Trailblazette
Volume 2 Issue 1
October 2013
Snow Is In The Forecast
Welcome to the 2013-2014 snowmobile season, and it looks exciting! Lots of things
have been happening over the summer break. If you attended the first meeting of the
club this past Wednesday night (Sept 25th at Gino's) than you know some of the
problems the directors have been working on this summer. It is so easy to be negative
and spell gloom and doom but everyone was willing to work together. The clubs
finances have been at the fore front of our problems but there is others like the club
house access for groomers, and with the heavy rains this fall we have lots of bridge and
culvert work to do.
Everything aside, if good old mother nature cooperates and give us lots of snow for the
groomer guys to play with like last year I am excited about the possibilities. Aren't you?
A Trail West
after the flood, this is the road
this is creek running the road
All summer we have been trying to get off the logger's property just east of Creek Road
(trail SSM) the trail to Boots & Saddles. Remember riding out last winter and having to
run through some real rutted trail before crossing Creek Road? No matter what
solution, Garnet come up with there was road blocks, running north and than down
Creek Road we could not get landowners to agree and south would require building a
whole new trail (money we don't have).
Our salvation came in the heavy rains of this fall, Creek Road washed out below the
loggers property where the last few winters we have had the trail. Our good friend Joe
Avery came to our rescue after we were approached buy some of the landowners north
of the washout. The road has been repaired by Mr. Avery at no cost to us and we now
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have an agreement for 3 years to have the trail through the loggers property. Happy
solution for all, thanks mother nature.
Club House
When the club moved out of Bar X to our new location at the Water Tower Inn there
was a lot of Americans coming to ride our trails. This was before 9-11 and when our
dollar was $0.50. Oh, the old hay days! We use to sell 1000 to 1500 seasonal trail
permits, minded you the permit were only $90 a season.
Post 9-11 and our $ is worth more and most Americans don't travel to Canada because
they need a passport. The Water Tower Inn isn't getting the sledders and we are now
paying rent. Permits are over $200 a season and we have less places to ride. Now,
couple that with some real poor snow years and that spells trouble. We are hurting in
the permits sales which makes paying rent that much harder. Our access trail is being
block by the mega school construction on 2nd Line and we are having to deal with a
very un-snowmobile school council which makes things very interesting.
Lots of ideas have been talked about, and the directors are working on a few solutions
but for this season we are staying put!. We just don't have the money to move or build
a new trail or clubhouse. So, if you see a groomer being driving up 2nd Line hill from
Strathclair Field some night don't panic, it is just headed in for some maintenance.
Live Trailside Video
Last season, Dan Kachur came up with a great new plan to have live video or at least
pictures on our website. He has been working on this all summer with some neat
results. The following is from a email form Dan, with his permission.
In June, I met with Sault College Research Chair John Coccimiglio to discuss technology initiatives and
partnerships for both students and non-profit organizations.
John explained the program and the requirements to qualify for funding. The first step was to research
and determine if products of this type are already being manufactured and available. If not, then step
two was to identify a business partner that would be involved in the project. He indicated in order to
leverage funding, it would require: college students and a business partner.
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As a follow-up to our discussion, I researched solar-powered wireless cell phone systems and sure
enough, they are available and being implemented.
I did not pursue the discussion any further with John, however, I did prepare a unit in August and have it
acting as a solar-powered wi-fi IP security camera. (Images attached). This unit also converts to a solarpowered cell phone pack, allowing for remote transmission.
You can also watch the cameras live by clicking on the link below. The user account is: admin there is no
password.
http://www.dankachur.com/cameras/
Official New Trail
Last season we introduced sledders to a reopened trail to Audrey Falls. It was a trial
trail and we only had a one year agreement with MNR. With the successful of the trail
on all fronts the directors wanted to make it a permanent to our system. We are still
hoping that Halfway Haven will reopen, but in the mean time we will still have a long
distant loop. This is a email to Bruce McNelly our district governor from Garnet our club
President.
Bruce, As per OFSC procedure 5 trail change procedures. the Sault Trailblazers are requesting approval of
the district board trails committee, and the board of governors for the trail from the D trail to link to the F
trail. This trail would be number D201F as per OFSC guidelines.
The purpose for this trail is twofold , one to link our section of the D trail to the F trail to complete our
system to not have a dead end as the D trail to Wawa is closed for now. The second point this would
provide a loop trail for both the Sault and Elliot lake, a great tourist adventure within District 13, Sault to
Aubrey back to the Sault one day ride. Sault to Aubrey to Elliot lake back to the Sault two day ride. A
third option Blind River or Bruce Mines to Aubrey to Searchmont back to Bruce or Blind a one day ride. All
LOOPS within our Distric13.
The unofficial title of the trail was coined by John Breckenridge as Smashagamma. I like
it, mainly because I smashed up my sled on this trail. Email in your suggestion today!
There will be a brushing bee for this trail on Oct 19th and 20th staging out of Carson
Fishers camp on Garden Lake, details will be disclosed at the 16th meeting.
Hopefully we get mentioned in the Loopy follow up article in the next issue of Go
Snowmobiling Ontario.
2014 Permit
Something new for this season, OFSC has added permits for those early birds. Check out their
website at https://permits.ofsc.on.ca/en and take advantage of this deal. Oh, don't forget to show
your support and click on Sault Trailblazers as your area you ride.
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Seasonal Permits:
Before Nov 1st $180.00
Before Dec 1st $210.00
After Dec 1st $260.00
More Support
At the September 25th meeting the manager of Boots & Saddles Roadhouse announced a new
program to help the Trailblazer club. Any club member that signs your receipt "Trailblazer" will
flag that receipt and Boots & Saddles Roadhouse will donate 5% of that money to the Sault
Trailblazers Snowmobile Club. It is like a rewards program to help us, way to go Boots &
Saddles! So lets show our support, burgers anyone?
Coming Up Events
General Meetings
October 16, November 13, November 27
Gino's Restaurant, 7 PM
Smashagamma Brushing Bee
October 19 and 20th
details at the Oct 16 meeting
email: Carson Fisher: fisherc@nationalcar.com
John Breckenridge: j.breckenridge@cityssm.on.ca
Signage Day
November 16
meet at the club house
details at the Nov 13 meeting
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Christmas Party
Dec 11, details will follow
this is always a great time, mark it on your calendar
Club Leadership
President
Garnet Greenwood
Vice-President
Darrell Maahs
Secretary
Shawn Greenwood
Treasurer
Darrell Maahs
Signage
Josh Maahs
Trails
Carson Fischer
Grooming
John Breckenridge
Permits
Mike Brassard
Driver Training
Ken Scali
Small Engine
Tim Donnelly
Social & VIA
Karen Donnelly
ASPA
Darrell and Garnet
Newsletter
If you have a story or a suggestion for this newsletter please feel free
to call or email me, more the better.
Shawn Greenwood 705-987-0633 or v-6shg@hotmail.com
Let's Go!
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