b'VAST DirectionVERMONT ASSOCIATIONBy VAST Executive Director Cindy LockeAfter suffering major trail damage from the flooding regions of Vermont received in July, more than ninety percent of the Vermont Association of Snow Travelers (VAST) trails will be open this coming winter. This is due to the hard work of volunteers along with funding provided by VAST, our members and from some state funding that VAST received previously but was able to re-;appropriate to go toward trail flood relief projects.Eighty percent of VAST trails are located on private lands and twenty percent on public lands. Vermont has more than 4,500 miles of snowmobile trails. Our trails are only open to snowmobiling unless the landowner approves others uses. These trails are all maintained by a dedicated group of volunteers that spend countless hours volunteering. Snowmobiling brings to Vermont about $550,000,000 of economic impact each year and we partner with the Governor s Office, top Vermont state agencies, the federal lands management teams and municipalities to offer and promote Vermont as a snowmobile destination.Spread the word, Vermont trails will be open this winter!Fond Regards,'