Trails are not open yet! Please stay off of them.

Keep sleds parked

Groomers have started pre-season packing of West Carleton trails, and this cold weather is really helping to firm up our waterways and swamps. We need a little more snow, and things are starting to look good for a start to a great season very soon but TRAILS ARE STILL NOT OPEN.

There are various reasons, whether it be our landowners not able to open gates (yes livestock can still be out in the fields at this time of year). And there is still not enough dense snow in most areas which, as you may be hearing in the news is a serious safety issue. Club volunteers want the trails open as much as anyone, as we are all sledders too, but this takes a combination of the right snow/safety conditions and permission to open gates on our land owners properties. Trail patrol is now patrolling trails and with new legislation in place, trespassers can now be fined up to $10,000 for trespassing and riding on unopened trails. This is serious stuff.

Please, everyone remember that trying to get that jump on the season before trails are open risks it for all of us. We have lost some valuable links on local trails yet again this season and have had to significantly increase road running because of the few sledders who think that just one run on an opened trail does not matter. It does. Just one sled wandering where it shouldn’t be can result in a trail becoming a permanent dead end – and we can’t blame our landowners for trying to protect their crops, property and livelihood.

On a lighter note, West Carleton has some exciting new trails being opened this season, like rail bridges in Pakenham and Arnprior on the W311 and the A trail. It has taken thousands of hours and working with the goodwill of the public, towns and municipalities to get us, the sledders, access to these. These routes are being opened on a trial basis and access to these areas can still be revoked by riding on them now, before official opening.

It’s going to be a great year if people can please, PLEASE keep the sleds parked until they show “Available” on the Interactive Trail Guide. And if you know that person that still insists on trespassing on unopened trails – put some pressure on them – they are messing with all that money you have invested riding this year.

Mississippi Mills Council Meeting Tonight (April 18th)

Tonight a Mississippi Mills town council meeting is being held, and at it a motion to ban snowmobiles in the town of Almonte will most likely be tabled. Council is divided on this important decision. As before we need to see snowmobiler representation at the meeting to continue to show council that this is important and to make the right decisions.

Utilizing the rail trail in Almonte will cost taxpayers ZERO dollars, while helping the local economy and creating a tourism trail for the businesses from Snowmobilers in the winter months. We will fill the restaurants down town with business, groom a second trail for free in Almonte for non sledders. Put up signs, help pay decking of the bridges. Make slow zones in the town, this is who we are 🙂

Some of our club’s key campaigners unable to make it tonight. It would be great to have strong support from the sledding community once again. Who can make it to show sledder support? 

The A trail throught Almonte, Pakenham and Armprior is in jeopardy of being lost without this link. Urban sprawl is affecting our trails.

Thanks,
Your board of directors

When: Tuesday, April 18 at 5:30 PM – 8:30 PM

Where: 3131 Old Perth Rd, Almonte, ON K0A 1A0, Canada

PLEASE SHARE THIS LINK, THANK YOU

OVRT and “A” Trail Closure

Ottawa Valley Recreational Trail for ALL

There have been many posts and messages about the possibility that Mississippi Mills and Carleton Place councils might not approve motorized use of the abandoned CP Rail line, known now as the OVRT (Ottawa Valley Recreational Trail) through Almonte and Carleton Place. There is always a danger that people get tired of hearing about it and start to shut it out, but we really need every individual sledder and their family and friends to spend just a few minutes to help sway council decisions. Right now.

Why? The A Trail, our main corridor through the region is rapidly losing sections to urban sprawl and developments, and there are more sections that will be closed in the near future due to development. The A Trail will depend on the OVRT and will ultimately be cut off if you, the sledders, do not act now to ensure we get access this public corridor.  The only way that clubs can ensure that the A trail and similar trails remain viable is to share public corridors such as the OVRT. True multi-use trails (for all activities) work well in the other areas where they have been established, and with cooperation will work well here. More importantly if one municipality is allowed to exclude some users, others will follow.

What do I need to do? Despite the great business and social/economic case presented by BEAST and WCSTA representatives, it has become a numbers game. It seems to be coming down to who can send the most letters to the individual councils in support of their special interest. Non-motorized groups have been planning their attack long in advance, and they are way ahead of us in this regard. And, don’t be fooled, the number of letters received does sway councils. The case of the squeaky wheel gets the grease definitely holds true here.

We need you, your spouse, children and friends, sledders from across the District and the province to send letters today. Councils will hear us if we organize and speak out, as the other parties are doing. Many of you have already written letters, but we have several new places that need to receive them (see below).

If composing a letter isn’t your thing, please just copy/paste (and edit if you wish) the letter at the end of this post. Address it to the 2 emails below, and individual councillors if you like. Just add your name and hit “Send”. That’s it. Share this to every person you can think of, and follow up to make sure that they too have written. If we miss this opportunity, it will not come again.

What else? We need to show up in numbers (as the opponents will) Tuesday evening (April 4) as we present to Mississippi Mills Council. Once again, numbers count, and the recent Carleton Place meeting had many non-motorized supporters show up – that made quite an impact – with just a handful from the sledding corner. Wear your club shirt, jacket hat, or your sled colors. Make sure our club representatives (Scott Hamilton and Darin McRae) know you are behind them, and council knows how many sledders are watching the decisions they make.

Snowmobile clubs’ rail line proposal to Mississippi Mills – Tues. April 4th

Thank you.

The Letter:

Step 1: Please send at least 2 emails – 1 to each town at these addresses:

drogers@carletonplace.ca
clerk@mississippimills.ca

…and one directly to your councillor if you like

Step 2: Subject heading: “Motorized OVRT” or “Snowmobiles on OVRT”

Step 3: Add your name at the bottom of letter.

 

Dear Sir/Madam,

I am writing this email in support for the Ottawa Valley Recreational Trail
(OVRT) to be established as a multi-use trail, including snowmobiles in the
winter time.

I understand that the acquisition of this corridor by the County of Lanark
was originally done under the premise of a multi-use trail (including
motorized vehicles) and feel it should continue along those lines.  Our tax
dollars are paying for it, so all taxpayers should be able to use this trail
for their own personal recreation.

I have been a snowmobiler for many years and can say with full confidence
that all users benefit from a groomed snowmobile trail. Snowmobile clubs
also have a great track record on multi-use trails in many areas of Ontario.

On trail snowmobiling is managed by the Ontario Federation of Snowmobile
Clubs (OFSC) which means that the sport is regulated with trail permits,
operator licenses, insurance requirements, and pre-established speed limits.
The entire system is patrolled by volunteer trail patrol members and local
police agencies making it safe for all users.

I have recently read that both Montague and Beckwith Townships have already
endorsed the OVRT to include motorized users.  I would hope this would
continue along the entire corridor.

I trust that in your capacity as clerk you will share this email with your
council.

Respectfully,

[your name]

Snowmobile clubs’ rail line proposal to Mississippi Mills – Tues. April 4th

Your West Carleton Snowmobile Club and the B.E.A.S.T. Snowmobile club are doing a joint presentation to town council for use on the old rail line.

We need all your support. We have a great presentation to show that this will cost taxpayers ZERO dollars, while helping the local economy and creating a tourism trail for the businesses from Snowmobilers in the winter months. We will fill the restaurants down town with business, groom a second trail for free in Almonte for non sledders. Put up signs, help pay decking of the bridges. Make slow zones in the town, this is who we are 🙂

The hall holds 90 people in chambers and just outside in a seperate room with speakers.

We need to fill the parking lot with sledder on top of that. This is a chance to show our posotive support for sharing the trail. Snowmobilers are amazing stewarts of the trails for many many years.

The A trail throught Almonte, Pakenham and Armprior is in jepordy of being lost without this link. Urban sprawl is affecting our trails.

Who can make it out? Bring your family and friends!

Thanks,
Your board of directors

 

When: Tuesday, April 4 at 5:30 PM – 8:30 PM

Where: 3131 Old Perth Rd, Almonte, ON K0A 1A0, Canada

PLEASE SHARE THIS LINK, THANK YOU

Ottawa Valley Recreational Trail – Multi-use trail including snowmobiles

The Future of Rail Trails

As you may know, Lanark County purchased the rail bed within it’s boundaries from CP and are now undergoing community consultations for it’s use. While parts of the rail bed you know as the 311 are in use this season on a trial basis, the hope from the snowmobiling community it to continue to expand on this idea throughout the entire county, creating a trail that will give excellent access to towns and villages, as well as an uninterrupted thoroughfare for the entire length of the rail bed.

We believe that OFSC clubs and infrastructure offer great advantages with our volunteer base and great snowmobiling community, and want to work together with other interest groups to create a trail system that can be enjoyed by all. The revenue alone that snowmobiling brings to local businesses both directly and indirectly is huge.

The final of four meetings held through the region will be this Thursday Feb. 16th between 6 and 8pm in Almonte at Old City Hall. What we really need from our snowmobiling community is a strong show of support in numbers attending this event, and to hear the concerns so that we may all work together to have multi-use trails that will benefit all residents and people of all recreational interests.

Please look at the attached information sheet and join us next Thursday!

Snowmobiling Fact Sheet Feb 17 v3

https://www.facebook.com/events/1827264094152297/

Trail Status: Some trails now to Limited

OFSC Permits

 

We are happy to announce that SOME West Carleton trail conditions have allowed us to open them to LIMITED status. Please check the ITG before you ride to see what trails are opening up!

Don’t forget to pick up your free 2016-17 Trail Guide at the clubhouse or one of our many supporters. There are lots of changes and some new trail! And, please support our sponsors!

Printed maps now available at the following locations:

Aquatopia Cafe – March Road @ 417

Blacks Corners Motorsports – Polaris – Carleton Place, Hwy 15

Carp Shell Gas Station – March Rd @ hwy 417

George’s Marine – Yamaha

The Lighthouse Restaurant – Constance Bay

Long Island Marina – 1424 Commodore Dr. Kars

March Road Motorsports – March Rd just East of Almonte.

Nicholls Gas and Variety – Dunrobin Rd. at Kinburn Rd.

Perth Power Sports – Ski Doo

The Point Lounge – Constance Bay

Sammy’s Restaurant – Dunrobin

Urban Powersports Yamaha in Arnprior.

 

2016-2017 Trail Guide now available in PDF

WCSTA Trail Guide and map

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The WCSTA Trail Guide and map for the 2016-17 season is now available in PDF format. There have been quite a few changes and some exciting new additions to West Carleton trails for the 2016 – 2017 season. Much hard work has gone into getting access to the two sections of the old rail line between Arnprior and Blakeney and getting it opened up for OFSC member use. The BEAST has also been granted use of the same rail line from Carleton Place to Smiths Falls.

Printed versions to arrive very soon. To see our latest trail routes right now, download a PDF Trail Guide.

Pick up a printed copy when you’re visiting local club supporters and businesses in the new year. And please remember to support the businesses who have made this guide possible by advertising in it!

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Wait for it… wait for it….

Keep sleds parked

Another awesome dump of snow last night and today and in the distance I think I hear groomers starting to warm up for some pre-season packing. Hopefully a good cold snap will also help our waterways and swamps, which are still far from being safe. But things are looking great!

Please, everyone remember that trying to get that jump on the season before trails are open risks it for all of us. We have lost some valuable links on local trails this season and have been working hard to find suitable reroutes. One sled wandering where it shouldn’t be can result in a trail becoming a permanent dead end – and we can’t blame our landowners for trying to protect their crops, property and livelihood.

On a lighter note, West Carleton has some exciting new trails being opened this season, like the W311 – the rail bed linking us from Arnprior, through Pakenham, Almonte, Blakeney and continuing on in the BEAST as #311. Huge thanks to the families who went out and brushed and put up the signs!

It’s going to be a great year if people can please, PLEASE keep the sleds parked until they show “Available” on the Interactive Trail Guide. And if you know that person that still insists on trespassing on unopened trails – put some pressure on them – they are messing with all that money you have invested riding this year.

2016-17 OFSC App and WCSTA Trail Guide Advertising now available! 

wcsta-maps-in-holders

 

For a very limited time, we have advertising spaces available on the WCSTA Trail Guide.

You can also get your business identified on the iSnowmobile mobile app and the OFSC Interactive Trail Guide as a Point of Interest, or have trailside signs installed near your business for the season. Deadline for advertising is Thursday December 15th, so don’t delay!

Single Map Ad:

1 square – $200.00 per square, colour ad (1-7/8 x 2”)
($100.00 per additional square to make your ad stand out)

Point of Interest (P.O.I.) Listing on OFSC Interactive Map and iSnowmobile Mobile App:

$75.00 per listing. This is the mobile app that many snowmobilers use to navigate. This is great for restaurants, gas stations, dealerships and motels/hotels.

Trail signs:

$75.00 This includes up to three trails signs that we place to direct snowmobilers to your business. The signs are supplied by the advertisers and approved by the club. With this option you also get to post one ad on our Facebook group per week to promote your business and/or specials

Package:

Trail map ad, POI listing and Trail signs. $300.00

Please email contact@wcstai.com for pricing and more details, or phone Ian Torrey at 613.832.4596.

 

Trail Guide Advertising 2015-2016WCSTA Trail Guide Map

Adding Rail Line to West Carleton Trails!

rail-linesIts OFFICIAL, the West Carleton Snowmobile Club will be using two sections of the old rail line between Arnprior and Blakeney this coming sledding season! The club has been in negotiations with Lanark County and they have been finalized for a trial basis this year.

We have been working hard to make sure that all the insurance and other details were in place prior to announcing this, and now trail work can begin. Volunteers will be needed to help prepare and sign these new sections of trail (as well as existing trails).

The Beast has also been granted use of the same rail line from Carleton Place to Smiths Falls.

Details will also be available at our swap meet in Kinburn (October 15). Stay tuned for more information in the near future. Please SHARE to all SNOWMOBILERS that you know.

Your board of directors, working for you!