b'VAST NewsA message from VAST President Tim Mills VAST AMBASSADOR SAFETY TEAMby some trees because theThe VAST Ambassador Safety Team sled they are riding doesntProgram (VASTP) is a state-wide have reverse or they are tooprogram with a two-part approach. lazy or not strong enoughFirst is to introduce riders to our to physically swing theVermont Statewide Snowmobile Trail rear of the snowmobileSystem (SSTS). Second, team members around. I am talking aboutalso assist clubs by identifying trail the blatant off-trail ridinghazards and missing signs, or by through someones virginhelping law enforcement at accident snow untouched pasture,scenes.a section of woods orThe primary goal of the team is to anywhere that is not a partidentify and remedy trail hazards. of our trail system. Is theThis includes removing rocks or debris appeal that great? What arefrom the trail and providing warnings the benefits? It is not like wefor washouts or other hazards that dont have enough signagecannot be removed. Other team across our trail systemactivities can also include:warning us all to stay on the trails. Is it really that hard toChecking for proper trail signage;follow the rules? Do they notProviding information to understand the angst thissnowmobilers on the trail;puts the landowner through who, without their generosityRendering assistance for accidents of opening their land up toor breakdowns;us, would eliminate greatAlerting clubs of missing signs or portions of our trail system?hazards you cannot resolve;As I said, the ignorance ofAssisting riders who may be lost or the select few that off-trailin need of assistance.ride amazes me and there With the season well underway,is no real good reason for doing we find ourselves in familiarit. The good news coming out territory. Mother Nature is stillof all of this is that there is only at a point of confusion, but it isa select few who continue to looking up. The good news isnot follow the rules and theyFIND THE HELMETthat many areas of the VAST trailare not getting away unnoticed. system have received enoughVermont Law Enforcement is snow for the groomers to pack,well apprised of these events pan, and freeze in the wet spotsand is making a point of working followed by grooming as wewith VAST snowmobile clubs receive Mother Natures whiteand landowners this season to gold. With our first major stormpursue these issues and make a day away, I am hopeful this willsure the violators are dealt with really kick-start the season.accordingly. A vast majority of Unfortunately, we collectivelyus follow the rules by riding find ourselves dealing withinbounds and being courteous some of the same old naggingto our landowners and fellow issues of previous seasons,riders. Its not that hard to do! one of which is off-trail riding.After all, we are all out there to The reasons why continue tohave fun and enjoy what Mother escape me. There is absolutelyNature provides for us during thisLarry Onifrio was the random selected no reason to be off-trail ridingprecious season. winner with the correct answer to our in any situation here on our trailcontest for last issue. The helmet was system. I am not talking aboutRide Safely and Smooth Trails,on page 3 in the I AM VAST button someone who is going the wrongTim Mills, VAST President photo in Tim Mills article last issue! If way and is simply turning aroundyou can find the helmet in this issue, send an email to editor@vtvast.org and you could win a VAST t-shirt! 4 | Snowmobile VERMONT'