Thanks to all who attended the WCSTA Annual General Meeting on May 7th. Attached please find an overview of the evening’s meeting.
Please join us at the West Carleton Snowmobile Trails Association Annual General Meeting – to be held on Wednesday May 7th, 7:30pm, at the W. Erskine Johnson Arena, Carp (in the Sports Bar meeting room, upstairs).
Board of directors will be nominated and elected by our members at this meeting, and we encourage all current permit holders to join us and participate in setting the course for snowmobiling in West Carleton, and representation of our club within the OFSC for next season.
We invite all 2013-2014 season permit holders to join us! Also, we are looking for people who would be willing to join as directors, or in other volunteer positions. Have any special skills that you might be willing to share to make next year even better than this? Please contact us.
We will also be voting on recent amendments to the club bylaws. If you would like a copy of the proposed updates to the Bylaws, please contact Ted Kelly (ted-kelly@sympatico.ca).
Immediately following the AGM the newly appointed Board will commence with the election of President, Vice President and other Officers for the 2014-2015 season.
We hope to see you there!
Trails are now closed. Thanks to our landowners and permit buyers
Snowmobilers are being warned to stay off of area OFSC Prescribed snowmobile trails effective immediately as the snowmobile season has come to an end. These trails are now reported as “Unavailable” (Red) on the OFSC Interactive Trail Guide at www.ofsc.on.ca, because area clubs have stopped regular grooming operations, and signs and stakes are being removed and gates and fences closed. Snowmobilers are also advised that rapidly deteriorating snow and ice conditions due to spring thaw make snowmobiling extremely hazardous anywhere. Roads and road crossings are now generally bare and the ice on all waterways is melted, melting or unstable.
It has been a phenomenal season, and now the only safe and sensible course of action for snowmobilers is to put away their sleds until next winter. The risks of trying that ‘one last ride’ are simply too high now that spring thaw has commenced.
The public is also reminded that a OFSC snowmobile trail on private land reported as “Unavailable” means that access to that trail is also prohibited for any other users or persons for all other seasons, without the specific prior permission of the landowner. On behalf of our clubs and volunteers, we want to thank all of the landowners who have generously allowed the use of their property for an OFSC snowmobile trail this winter. We also appreciate the support of the many snowmobilers who bought trail permits to help pay their share of the cost of trail operations for the past season.
A very special thanks is also extended to all of the club volunteers who donated their services to assist local clubs in providing a successful season of snowmobiling. Although the winter is over, snowmobiling has become a year round business, so many volunteers will start immediately to plan and prepare for next winter. If you are interested in helping out, please let us know.
Back again this year! Show your buddies the taillight they’ll be chasing – only at the 2015 Sneak Peek. Be the first to see the 2015 snowmobiles from Polaris, Yamaha and Ski-Doo. Don’t miss it!
Join the fun at the 2014 WCSTA Annual Poker Run, in support of The Snowsuit Fund. This year’s event is being held in partnership with Kinburn Community Association and Kinburn Winter Carnival activities.
Location: Kinburn Community Centre, 3045 Kinburn Side Rd., Kinburn, ON.
(There will be plenty of parking on site for those who wish to trailer to and from the event).
At the end of the Poker Run dinner will be served, and a cash bar is available.
Schedule
8 - 11am Breakfast, served by Kinburn station firefighters.
$6 ($4 for 12 & under), $1 discount with carnival button
10 am Registration
11 am Sharp Departure
6 pm Dinner served (bar opens at 3pm)
All day Winter Carnival activities
Entry fee: $25.00 per sled (includes dinner for one)
Dinner only: $10.00 per person, additional poker hands: $5.00
Prizes: 1st, 2nd, 3rd place, oldest/youngest riders and more!
Contact: Scott Hamilton, WestCarletonPokerRun@gmail.com
Proceeds will benefit The Snowsuit Fund.
We’ll be collecting donations of new and gently used winter wear (snowsuits, hats, mitts, boots) of all sizes. Let’s help out a great cause and have fun on the trails!
Please visit this site or our Facebook event, West Carleton Snowmobile Annual Charity Poker Run in Support of the Snowsuit Fund! for updates or cancellations.
We also wish to thank our many sponsors, including:
Eli El-Chantiry, Councillor Ward 5, West Carleton – March
Pivot Point Solutions Design and Communication
Ted Kelly, Broker, Seller’s Choice Ottawa Valley Realty Inc. Brokerage
Just a reminder that December 1st is the last day save on early buy permits. All of our permit outlets have them in stock, or order online. However you do it, don’t forget to buy your season permit now. The weather outside today has frost in the ground, so we’re hoping for a great – and long – riding season!
The Club has received lots of requests for coordinated rides, including longer tours. As a result we are in the planning stages for a group-coordinated ride on the premier snowmobile tour in Ontario – The RAP, or Ride Around Algonquin Park tour. It is approximately 690km tour, over 4 days.
Overview
Length
690 km 4 days of riding Approximately 6- 8 hours of riding each day.
Deposit
A $50 deposit non-refundable from each rider is expected prior to departure. Please provide to Scott Hamilton, Ted Kelly or Paul Asmis. Please make sure that you have received confirmation that spaces are available before booking your accommodations!
Dates – 02 Feb-05 Feb 2014
The trip has planned over the week to take advantage of lower hotel rates, the fact that all services are open (including repair gas etc), and that there will less traffic on the trails – especially on the West side of the park.
Planning Meeting – Tuesday Sept 17 2013
A planning meeting is scheduled for Tuesday Sept 17, 7 pm at “Love That Barr” in Pakenham.
Reservations
Room reservations are the responsibility of each rider, and detailed information on each booking is provided. Note that Spring Lake and the Bears Den need reservation confirmations by the end of September as they fill up quickly with long-range bookings. It is not too early to make bookings!! If riders know they are interested please start making bookings soon. The accommodations fill up very quickly for that time of the year. Cancellation is typically 7 days notice.
Schedule and Options
Riders can trailer to the departure point at Spectacle lake Lodge on Sunday or snowmobile from the West Carleton area. Spectacle Lake lodge is on the B Trail, west of Barry’s Bay, within a day’s ride of West Carleton. (Note this will extend trip and reservations for the Thursday return night at the spectacle Lake Lodge are rider’s responsibility.) There are excellent club trails around the Spectacle Lake Lodge, including a look out point. Riders arriving early on the Sunday can take advantage of the loops around the lodge. Also riders can elect to stay an extra night at the end of the tour to explore the local loops.
Parking
Spectacle Lake Lodge has ample parking for trailers and vehicles.
Schedule
Sunday
Arrive – Spectacle Lake Lodge
Sunday Riders Briefing – 1900 hrs in bar area.
Monday
Destination is Spring Lake Resort, Dwight Ontario
Distance – approx 160 km
Fuel / Stops – Whitney (everyone fuel – fuel limited after that), Kennisis Lake (100 km)
Stops – TBD – photo op at waterfall near Whitney Ontario
Tuesday
Destination is Collander Bay – Terrance Suites
Distance – approx 150 km
Fuel – Sand Lake – VERIFY
Stops – TBD
Wednesday
Destination is Deep River – Bears Den
Distance – 200km
Fuel – Mattawa (100 km) / Stonecliffe
Stops – Mattawa (only lunch stop)
Thursday
Destination – Spectacle Lake Lodge
Distance – 180 km Fuel Pembroke / Round Lake / Barry’s Bay
Stops – TBD
Accommodation Information
1st Night – Sunday Feb 2
Spectacle Lake Lodge17-B Spectacle lake Road, South Algonquin
K0J 1B0613-756-2324
Rates
The lodge offers a Snowmobile Package (includes accommodation, 3 course dinner and hot breakfast) @ $120.00 per person plus 13% HST and 15% Gratuity. If you do not want the dinner and breakfast it would be regular rate per our website. (4 cottages are booked. They will hold 12 riders – each with a bed. Those wanting to pay regular rate will be accommodated in one or two cabins to facilitate cost breakdown. )
2nd Night Monday Feb 3
Spring Lake ResortDwight 2893 Ontario 60, ON
1 877-635-9995
Rates
“A room with two beds, a queen and a twin bed or one bed, a king size bed is $89.00 plus tax based on occupancy of 2 people. We have 4 rooms with king size bed and 10 rooms with a queen and a twin, total of 14 rooms. A suite with 3 queen size beds, you have 2 queen size beds in the bedroom and one queen size bed in the first room along with 4 pcs washroom, etc… is $120.00 per night plus tax. We have 3 suites in total. All our rooms are freshly renovated with brand new mattresses, carpets, etc. have a microwave, a coffee maker, and a compact fridge. They all are lake view and lakefront.”
Each person can call and make their own arrangements for the stay either in rooms or suites as they like and providing their own credit card to reserve, just please ask them to say that they are members of West Carleton Snowmobile club.
Note : Book by end of September
3rd Night – Tuesday Feb 4
Terrace Suites2363 Highway 94 (Callander Bay Drive) Callander (North Bay), ON P0H 1H0
705-752-5552
reservations@terracesuites.com
Rates
- Signature suite is $126 per night (we have 8 suites, they have 1King and 1Queen)
- Honeymoon Suite is $119 per night (we have 8 suites, They have 1 Queen)
- Standard Room is $99 (we have 2 suites, they have 1 Queen)
- Family Suite is $130 per night (we have 2 suites, they have 3 Doubles or 3 Queens)
- For details on our suite amenities please go to our website
- You can block off Rooms and they can call in individually to book their rooms.
- A month before the date if there are still unclaimed rooms I will put them back up for sale.
- As of right now we do have availability for Feb 4th.
4th Night – Wednesday Feb 5
Bears Den Lounge and Motel Restaurant33177 17 Hwy, Deep River, ON K0J 1P0
(613) 584-9795
Rates
- Single Room Queen Bed – $70 plus tax Double Room –twin beds – $94 plus tax
- Need confirmation in Sept of numbers
- Book under Paul Asmis – West Carleton Snowmobile Club
- Each rider is responsible for reserving his or her own accommodations. Please call the listed accommodations and quote the reservation information provided for each stop.
Additional Details
Food
Dinner and breakfast is available at each accommodation stop (each rider responsible for food). Group will stop on the trail for lunch.
Fuel
The group will stop for fuel approximately halfway through each day. In some areas of the tour around the park fuel stops are limited and are approximately 100km apart. Fuel is available at Spectacle Lake Lodge prior to departure.
Chase Vehicle
Chase vehicle is being organized and a non-refundable deposit will cover the cost of the chase vehicle for each rider. The chase vehicle, which will be a pick up truck with a 20ft trailer, will follow the group. It will proceed to the next nights stop, and can be contacted in case of break down. It will also be able to carry spare fuel, oil, parts, and limited amount of luggage. The fuel for the chase vehicle will be paid for from the non-refundable deposit.
Safety and Group Riding
Depending on the numbers providing the deposit, riders will be put into groups of 4-6 riders. Groups will be assigned on the Sunday evening meeting based on desired speed of travel – each group will stay together. The larger tour group will meet at lunch and at the accommodations at the end of the day.
Communications
Each rider will be asked to provide a cell number. A tour text group will be created so riders can text messages, and communicate with chase vehicle.
Sled maintenance
The group will assist each other but everyone is expected to have the basic maintenance completed on their machines prior to departing on the tour.
Registration
To register for the tour please download and complete the registration form.
Registration is confirmed once a tour coordinator listed below receives the deposit.
Please contact any of the coordinators for details.
Information
Ted Kellyted-kelly@sympatico.ca
613-296-5294 Scott Hamilton
Shamilton@delta-gl.com
613-852-7271 Paul Asmis
pasmis@mac.com
cell 613-297-9818
Show your buddies the tail light they’ll be chasing next year – only at the 2014 Manufacturer’s Sneak Peek!
Be the first to see the 2014 snowmobiles from Arctic Cat, Polaris, Ski-Doo and Yamaha at the Bell SensPlex in Kanata on March 25, 5pm-9pm and March 26th, 11am-9pm.
For more information, please visit http://snowsneakpeek.com/
We have recently completed a number of significant trail improvement projects, in no small part thanks to a handful of volunteers who faithfully show up to get things done. As the ground frost starts to move in we have trail markers and signage to put up, and some brushing and clearing of trails to do. We could really use your help – so that we can all be out riding when the snow is on the ground! Please contact us to be notified of upcoming events and activities.
Last season was particularly challenging with several wet and heavy snowfalls that brought down a lot of branches and trees on our trails. Huge thanks to the volunteers who put in hundreds of hours of work to get trails reopened each time, making for a great season. Helmets off to everyone who’s pitched in and given a hand!
We are always looking for new volunteers for the wide array of things that need to be done to provide great trails and club activities. Whether you have a few hours, or a day here and there, we really want to hear from you and know what you are able to contribute to make our club and our trails the best in Ontario.
If clearing trails or trail marking and signage isn’t your thing, there are lots of other opportunities to get involved and meet new people. Organizers, food preparation and staff for events such as our poker run are always welcome, or people to help manage other club affairs are needed too. Just let us know your skills or interests.
Volunteering for the club is a great way to meet like-minded people, make friends – and is also a fun way for high school students to get their volunteer hours.
For more information, please contact us. We look forward to meeting you!