skis to local residents. I pull my last card of the day . . . a 6 of Hearts. At this point I am 99% positive this hand is a losing hand . . . although I didn’t realize just how bad until later. I chat with Brent and some other Club members for a bit and then decide after a little more than 10 hours and 225 miles it’s time to head home. Could I have done this run faster? Most defi nitely, but then again if I had elected to just show up to each stop, draw a card and move on I would have missed out on making a personal connection with over a dozen different people – men and women, folks in their 70s and one particularly witty 13-year-old, folks who have lived here their entire lives and folks who only later in life found their slice of heaven in the shadow of The Mountain . . . and of course I would have missed out on petting Fiona. I started the day wondering why I was doing this . . . what was I thinking . . . but as I drove north, a view of Mt. Katah din fading away in my rear view mir ror, I now had my answer. Well-signed, freshly groomed trails are great, but what makes riding in this special cor ner of Maine isn’t really the views or even the trails as good as they are – it’s the men and women responsible for those trails and for the first time I was able to meet just a few of those folks in person to commiserate with them, joke with them, but most of all simply thank them for volunteering their time to make the riding great and for this reason alone I can honestly say I was almost glad my Renegade was out of commission for the day. Epilogue: As predicted the author had no winning hands in this Poker Run. In fact, one hand was so bad that he finished in the absolute last place . . . which came with a cash prize. The author reportedly is using the prize money to repair his Renegade so he can do the KAST Poker Run by sled next year.

Smoki Haulers

Founded: 1970’s

Members: 90

Miles of Trail: 56

Groomers: None owned by the Club

Best Tip: Prinoth Husky, Bombardier 160 and Bombardier 180 Why volunteer? “I see a lot of value in a snowmobile club. I love the sport and it’s great to have a good trail system, but it’s also great when a club can raise funds for local charities as well.”

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