b'VAST NewsDRIFT DUSTERS FOUNDERS COVERED BRIDGEBy Roger Gosselin our founders established is displayedget ready to go back out with ladies the Just like with many club ideas,every season when our trail networknext day. We wanted to make sure the the Drift Dusters Founders Bridgecomes alive.trails were smooth for them, or they started as notes written on a napkinIt all started in the late 1960s. A groupwouldnt go out again. The following at the Derby Cow Palace when thenof local people from Derby had foundday, the group would ride out to the President Michael Koehler, said toa pastime that they loved so much.Ben Cole clearing, have lunch and then Trails Coordinator Roger Gosselin:Once part of the first club in thereturn before dark. This was a thirty-Well now that the Warming Hut iscounty, North Country Mountaineers,mile loop that now takes less than an done, what do we do now?!this group set out to start their ownhour. The Ben Cole clearing still exists As we entered our 50th year asclub, Drift Dusters Snowmobile Club.to this day less than a mile from where a snowmobile club, the board ofWith the introduction of snowmobileswe meet the Northeast Kingdom Snow directors thought about how weinto the Derby area, through theBlasters in Norton and is the home of could celebrate with a fun projectlocal dealership, Walts Sales andthe states very first VAST helicopter and remember our history at theService, the sport was growing, andemergency landing zone established same time. That is where the ideaenthusiastic snowmobilers wereby this club. of making Vermonts first full-sizedlooking for places to ride. A localThe excitement of snowmobiling covered bridge for snowmobiles camebusinessperson and founder of ours,continued to grow as more people to fruition. A team of volunteers leadCarl Hackett, who we were luckytraveled throughout the private by Project Manager Roger Gosselinenough to interview before he died,lands of the Northern part of officially broke ground on Aug. 17,purchased a late sixties Ski-Doo AlpineOrleans County, and the need for an 2020. The Drift Dusters Foundersand took it upon himself to build aestablished marked trail system to bridge is located on the shores of Lakehomemade drag. Carl recalls using theprevent renegade snowmobiling, was Derby also known as Derby Pond. Alpine to groom a four-foot-wide trailrealized and the group got to work.Just like that day where this idea camefrom Derby to Holland and turningIn 1971, a small group of to life, our clubs roots were foundedaround in what is now the State ofsnowmobiling businesspeople with friends and community membersVermont Bill Sladyk Wildlife Refuge.from the area got together at Pauls coming together fifty years ago to startIt would take us all day to get to theSugarhouse in Derby and started one our club. The firm foundation thatBen Cole clearing he said, We wouldof the first snowmobile clubs in the turn around and head back home and 8 | Snowmobile VERMONT'