b'VAST NEWSTRAIL REROUTE YIELDS NEW DISCOVERIESBy Mike MutascioOutdoor enthusiasts are certainly tuned into winter and the start of the snowmobile season. Yet, there are some who are not aware that preparation last all year long. The projects behind the scenes can be laborious and exhausting. However, the rewards are meaningful and unexpected revelations can fuel the volunteers which are the backbone of Vermont snowmobiling. The Lunenburg Polar Bears experienced this firsthand during a trail reroute project for the 2022/23 season.The club focused on moving a variable-width winding stretch of Corridor 2F1 off a shared town road at EX681. Launching the project started with success, as landowners supported the clubs idea. Farther down the new trail, the club also needed to cross the large property of Bob and Margaret Skoog, who were new to the area.They enthusiastically jumped rightthe reroute, which resulted in a firmto celebrate the prominent backing of in to not only support the concept,yes. Members began the processour landowners.but added an alternative solution thatof designing the new trail. MultipleThe decision was that the new Polar would help them access their propertytreks included trudging through theBears Snowmobile Rest Area would be cut off by a stream. He asked if webrush, clipping branches, packingdedicated to landowner Mac Downing, could create a wider trail and build apockets with flagging tape, and evenan iconic resident of Lunenburg bridge across the Mink Brook, saidtripping on a few rocks. In its entirety,who passed away in February 2022. Mike Minior, club assistant trailmaster. the project from start to finish wasHe was a decorated war veteran So, we checked it out, looked doable,performed by the club. with a prestigious military career, and it would be wide enough forYet during the construction, anotherearned a masters degree in public the PistenBully.An I-wondersurprise was discovered. It appearedadministration, and held a forestry question turned into a we-can trailto be a natural pull-off underneathdegree as well. He had a love for the improvement project for both the cluba canopy of tall trees, borderedland and a passion for everything and the landowner. by a shallow gorge to the Minkpossible amongst it. In recognition, the The final segment required permissionBrook below. It would be a greatclub erected a custom steel-engraved from the Downing family to completesnowmobile rest stop, suggestedsign at the site (created by member Dana Nason, club trailmaster. TheTodd Colby). It included Macs members agreed, plus it would belegendary quote This land belongs to different than the typical mountain-topGod. I am just a caretaker for a time.attractions. This gathering spot wouldThe Corridor 2F1 reroute project will be nestled in the dense forest, secludedbe remembered by the Polar Bears as and intimate. a rigorous yet fulfilling project. The A brand-new outhouse wasexperiences, challenges and discoveries constructed by Desjardin Constructionthroughout the process remind us of with donated materials. Memberthe powerful balance of hard work, Devyn Hogan donated solar lighting.innovative ideas and landowner Safety fencing was added at the gorge.support that can ensure the well-Yet something was missing: a theme.being of both snowmobiling and the The first notion that came to mind wascommunity. 2 | Snowmobile VERMONT'