36 | Snowmobile VERMONT Club News Poultney Valley Snow Devils As I write this, the snow is on the ground and the pond is iced over. Maybe a sign of an early start to the snowmobile season? With 79 miles of Class 1 trails, we have our two Tucker groomers all serviced and ready to go. We are getting our signs and flags out and finishing with debrushing. If you have not snowmobiled on the Poultney Valley trails, you could be missing out on some nice snowmobiling. You can enjoy great riding, beautiful lookouts, and wildlife. With several spots to gas up, warm up and get food, we have it all. You can trailer in and park at our lot on Route 30, just north of Poultney Village. Join our club and get your early bird TMA at Mart’s Sporting Goods or Poultney Auto, both on Main St. in Poultney or at Central Vermont Motorcycles in West Rutland. We are offering a snowmobile safety course on Dec. 1 and a trails check Dec.16, snow conditions permitting. Our Annual 46th Pancake Breakfast will be Sunday Jan. 27 from 7 a.m.–12 noon at the Poultney Elementary School. We are also planning a winter carnival for Saturday, Feb. 16 with a lack-of-snow date for Feb. 23. This is a great family event open to the public and community, all free, with games, sliding, snowmobile rides, and free lunch with hamburgers, hot dogs, soups, fries, drinks and desserts. This will be at the Chestnut Excavating Garage on York Street Ext in Poultney. We look forward to seeing you on the trails and at our events, and you are always welcome to our meetings. We meet the 2nd Wednesday of each month with a potluck at 6:30 p.m. and meeting at 7 p.m. at York Coach Works on Route 30, just north of Poultney Village. Check us out on Facebook and the clubs section on the VAST website. Ride safe, think snow, and respect the land we are allowed to ride on! Ernie Dematties, Media Manager Like us on Facebook The Poultney Valley Snow Devils’ Tuckers and senior operators Tom Coloutti and Barry Bradley ready to go. Shrewsbury Sno-Birds Winter is here! Snow is falling every few days and starting to add up. The trails were all checked, but we have had some high winds, so we will have to see what they need just before the season. We try not to work on the trails too much in deer season to be nice to the hunters. We did get the trail reroute done out of the Notch Road parking lot. It should make a big improvement for the riders and for the Tucker. It is a lot better for climbing because it is less steep. My dad, Gary Arthur who is 86 by the way, has been right there helping get the Tucker ready for the season. Then we had to weld new wear plates on the drag and enforce the front corners. We thought we were ready, and then the wind damaged the groomer shed. We got some 2 1/2” angle and some muffler clamps and boxed in the poles with the help from his tractor. So I guess we are ready for the season. Our club really takes pride in having our trails open on the first day of the season and staying open to the last day if Mother Nature lets us. Most times, we may have to clear snow around the gates at the end to close them! We want the riders to have as much time to ride as possible. If you have never ridden here, you should try it! Our club is set for our safety class in early December. I will let you know how it went. At our last meeting, we were brainstorming possible fundraisers as we are having some expenses that are not covered with the construction grants. We are thankful for all that Matt at VAST does to help us and every club in the state to make our trail system the best that it can be. If anyone knows who spray painted the Stone House on the CCC Road that we have enjoyed for many years, please let me know. On a happier note, the holiday season is upon us. The Sno-Birds wish everyone a Merry Christmas and happy and safe New Year! When riding on the trails, please ride The Shrewsbury Sno-Birds had to reroute a trail out of the Notch Road parking lot.