Page 1 Page 2 Page 3 Page 4 Page 5 Page 6 Page 7 Page 8 Page 9 Page 10 Page 11 Page 12 Page 13 Page 14 Page 15 Page 16 Page 17 Page 18 Page 19 Page 20 Page 21 Page 22 Page 23 Page 24 Page 25 Page 26 Page 27 Page 28 Page 29 Page 30 Page 31 Page 32 Page 33 Page 34 Page 35 Page 36 Page 37 Page 38 Page 39 Page 40 Page 41 Page 42 Page 43 Page 44 Page 45 Page 46 Page 47 Page 48 Page 49 Page 50 Page 51 Page 52 Page 53 Page 54 Page 55 Page 56 Page 57 Page 58 Page 59 Page 60 Page 61 Page 62 Page 63 Page 642 | Snowmobile VERMONT VAST STAFF Executive Director Cindy Locke cindy@vtvast.org | Ext. 11 Trails Administrator Matt Tetreault matt@vtvast.org | Ext. 12 Media Manager Beth Godin beth@vtvast.org | Ext. 16 Finance and HR Manager Sheila Fenoff-Willett sheila@vtvast.org | Ext. 14 Trails Manager Shane Prisby shane@vtvast.org | Ext. 18 Office and Programs Manager Cyndy Carrier Jones cyndy@vtvast.org | Ext. 10 VAST OFFICERS President Tim Mills (802) 234-5000 timmills1@myfairpoint.net Vice President Jeff Fay (802) 434-6633 jfayvast@comcast.net Treasurer Tom Baltrus (802) 464-8211 twbaltrus@gmail.com Secretary Jim Hill (802) 343-4478 jh_builders@hotmail.com I don’t know about you, but I am getting super pumped up for winter and snow! There is nothing like a disastrous winter like the last one to make me miss the riding I had enjoyed the winter before. While none of us have a crystal ball, I have spoken to a lot of folks this past summer and fall that feel we are headed to a good snowy and cold winter in Vermont. I can only hope they are right and keep my fingers crossed. I still get a few questions and comments about the cost of riding in Vermont and why VAST is not issuing refunds for last year’s lack of snow. However, I get more comments like the one below from folks that understand why we can’t refund. They know this because they are involved in VAST and understand what it takes to run our trail system and organization. It takes a lot of money to have the type of trail system, trail maintenance and grooming that we have in Vermont: “My opinion is that it may cost much more to ride in Vermont, but we have the best trails, outstanding trail marking and maps and we take care of and fund all our trails. Once again, thanks for all you do” – Raymond Rodrigue, Orleans Snow Stormers What Raymond is referring to is that some other states don’t fund all their open trails for maintenance or grooming, instead leaving it up to clubs. Some states also don’t make it mandatory to join a club, which means again those clubs are on their own to fund, maintain and groom their trails. Without funding clubs and trails, we could not have the level of amazing trails, superior signing or the volunteerism we need. All this being said though, I recognized last spring that we should do something to give back to those that support VAST, no matter if they know we will have a lot of snow or not. So I went to the manufacturers and asked for help with receiving a new sled to raffle. Through partial donation and advertising trade, VAST now has in our possession a brand new 2016 Polaris 800 Indy. Every registered owner that buys an Early Bird, Family or Military TMA, or receives a Volunteer TMA by Dec. 15, 2016 will be entered to win. A warning to clubs though: In order for your members to qualify, you have to have all your correct TMA information in to the VAST office no later than Jan. 16, 2017. All Early Bird TMAs sold online through the VAST website will also qualify. Lastly, don’t forget to let us at the VAST office know when your events are so we can see if we can cover them for the magazine. This also includes clubs out doing trail work this fall. Enjoy your fall and I look forward to seeing you out on the trails this coming winter. Fondest regards, Snowmobile Vermont Magazine 26 Vast Lane, Barre, Vermont 05641 T (802) 229-0005 F (802) 223-4316 info@vtvast.org | vtvast.org Snowmobile VT Magazine (ISSN 2374-5630 is published five times: Fall (October), Early Winter (December), Winter (January), Late Winter (March) and Summer (August) by The Vermont Association of Snow Travelers, Inc, 26 Vast Lane, Barre VT 05641. Periodicals postage paid at Barre, VT and additional mailing offices POSTMASTER: Send ad- dress changes to: VAST, 26 Vast Lane, Barre VT 05641-4477 VAST Direction MAGAZINE CONTRIBUTORS Kelly Bowen, Dave Ladd, Anthony Marcari, Mike Mutascio, Dale Sutherland Snowmobile VERMONT VERMONT ASSOCIATION OF SNOW TRAVELERS Cindy Locke presents Senator Rich Westman with the Legislator of the Year award.