b'VAST NewsTHANKS FOR ALL THE GROOMING, PNUT!By Tom ClarkIn the 60 or so years Ive known Adrian Pnut Ferris, he has always been a large framed man never having a problem carrying his own weight anywhere or in any activity. First meeting through the weekly ski program while I was in Fayston Elementary School and he a few grades ahead of me in Moretown Elementary, wed see each other Wednesdays during the school ski program for several years before we went to different high schools. A lifelong resident of the Mad River Valley, Pnut worked several years in the building trades before working at Waitsfield Telecom for many decades.It was during this time at Waitsfield Telecom he became interested in grooming the VAST trails through friends in the Mad River Ridge Runners Snowmobile Club.Pnuts first grooming efforts were in an older front engine Tucker Sno-Cat in the late 80s while grooming for Doug Wilson,when his grandchildren could ride, itthe entire way! A good time was had continuing to groom in the MRRRswould be hard to say who had moreby all!2006 Pisten Bully Edge through thefun, Pnut or the grandkids!Here in the Mad River Valley, we have spring 2022 season when he announcedEnjoying snowmobiling as much assome of the most challenging terrain in the end of his grooming to enjoy othergrooming, he and two friends wentthe state, which makes the riding fun things. up to Island Pond to ride in the earlybut very demanding to groom often Always a cautious operator, Pnut1980s. The story goes that the threeunder some very trying conditions.would take a passenger and theirwere riding along but two of themPnut groomed these trails for 35-40 chainsaw along on early season runswere becoming increasingly ill andyears, staying the course and turning to help clear the trails of downed trees. the further they went the sicker theyour trails into a magic carpet. He Later in the season, club members weregot! The third friend, feeling fine, gotwas recognized by VAST in 2013 as welcome to ride along with him andeveryone turned around and back toGroomer of the Year for the State of my daughter Hilary happily went onthe truck where he was designated asVermont. The membership of the several trips. These turned out to bethe driver to get home on the snow-Mad River Ridge Runners is deeply pretty entertaining for both Pnut andand ice-covered roads. They all madeappreciative of Pnut for the countless anyone riding with him as his storiesit home safely, but rumor is the ridehours and years of selfless service.were very amusing!Pnut loved takinghome was a little chilly because theThanks, Pnut. If you get bored, we can his two daughters out on runs butpassengers needed the windows opendefinitely find a trail for you to groom!Winter 2023 | 9'