Snowmobile season well underway but more snow would be welcome

Craig Bakay | Feb 05, 2020

As February gets underway, the roar of snowmobiles can be heard all over the north country.

It’s not quite like it once was, but the Snow Road Snowmobile Club fed more than 200 people Saturday morning (the next breakfasts are Feb. 15 and Feb. 29) and the parking lot was full of cars and sleds.

President Ruth Wark said they have 560 permit members and they groom/maintain 475 kilometres of trails, including those on more than 300 private landowner properties.

Although conditions aren’t quite perfect, the District 6 trails are in much better shape than some of their neighbours.

They maintain private and public trails from Lanark to Plevna, to McDonalds Corners to Clayton, Flower Station, Ompah and Quackenbush Lake.

“A lot of clubs east and south of us don’t have the snow yet,” she said.

The way trail permits work, when you purchase one, you designate what club you support and part of your permit fee goes to that club for trail maintenance.

“A new groomer costs about $300,000,” Wark said. “We have a 2009, a 2004, a 1998 and a 1993.”

Wark acknowledged that numbers are down however.

“We used to have more members or trails we used to have,” she said. “My opinion is that it’s on the decline as the population ages.

“But we also don’t have the winters we used to have.

“There are ups and downs however and as people leave, there are a lot of new members coming in.”

Down south, the L & A Ridge Runners have been holding steady at about 575 members, said President Keith Dawson.

“It’s (membership) within 10 per cent of the last three or so years,” he said. “Right now, we need more snow.

“We’re just getting started.”

He said things are in pretty good shape from the Bellrock Road parking lot in Verona heading north.

(The Ridge Runners groom the K & P from Orser Road to Tichborne. Snow Road handles Tichborne to Sharbot Lake.)

“The K & P is only part of the trails we maintain,” he said.

Like Snow Road, they also have many kilometres of private trails they look after.

“We maintain a large area,” he said. “From our clubhouse in Yarker, up to Arden, to Napanee, Amherstview to Perth Road Village.”

But there a little more to snowmobile clubs than just cruising around in the snow, said North Frontenac Coun. Fred Fowler, who was also having breakfast in Snow Road Saturday morning.

“I live here,” he said. “And part of my portfolio is trails.

“It’s important to keep this building going, not only for the recreation but as a potential shelter like it was during the ice storm.”

The Snow Road building also serves as a waystation of sorts, providing shelter to people who break down, a place to get warm and soup or chili in crockpots, on weekends and sandwiches, hot dogs and snacks during the week. It’s on the honor system with a price list posted.