Winter 2019 | 5 VAST News A message from VAST Vice President Jeff Fay My favorite two words this time of year . . . It’s snowing!!! It is snowing and has been for the last 30 hours or so. Finally, we have some decent accumulation to open up and improve the trails statewide. Some clubs were blessed with early season snowfall that allowed building a base that survived the late December rainy warm spell. Others were less fortunate. All clubs had miles of trail to clear from fall wind storms and some sections needed to be revisited after wet snows loaded branches blocking trails once again. My other favorite two words this time of year are “thank you.” Without club volunteers, the trail system across the state would not exist. Without private landowners, there would be no place for the trails. Without you, the membership, there would be no one to ride the trails.Thank you all for the parts that you play in this crazy sport we all enjoy. Vermont snowmobiling is unique, from the incredible scenery, to the diversity of trail types and the variety of trailside establishments. Almost any ride one takes will bring the opportunity to dine with a wide range of options to fill even the hungriest rider’s stomach. Eat to ride and ride to eat! Events, events, events – so many things to do on a given weekend There are poker rides, calcuttas, pancake breakfasts, vintage shows, chicken barbecues and spaghetti dinners, just to name a handful. Clubs are great at planning fun times both on sled and off. Again, all volunteer time goes into these events which are all used as fundraisers to benefit the club, a local community non-profit or other charity. One such event was held in mid- January in Williamstown. The Orange County Snowmobile Clubs held a Safety Day and Military Appreciation Ride-In. The Orange County Sheriff’s Department was doing safety inspections trailside and handled grill duty, providing hamburgers and hot dogs. The Billtown Moonshiners sold beverages and provided inside space to eat and keep warm. 50/50 tickets and the county gun raffle tickets were on sale, too. Operation Veteran Off-Road, a non-profit that provides veterans with opportunities to connect with other veterans sharing an interest in outdoor adventure, was the recipient of the 50/50 proceeds and a donation from VAST. VAST clubs have been collecting snowmobile gear for them to clothe veterans as they hit the trails. This was the first time the Military Appreciation Ride-In was combined with Orange County’s Safety Day and additions have already been discussed for next year! Please be mindful of others on the trail, ride right, ride in control, ride only where trails are marked, and return to ride another day. Tragedies have already occurred in New York, Maine and New Hampshire. Take an extra few seconds to think. Bad decisions can ruin your day. It’s snowing and thank you! – Jeff Fay, VAST Vice President PHOTO CONTEST Send those photos in! All six winners will get a VAST shirt and their photo published in the magazine. First place receives a TMA for next year and the cover shot of the Fall 2019 issue. All photos must be high resolution and at least 2 MB in file size. Provide your full name as the photographer. Provide the first and last names of people in the photo, their snowmobile club(s) and location of photo. Once you submit your photo, you are giving VAST permission to use this photo in the magazine and for future marketing purposes. To enter: Upload your photo and caption information to vtvast. org/ photocontest.html or email to editor@ vtvast.org with the subject PHOTO CONTEST. (Tom Potonovic photo) Call us today!! 413-443-0638 - Ask for Dave or Brian! R The Way Out. It’s a Snowmobile Blitz on all of our 2017 and 2018 Polaris Snowmobiles! Massive blitz - Don't miss out! 501 Wahconah St., Pittsfield 413-443-0638 Ext. 13 ronniesharleydavidson.com Tues-Fri 9 - 6 • Sat 9-4 • Sun 10-4 • Closed Monday Limited quantity and absolutely the lowest price! Great deals on all leftover inventory! Spring Order your new Polaris with us! Call us today!! 413-443-0638 - Ask for Dave or Brian! R The Way Out. It’s a Snowmobile Blitz on all of our 2017 and 2018 Polaris Snowmobiles! Massive blitz - Don't miss out! 501 Wahconah St., Pittsfield 413-443-0638 Ext. 13 ronniesharleydavidson.com Tues-Fri 9 - 6 • Sat 9-4 • Sun 10-4 • Closed Monday Limited quantity and absolutely the lowest price! Callustoday!!413-443-0638- AskforDaveorBrian! R The Way Out. It’saSnowmobileBlitzon allofour2017and2018 PolarisSnowmobiles! Massiveblitz- Don'tmissout! 501WahconahSt.,Pittsfield 413-443-0638Ext.13 ronniesharleydavidson.com Tues-Fri9-6•Sat9-4•Sun10-4 •ClosedMonday Limitedquantity andabsolutely thelowestprice! Call us today!! 413-443-0638 - Ask for Dave or Brian! R The Way Out. It’s a Snowmobile Blitz on all of our 2017 and 2018 Polaris Snowmobiles! Massive blitz - Don't miss out! 501 Wahconah St., Pittsfield 413-443-0638 Ext. 13 ronniesharleydavidson.com Tues-Fri 9 - 6 • Sat 9-4 • Sun 10-4 • Closed Monday Limited quantity and absolutely the lowest price! oday!! 413-443-0638 - for Dave or Brian! R The Way Out. nowmobile Blitz on ur 2017 and 2018 ris Snowmobiles! e blitz - Don't miss out! 501 Wahconah St., Pittsfield 413-443-0638 Ext. 13 ronniesharleydavidson.com Sat 9-4 • Sun 10-4 • Closed Monday Limited quantity and absolutely the lowest price!