b'TRAILS REPORTBy Matt Tetreault, VAST Trails AdministratorIn this edition I am going to harp on a recurring issue among snowmobilers and all recreational uses for that matter. This issue crosses my mind each time I ride; however, it was brought front and center recently when I was reviewing some trails with personnel from the USDA Forest Service. While walking a trail, the USDA Forest Service employee pointed out to me that they were finding a good deal of trash at some of our snowmobile trail intersections. This was of immediate concern to me, so I asked the employee to share a photo with me so that I could write about this issue in hope of bringing the issue to the forefront of riders minds. If I could prevent even one piece of garbage from finding its way onto the trail this winter, I would consider this article a success. I amThis disrespect of our landowners needs to stop! The fact that there are beer cans in this hopeful for much better results, but Iphoto is also very disturbing. Dont drink and ride! Not only is it illegal, but you are putting others at risk out there on the trails.Remember, there are families with children who ride will take what I can get. We need to beour trails too!(Roger Gosselin photo) packing out any trash we pack in!Mark Twain once said, When we2020. This is a great step in the rightscatter the garbage and make it difficult see land as a community to whichdirection, but smaller figures wouldto remove. We have all seen the trash we belong, we may begin to use itbe nicer to see. That would ideallycans put out by clubs overflowing with with love and respect. Land is themean that the trash was not making itsitems, too. Either way this is the kiss of secure ground of home, the sea is way to the roadsidesin the first place,death for public recreation on private the outside, the unknown. Buy land,which is the main goal here. land. If you pack it in, pack it out!theyre not making it anymore. It appears that Greenup Vermont has aWhy riders cannot pick up what Vermont has dealt with the issue ofsolid handle on our roadsides, so nowthey brought in is beyond me. Is garbage in the public view. Greenlet us focus on the trails we love toit laziness, arrogance, ignorance, Up Day has been a great successenjoy throughout the winter. These areforgetfulness? Probably all of the in bringing friends, neighbors, andoften times missed as they are remoteabove and more. Heres one thing it is:communities together to partake inand difficult to access; however, thereINCONSIDERATE! On occasion we all the unified goal of cleaning up theirwould be no need to access them toopen up a pocket with our gloves on communities/roadsides and the statepick up trash if we, as users of theand have genuine intentions of placing we call home. (Green Up Day in 2021trails, are all diligent throughout thethat sandwich bag into our pocket and will be held Saturday, May 1 if youwinter, right? We have all seen it whilethink we have accomplished the task, would like to mark your calendar.)out on the VAST trails or even alongreleasing the gloved grip we have on VAST snowmobile clubs often aid theirother trail systems in Vermont andthe baggie, when all of a sudden a gust local communities and participate inabroad. We have seen the social mediaof wind takes it far away from us in Green Up Day as a club. Snowmobilersposts by the local clubs with picturesa moment. There are other occasions often have pickup trucks and helpof trash along the trails with commentswhen we neglect to close up our saddle their neighbors by hauling away large,like, We abused it, now we lost it. bag all the way and a bump in the trail bulky items that have been draggedWe have seen the groups of riderssends something flying out of our bag, up over banks along the roads. Yousitting at an intersection enjoying theirunbeknownst to us as we look down will see many piles of garbage, greenfavorite blue canned beverage, full andthe trail ahead. These are accidents bags and even the orange VTransempties sitting in the snow.Sometimesthat, as they say, are avoidable, but trucks out along the major highwaysthe group is still there partaking in thelike the shirt in Forest Gump said, IT picking up the years garbage thatrefreshments, frequently they haveHAPPENS. This is generally not the emerges as the snow melts away eachleft the scene, and all that remainsproblem that ticks off landowners, spring. Reviewing statistics fromis the trail-closing remnants of theiralthough I know of one landowner greenupvermont.org it notes thatday. Local clubs are diligent aboutwho closed off a trail on his property 421 tons of trash and 9,000 tires werepatrolling trails for trash; however,because he found a gum wrapper!removed from Vermonts roadside insnow, wind and other elements oftenThe beer cans, water bottles, chip bags, 18 | Snowmobile VERMONT'