b'VAST NewsFIVE STAR SANCTUARY VETERANS SNOWMOBILE RIDEBy John MailleAs a Vermonter, snowmobiling has been part of my life from a young age growing up on my parents dairy farm in Shelburne. In the winter months, having the ability to just go riding through the snowy fields, morning, afternoon, or evening on the VAST trails was incredible. Since the Shelburne / Charlotte snowmobile club trails (S.C.A.T.), ran through our family farm, riding those gave me a sense of peace and freedom. To ride alone or with family and friends and be able to go anywhere on the trails was exiting and relaxing at the same time. Working on older snowmobiles, like our Snow Jets, and then later, newer Ski-Doos, was a night and day experience. Dressing up warm with wool socks, snow pants, coats, boots, getting your helmet on, gloves, then getting your machine running was a process, almost like a race. With family and friends riding together, you just wanted to get on your machine and go. It was a thrill in its own way. There is nothing like riding a snowmobile on good groomed trails on a sunny day seeing deer, turkeys, geese, beaver, porcupine, moose and of course cows in the woods. I have seen all of these animals over the years riding on the VAST trails. Late night riding is my favorite. The cold evening with the moon light shining through the trees, reflecting off the white snow gives you a calming feeling as you ride. There(Mike Mutascio photos)are many feelings and reasons why someone enjoys riding a snowmobile in the cold. Riding in weatherworries, just complete happiness.and pains through my body. It was through snow, sleet rain and windIn 2006, I returned to the US from mylike a kind of therapy for my mind, can be challenging at times anddeployment from Camp Buehringit made me happy riding and being even hard, depending on the trailsUdairi, Kuwait. Dealing with severalaround my kids. Now my kids are condition, but true a joy. As I collectedsurgeries and a ton of medication forgrown up and moved on with their snowmobiles as my kids got older, itdifferent injuries, it was a long roadown life. In the winter months, they was something that we all enjoyedto recovery. I had lots of doctors anddo enjoy riding with me when they and looked forward to. Even throughcounseling appointments, along withcan. I have found a passion for riding my military career, active duty, tophysical therapy, X-rays, MRI andsnowmobiles and trying new trails in Vermont National Guard years, to mymore doctor appointments. It seemeddifferent counties, trailering where the deployment to Kuwait, snowmobilingnever-ending. With a family, it doessnow is at times. stayed in my heart. I was alwaystake a toll on everyone, especially myAs a veteran, I learned that looking to come back in the winterkids. It seemed through the wintersnowmobiling was an outlet for me months to just go for a snowmobilemonths that snowmobiling broughtdealing with my injuries and pain. ride and take off. No permission, nous all together, even with all my achesRiding made me forget about lifes 6 | Snowmobile VERMONT'