b'In MemoryRememberingJOHN LYNDSBy Mark Reaves(Previous year photo)O n October 24, 2020, snowmobilingas the words came out, I saw JohnsJohn also helped create and run a in Vermont lost a major supporter andeyes light up. We then talked aboutweekly trails condition report on local cheerleader when John Lynds passedsnowmobiling for the next hour asradio stations. Snowmobiling was away. John was a former presidentthe realtor stood by looking bored.a big part of Johns life and he gave of the Green Mountain Roamers andNeedless to say, John and his wife,back to it in innumerable ways.the Bolton Valley Mountain Climbers,Stacey, moved in and have been ourOver the last several years, John a Washington County Director, andneighbors ever since. faced a series of health challenges manager of Stowe Snowmobile Tours.With John as my neighbor, I was soonthat limited his ability to enjoy and More importantly, I knew John asintroduced to the wider VAST world.participate in the sport to which he a good neighbor and a loving andI became my clubs representative togave so much, but those challenges devoted husband and father. the county meetings; John regaledcould not take away his interest. He I first met John about 10 years agome with stories from the snowmobileenjoyed watching when my son gave when he came to tour the house nexttours he lead in Stowe and told mehis daughter Elyssa rides around to mine in Barre Town. I happened toabout some of the volunteer workour yards and we would always talk be out mowing the lawn when Johnhe did with VAST and the two clubsabout trails or club news when we and the realtor interrupted me to askhe was president of. One of Johnssaw each other. The last time I spoke about the neighborhood. I told himfavorite VAST adventures wasto John, we talked about the most the ups and downs of the area: bikewhen he volunteered to drive therecent VAST Annual Meeting and the path across the street, close to schools,VAST truck to Salt Lake City for thecondition of the suspension bridge in and so on. As we were ending ourInternational Snowmobile Congress.Waterbury. conversation, I told John that one ofJohn was also a leader at the countyJohn passed away on Oct. 24.He is the things I liked about our area waslevel. He spearheaded the fundraisingsurvived by his wife Stacy, daughter the fact that the snowmobile traildrive to buy machines and a trailerElyssa, his three brothers, and crossed the street right at my house.for the Washington County Sheriffsmany friends in the snowmobiling I was not sure if that would be aDepartment and a rescue sled for thecommunity and beyond.detracting factor for him, but as soonWaterbury Backcountry Rescue Team. 14 | Snowmobile VERMONT'