b'TRAILS REPORTBy Matt Tetreault, VAST Trails AdministratorANALPHABETIC SNOWMOBILERSWhat is the title of this article? That is what you are asking yourself currently. Its OK, I had to look that word up in a thesaurus too. Despite the research, the word and the title of this seem very fitting for a select few of the riders out there, I think. I am not normally one to start right off negative and going right after something, but here I am. I guess I am known to do this, so par for the course then, I guess. I do not want to become a dictionary or a thesaurus here, but the more I ponder this situation, I am not sure that some of our riders are analphabetic, but a more fitting word would be inconsiderate or dim-witted. I can think of a few other choice words as well that describe how I feel about these folks and this topic, but I am not sure those can be found in a thesaurus. Curiosity got the best of me, and I took the time to look at some of the words in the thesaurus. I did find colorful synonyms on WordHippoClosed means closed! and the slang thesaurus dictionary. Imbecile is the one I can appropriately use here. My English teacher, Mr.stakes on his Sunday afternoon. Ibecause someone tells you not to, but Nelson, would be so proud of me rightrealize the issue wont be solved by mebecause you just naturally know better.now, although there are all sorts ofranting and raving about this, but itStory number two. A club was working punctuation and grammatical errorsis absolutely ridiculous, and I wonderwith new landowners to open a trail throughout that would overshadowif some of the riders running over orrelocation around a closure. A major me using a thesaurus successfully.going around these signs should eventrail connection in a heavily ridden Now I am wondering if Mr. Nelson isbe allowed out in public, let alonearea. Club volunteers cut the new still alive. Unfortunately, he is not stillto ride a snowmobile across othertrail the prior day (ironically some with us. For this moment I am goingpeoples property. Why do they getof the new relocation was part of the to go with the fact that he would bethis privilege? old VAST trail 20-plus years ago). The proudmaybe. I talk with clubs daily about ridersgroomer was there trying to push some The reason for my rant here anddisobeying signs. Story one. Twoof the trees and debris out of the way for looking up these words in theteenagers riding backcountry andthat the volunteers had removed prior, thesaurus is all centered back to theclaiming that they did not know theywith the intention of grooming out the hundreds of signs along the VASTcould not because they have nevertrail so it could be ready. There were trails that our volunteers put out eachbeen to this area of the state to rideTRAIL CLOSED signs across the trail, season. These signs are installed forbefore. This was their claim when theas the club had been out there with the safety of the riders and notablygroomer stopped them and questionedsnowmobiles the day prior, cutting and at the request of the thousands ofthem about the tracks he saw all overopening the re-route up as previously landowners who are generous enoughin the woods, knowing their trucknoted. The groomer moved these to allow us use of their property. Mostwas the only one in the parking lotsigns, drove the groomer through onto club volunteers are not looking toriding in this given area on that day.the new trail and then reinserted the put out extra signs, and there are fewSeriously. You are from Vermont. Is itsigns in the trail. Until it was cleared that are extraneous. Which means, ifOK for riders to go off trail in the farmcompletely, adequately groomed and they are out there, they are there forfields planted with winter crops wheresigned, the club did not want it open. a reason. To be read and adhered to.you live in the state? How ignorantAs the groomer is pushing the cut-up They are not placed there for lookscan you be? No one tells you daily thatblowdowns out of the way, he looks in or because volunteer Jimmy wantedyou should not punch yourself in thethe mirror as he is backing the groomer to tap-tapety-tap in a few extra signface, and hopefully you do not, but notup and three sleds are right behind 8 | Snowmobile Vermont'