b'VAST NewsA message from VAST Vice President Mark ReavesFor eachStowe and the volunteer work issue ofhe did with VAST and the two Snowmobileclubs he served as president. VermontOne of his favorite adventures Magazine, Imwas volunteering to drive the asked to writeVAST truck to Salt Lake City for a new, originalthe International Snowmobile columnCongress.on someJohns leadership extended aspect ofbeyond his own riding. He snowmobiling. Over the years,helped spearhead the purchase Ive covered a wide range ofof machines and a trailer for the topics and tried to ensure eachWashington County Sheriffs column explores somethingDepartment and a rescue sled different. for the Waterbury Backcountry This month, however, ImRescue Team. He also helped reaching back into the files andcreate and host a weekly trail reusing part of an article I wish Iconditions report on local radio had never had to write. stations. Snowmobiling was On Sunday, Jan. 25, the Greencentral to Johns life, and he gave FIND THE HELMET Mountain Roamers dedicated aback to it in countless ways.new bridge on their trail systemLater health challenges limited to the memory of John Lynds.Johns ability to ride and By the time you read this, thevolunteer as he once had, but dedication will have already takenthey never dimmed his interest. place, but I wanted to mark theHe loved watching my son give occasion by sharing part of thehis daughter Elyssa rides around piece I wrote in his honor fiveour yards, and our conversations years ago. always returned to trails or club I first met John about ten, nownews. The last time I spoke with Kevin Kessler found the helmet in thefifteen, years ago when he cameJohn, we talked about the most last issue on page 31. If you can findto look at the house next to minerecent VAST Annual Meeting and the helmet in this issue, send an emailin Barre Town. I was mowingthe condition of the suspension to editor@vtvast.org and you couldthe lawn when John and thebridge in Waterbury.win a VAST t-shirt! realtor stopped to ask aboutJohn passed away on Oct. 24, the neighborhood. I mentioned2020. He is survived by his wife the bike path across the street,Stacey, daughter Elyssa, his nearby schools, and, as anbrothers, and many friends in the SEEKING SNOWafterthought, that the snowmobilesnowmobiling community and ANGELS! trail crossed the road right atbeyond.my house. I wasnt sure howIn 2024, I had the privilege of Send your Snow Angel pictures (kidsthat would land, but Johns eyesteaching Elyssa in our annual volunteering and/or enjoying VASTimmediately lit up. snowmobile safety course. I trails) to editor@vtvast.org! We willWe talked snowmobiling for theknow John was beaming with send you a t-shirt for your angel if wenext hour while the realtor waitedpride when she earned her safety use your photo in the magazine. patiently. Not long after, Johncertificate. The bridge that now and his wife Stacey moved in andbears his name is a fitting tribute, became our neighbors. one that, like John himself, will With John next door, I wasquietly support others for years to quickly introduced to the widercome.VAST world. I became myMark Reaves, clubs representative to countyVAST Vice Presidentmeetings, while John shared stories from the tours he led in Winter 2026 | 5'