b'TRAILS REPORTBy Matt Tetreault, VAST Trails AdministratorWith warm sunshine coming through the window, warming my body and soul, I am going to assume the end to the snowmobile season is drawing near. By the time you read this, the snow in most yards will have turned them into a quagmire, and we will have had at least one or two more threats by Mother Nature to turn it back into winter for a day or two. The one thing that we can all hope for with the coming of spring is a slow transition to normalcy, if there is such a thing anymore. Schools are retreating on the mask mandates as are states and countries, allowing us to reveal our chins to one another once again. The virus that caused the pandemic is still a thing, but the simple fact is that many citizens have been vaccinated and/or had the virus or have simply comeMatt and his children have been enjoying the time-honored Vermont spring activity of to accept the fact that it is a part ofmaple sugaring.our existence now and always will be. Like a common cold, influenza, handhave written about these meetingsto keep snowmobiles on the trails foot and mouth disease or athletesin past articles for those who haveand riders riding. This topic leads to foot, it is here to keep the insurancebeen dedicated readers. I say it hasother discussions, including how to companies, doctors, urgent care clinicsbeen an annual thing, however thekeep these riders on the trail engaged and politicians busy. This virus ispast two years we have met viain the activity and club. We all work obviously more serious than athletesZoom. Although these meetings weretogether to better each other, so foot, as even though its toughproductive, they just werent thecollaboratively we keep riders on the actin, no Tinactin is going to cure it.same. Getting together in person fortrails and interested in riding. We all Nonetheless, there is one more virusthe first time in two years was great.have lessons to learn from one another to add to the growing list of things toA return to a state of normalcy, butand ideas to share, which is why a be cautious of in this crazy world weat the same time a little weird. Likemeeting in person is a much better fit live in.getting on a snowmobile after beingfor this group. I feel like I know these This slow return to our routine livesout of it for 20 years maybe! Thepeople on a more personal level now, as we once knew them is welcome buttime connecting on various issuesand would feel more comfortable also can easily cause a bit of anxiety.during and even after the meeting,calling them up unexpectedly to gain Ideally our old ways will return toboth personal and work related, isor share some knowledge.us naturally and we will overcomewhat truly makes these meetingsDespite the differences in state-run vs. any anxiety that still lingers, but Iworthwhile. It is an excellent group ofprovincially-run vs. a non-profit, we can personally speak and say thatfellow enthusiasts and figureheads inall have similar goals and ambitions attending a meeting with a groupthe snowmobile world representingand can help one another achieve of people certainly added anxiousNew York, Maine, New Hampshirethem. There is no better feeling than feelings for me recently. It was as if Iand, of course, Vermont. Typically, weproviding one of my counterparts was doing something illegal or wrong.have representation from Canada andwith information that makes their job In the end of February, I met inMassachusetts as well. easier or allows them to produce the person with the Northeast ChapterSome may find it as a surprisepositive results they are after. Not that of the International Association ofthat we all work together so well,this has ever happened, but you get Snowmobile Administrators. Thisbut as I previously stated, we arewhat I am saying! All kidding aside, has been an annual late winter ride/ all snowmobile enthusiasts andI am hopeful that I helped someone meeting event with colleagues, eachwant what is best for this form ofout, or at least will someday down involved in the administration ofrecreation. In one of the meetingsthe road. I know I have gained a snowmobiling in some capacity withsomeone summed it up well bysignificant amount of knowledge from another state and/or province. Istating, We all need to work togetherothers.20 | Snowmobile VERMONT'