b'VAST NewsVAST SAFETY AMBASSADOR TEAM MEMBER PROFILE: JIM DWINELLBy Jim Dwinell are unfamiliar with. With more riders I have been riding sleds since the earlyventuring into unfamiliar territory, 70s. (It is a little scary to think I havepre-ride info and signage are more been doing anything for five decades!)important than ever. As the riding There were no VAST trails then, justpopulation ages, many face the locals riding the roller coaster mogulsprospect of riding alone or not at all. and grooming with bed springs. IHopefully, the program will offer still remember the first time I saw aan alternative through Ambassador groomed corridor trail, on an after- cruises.school ride out of Barre. We wereVAST and local clubs have provided riding through the pines and cameopportunities I would not otherwise up on an 8-foot wide trail, flat as ahave had. I like being around pancake. It was just like in the Wizardequipment and having a say in trail of Oz when the world turned to color!development as being a trailmaster We have come a long way from thatallowed me to. I like knowing now, with more than 4,000 miles ofwhats going on and having voice groomed trails mapped on an appin the direction of the trail system on a smart phone, and I am closingand being a club officer; attending in on retirement versus high schoolcounty and state meetings gave me graduation. that opportunity. As I move toward As part of the VAST Safetyretirement, I would like to be able to Ambassador Program, I have beencontinue to enjoy the trails and share asked to write a little about who Isome adventures with riders who am, what roles I have played in thewant to run at the same pace. I think organization, and why I got involvedthere is a good chance the Ambassador in the Ambassador program. As youProgram will provide that opportunity can tell from the opening, I am an oldas well. Hope to see you on the trail! Jim Dwinellguy from central Vermont, with a few miles and years on a snowmobile. As many of our membership have, I have done what I could over the years to promote riding. I have been a club officer, trailmaster, groomer, county representative, and a regular at Annual Meeting for many years. I am currently vice president of the Barre Town Thunder Chickens and a member of Bayley Hazen Road Snowmobile Club in Peacham. Most recently, I have been involved in a project to reestablish the trail from Applebees in Berlin over the hill to Northfield.The Ambassador Program addresses three overlapping areas: first aid on the trail, monitoring signage, and connecting riders. We have been provided with basic first aid training and supplies to carry on the trail and an assortment of trails signs and contact info for club reps across the state. The VAST office can reach out to any of us for support in the event of a local emergency or if someone is seeking trail info in our area. As the trails, sleds and trailers get better every year, more riders are traveling farther and into more regions they 10 | Snowmobile VERMONT'