b'Trails ReportBy Matt Tetreault, VAST Trails Administrator includes, This is public land and I have a right to use it. They are correct in their assumption to some degree. They have the right to walk out through that public land. The vehicle becomes the issue, as it does not have any rights like the Twit does. Truth be known, usually a gated road means the public land manager is trying to preserve the road or prevent anyone from driving into an unsafe situation. Maybe that gate will be open in another month when the roads dry out. The same is true for private land. If it is gated, there is a good indication that you shouldnt be there. At least not without written landowner permission and a damn good reason!My ramblings bring me to the fact that I wanted to bring awareness to the hundreds of off-trail issues that are occurring while snowmobile season is at the back of most peoples minds. These off-trail occurrences can cause major issues for the snowmobile season ahead. When landowners have had enough, they lash out (rightfully so) and close their lands off to everyone. Hiring excavators to come in and place boulders the size of pickups in the middle of the trail, or by digging tank traps across the trail in multiple locations to prevent anyone and everything from coming through. This is unfortunate, but sadly a reality in the me first, society weve all become accustomed to living in. A prime example, the hoarding of toilet paper during the COVID-19 pandemic!While I am poking fun at this serious topic a bit, it is my sarcastic way ofriding with them, you are condoningrutting up their driveway, front yard, addressing a growing concern amongtheir behavior! These are the folks thator a piece of land they owned?Going land managers throughout Vermontruin it for all of us and give motorizedthrough or around someones gate is and other locations. At one of ourforms of recreation a bad name. almost as violating as kicking in their recent meetings, several land managersThis isnt going to stop Twits fromfront door and walking across their asked me if I could place a write-updoing twitty things, but I will ideallylight-colored carpet with muddy boots!in the VAST magazine about thisbring more awareness to twit culture topic, so here I am, trying to do myand allow others to realize when part to spread the word.This serioustheir buddies are acting like twits and issue impacts all of us, includingcall them out on it. This goes for all you as snowmobilers. Thousands ofrecreational users, whether youre your TMA dollars are spent repairingriding around on a snowmobile, riding messes created by disrespectful Twitsan ATV, or walking through the woods out for a good time. If you know any ofon a hike or hunt. Take a stand, protect these folks, feel free to talk to them, orour resources and the privilege to better yet, refuse to engage with themrecreate. and their senseless conversations aboutIll leave you with this thought. Do you trespassing. Send a clear message. Thisthink Twits would think differently is applicable to those who ride off trailabout the situation if others were with their snowmobiles too. If you are Winter 2023 | 13'