Happy New Year! Trail Status Update

snowmobile trail grooming first pass on open field

Hello everyone and Happy New Year from your WC Snowmobile Club.

95% of the trails have been packed two times. The other small percentage we cannot get into yet with water in the swamps. But our volunteers are monitoring this on a daily basis.

We are moving a few trails to Yellow status, Limited (use with caution).

W19 is going to yellow.

W11 from Carp Rd into Constance Bay. Including the W11A in Torbolton Forest is also going to yellow.

W11 from Carp Rd into Kinburn will remain closed until we get some more snow. One field took along time to pass with the groomer and is not in great shape yet.

W16 is close to going to yellow. Lining up volunteers to go and sign and picket from Canon Smith to Stonecrest. There is also an electric fence between Dunrobin Rd and Buckham’s bay that we are negotiating to open. This trail will go to yellow later this week but stay tuned for updates.

The W311 (rail bed) is getting close to yellow but need some more snow in a few areas before we can safely change the status. The same goes for the rest of the trail system. We just need some more snow.

Please use caution on the trails we have opened to limited

The ITG (interactive trail guide) will show the change in status in the next couple of day. As we are sending this information to the District today and they will see it only tomorrow.

Thanks for you patience, let’s hope we get some more snow this week.

Thanks much,
Scott Hamilton
President
WCSTAI

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.

Pre-Nov. 1 Permit Deadline Extended to Nov. 8 at midnight!

Permit system now online for Pre-Nov. 1 Discount

Buy my permit button

The pre-Nov 1 discount deadline has been extended to Wed, Nov. 8th at midnight. Get 30% off your permit NOW!

Important Reminders
  • Your transaction may take up to 12 seconds to process, please DO NOT resubmit or hit the back button during this time.
  • You should receive an email confirming your transaction immediately after it’s completed.
  • If you time out during your transaction or do not receive a confirmation email, please email permits@ofsc.on.ca immediately with the exact time of your attempted transaction and email address.
  • Only Pre-Nov 1 permit transactions completed by 11:59 PM on Nov 8 will be accepted.
  • Pre-Dec 1 permit fees apply as of Nov 9 and 12:01 AM
  • The OFSC remains committed to addressing any transaction issues previously encountered by Pre-Nov 1 permit buyers and has starting to work on resolving them as soon as possible.

On behalf of the entire team at OFSC, thank you again for your continued patience and support.

Pre-Nov. 1 Permit sales important update

Some riders have been having difficulty purchasing their permits online at pre-Nov. 1 pricing. OFSC has been working to correct this issue, but to help make sure everyone has an opportunity to take advantage of the 30% discount, MTO has approved extending the deadline by one day, and possibly more depending on when the system is back up and running. Please check back for further updates!

Explore Winter Like Never Before!

Explore Winter Like Never Before!

An Update from the Ontario Federation of Snowmobile Clubs

(Barrie, ON October 12, 2017) – Some people are sad to say goodbye to summer, but snowmobilers in Ontario are revving up for the 2018 snowmobiling season. WCSTA is working hard to ensure trails are prepped for when the snow comes. There’s lots of trail work that needs doing and new volunteers are always welcome. So it must also be permit buying time and here’s what riders need to know.

After four years at the same fee, all 2018 Seasonal Snowmobile Trail Permits (including Classic) have increased by only $10 according to news received on September 29. This follows the approval of a spring recommendation from the Ontario Federation of Snowmobile Clubs to the Ontario Ministry of Transportation (MTO), which authorizes permit fees. Faced with rising operational expenses to deliver snowmobile trails and in support its of clubs and volunteers, the OFSC made a strong and urgent business case for the new fees, which barely cover the annual rate of inflation since 2013. The OFSC business plan also spoke to new fees being necessary to help cover the higher cost of continuing to purchase new groomers to improve trail quality and consistency. Since the 2015-16 season, the OFSC has invested $8.5 million to buy 35 new grooming units as part of its recently approved More On The Snow initiative.

Snowmobilers can take advantage of 30% savings on their 2018 Ontario Seasonal Snowmobile Permit. For the low fee of $190 they can enjoy a winter full of adventure on any of the available 30,000 km of trails connecting communities throughout the province. This early rate is only available for a limited time. The fees go up at midnight EST on November 1, 2017.

Once again, all permit sales will be online only. “Providing consumers with enhanced security, flexibility and convenience are just a few of the benefits of buying your permit online” says Remi Sauve, President of the OFSC. “Thank you for your support of organized snowmobiling in the province and we look forward to seeing you out on the trails this winter.”

Permit Pricing

For further information, please email marketing@ofsc.on.ca

Landowner Appreciation Night and Season Kick-off Bash – Oct. 14

Saturday October 14 is a big night for WCSTA. We are combining 2 events – a dinner in appreciation of all the wonderful landowners who make our trails possible, followed by the season kick-off “Bash ‘n Brapp”, featuring Ottawa Valley’s own Rainwater Whiskey, rising stars on the music scene!

Land owner dinner

The evening starts at 5:00 pm with a roast beef dinner, catered by Valley Roots – complimentary to WCSTA land owners. Sledders are encouraged to join us, meet your land owners, and show them your appreciation. There will be a cash bar and complimentary non-alcoholic beverages.

RSVP for dinner – email landowners@wcstai.com, or call 613.263.7907 (please include number of tickets requested on RSVP)

Bash ‘n Brapp

Then, at 9:00pm, part two of the evening starts. “Bash ‘n Brapp” is going to be our most ambitious event yet, featuring entertainment by Rainwater Whiskey. Rainwater Whiskey is a hard hitting country band from the Ottawa Valley and have opened for Bill Durst, Brea Lawrenson, Jordan McIntosh, Rory Gardiner, the Roadhammers, Kira Isabella, Aaron Pritchett, The River Town Saints and Brett Kissel, as well as headlining the Metcalfe Fair!

This is going to be a can’t-miss party with over the top entertainment! There will be a cash bar, raffle, door prize and 50/50 draw.

As an additional thank you, tickets for our land owners are available for a deeply discounted price of $10!

It’s important that you RSVP right away though so plans for dinner can be finalized. If you are a landowner, or know a landowner who has not been contacted yet, please spread the word or contact us at landowners@wcstai.com.

Prices

Land owner dinner

Land owners plus guest – free

Sledders – $25pp (per person)

Dinner plus Bash ‘n Brapp

Land owners and their guest – $10pp

Sledders – $40pp

Bash ‘n Brapp only (for sledders)

Early bird special – $15 (limited quantity)

Order online – $20pp

At the door – $30pp

 

Ordering tickets

Advance Bash ‘n Brapp tickets may be ordered online through Eventbrite (small service charge applies)

or by email money transfer (pick up ticket night of event). Please contact bashnbrapp@gmail.com to arrange transfer

 

 

Important Meeting! WCSTA AGM – Tuesday September 5th

Important Meeting! WCSTA AGM - Tuesday September 5th

WCSTA AGM 2015

Very important general meeting! We need a huge turnout.

This is a transition year for our club becoming part of District management under the MOTS (More On The Snow) program. And there is a potential for big changes to our club’s management with a very important election of officers. We need West Carleton Sledders to voice their opinions and concerns to make sure  the executive and volunteers can continue to make our club great. This year it is possible that major changes will occur to your Board of Directors and Officers.

We need your support at this one annual meeting.

Also, there will be an update on the great success we have had with securing the County Rail Line as a brand new trail. There has been a huge amount of work by several club executives (including all of you who voiced political support) to make this exciting project happen.

Please join us at the West Carleton Snowmobile Trails Association Annual General Meeting – Tuesday September 5th, 7:00pm, at the Kinburn Community Centre.

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 continuing to set the course for snowmobiling in West Carleton, and representation of our club within the OFSC. Many great things have been happening for our club, and you can really help out by getting involved!

So, please come out to the AGM and see what is going on with your local club. We are continuing to try to plan more fun and exciting things this year, but we need your help to make them happen! Get to know our dynamic team of volunteers, fellow snowmobilers and hard-working directors. Here is a list of some things we are doing now, along with some new ideas brought forward by current volunteers and board members.

  • Poker run in support of the Snowsuit Fund
  • Landowners appreciation dinner
  • Braap ’n Bash event with live entertainment
  • Trail side BBQ
  • Fund raising (selling raffle tickets, trail map advertising)
  • Family free weekend
  • Day and night group rides

Immediately following the AGM the newly appointed Board will commence with the election of President, Vice President and other Officers for the 2017-2018 season.

We hope to see you there!

 

May meeting postponed

Thank you landowners from WCSTA!
Notice: The WCSTA club meeting that would ordinarily be held tomorrow (May 2) has been postponed until further notice.
Please stay tuned for the next update.

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]