2 | Snowmobile VERMONT VAST STAFF Executive Director Cindy Locke cindy@vtvast.org | Ext. 11 Trails Administrator Matt Tetreault matt@vtvast.org | Ext. 12 Media Manager Beth Godin beth@vtvast.org | Ext. 16 Finance and HR Manager Sheila Fenoff-Willett sheila@vtvast.org | Ext. 14 Trails Manager Ken Brown ken@vtvast.org | Ext. 18 Office and Programs Manager Cyndy Carrier Brown cyndy@vtvast.org | Ext. 10 VAST OFFICERS President Tim Mills 802-234-5000 timmills1@myfairpoint.net Vice President Jeff Fay 802-238-2037 jfayvast@comcast.net Treasurer Sonia Koehler Secretary Jim Hill 802-343-4478 jh_builders@hotmail.com Snowmobile Vermont Magazine 26 Vast Lane, Barre, Vermont 05641 Tel: 802-229-0005 • Fax: 802-223-4316 editor@vtvast.org | vtvast.org Snowmobile VT Magazine (ISSN 2374-5630 is published five times: Fall (October), Early Winter (December), Winter (January), Late Winter (March) and Summer (August) by The Vermont Association of Snow Travelers, Inc, 26 Vast Lane, Barre VT 05641. Periodicals postage paid at Barre, VT and additional mailing offices POSTMASTER: Send address changes to: VAST, 26 Vast Lane, Barre VT 05641-4477 VAST Direction MAGAZINE CONTRIBUTORS Stan Choiniere, Patty Companik, David Diminico, Jeff Fay, Roger Gosselin, Glenn Jurgen, Michael Koehler, Kimberly Lampert, Tim Mills, Mike Mutascio, Roger Rushworth, WilliamThomas Sr. Snowmobile VERMONT VERMONT ASSOCIATION OF SNOW TRAVELERS By VAST Executive Director Cindy Locke As you all know, I spend as much of my “free” time attending club events, talking to snowmobilers and riding our trails as I can on weekends. Last winter, I wrote about safety and hand signals and I am going to do it again in this issue. This past weekend, I had another close call with a sled whose driver felt the need to take their left hand off the handlebars to let me know how many folks were behind him. This was a young adult who, when he took his hand off the controls, lost control of his sled and nearly took me out with him. Behind him were four more sleds whose riders were also inclined to let me know how many were in their group and when I got to the last person, who showed me her raised fist, there were three more riders behind her that I assume were from a different group. Increasingly, all of us have seen or experienced near misses and accidents by sled operators using their left hand to signal. Years ago, when sleds were smaller and went slower, this form of notification was adopted across the United States and Canada. Now that sleds are faster and riding and steering is much different, it is more important than ever to keep both hands securely on the handlebars to steer and brake appropriately. In the summer of 2016 and 2017, at the International Snowmobile Congress, hand signals were a hot topic. The states and provinces at those two events spoke about signaling other sleds when out riding to let others know how many are in your group. Some have since ruled that this be discouraged or not allowed. While I am not saying Vermont needs to outlaw the use of hand signals, I would be remiss to not suggest we offer alternatives or reasons not to hand signal. Snowmobiling is such a social sport that I feel like this form of historic notification has also been a way to show solidarity to others we ride by. We socialize at junctions, at gas stations and restaurants and look over other’s machines, talk about what we like best, which trails to ride, etc. I have a few solutions. How about we just nod our heads in the future to say hello? Or, if you want to show others the leader in your group and last sled, consider having the green and yellow light system installed on your sled. No matter anyone’s feelings about signaling, safe riding can only be done by staying on the right side of the trail, going into and out of corners at a reduced rate of speed, keeping distance between you and the person in front of you and keeping yourself in control of your sled at all times by keeping your hands on the handlebars. Even the light notification system can still be confusing to oncoming riders, as there may be other groups right behind yours. We should all be riding as if someone was coming from the other direction at all times. Please think twice when you feel the need to let others know how many are in your group! For me, I only mutter to myself when you pass me with one hand in the air, “Please put your hands back on the handlebars.” I encourage you to read Stan Choiniere’s article on this topic on page 8 of this issue. Happy and safe trails,