Due to deteriorated conditions all West Carleton trails are currently closed. Please watch the Interactive Trail Guide for updates and be respectful of our land owners by staying off of their property until we are able to reopen. Thanks!
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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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.
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.
St John Ambulance First Aid Course
Date: Dec 3 at Kinburn Community Centre 8:30 to 4:00 pm
WCSTA will offering a first aid course on Dec 3. Any of our groomer operators that are not already trained will be taking this course, and it is also a great idea for anyone who rides – especially in remote areas. This will be a one day St Johns Emergency First Aid course, geared toward snowmobilers and groomer operators.
The course will cover Emergency Scene Management, Shock, all CPRs (adult, child, infant), automated external defibrillator (AED), Severe Bleeding, Wound Care, Burns and Medical Conditions. There will be additional discussion and practice on other topics that may be relevant to snowmobilers.
Cost of the training is $109, and the Club will provide a complimentary pizza lunch.
If you would like to attend, please email contact@wcstai.com
An Update from the Ontario Federation of Snowmobile Clubs
(Barrie, ON November 4, 2016) – Many riders took advantage of savings on their 2017 Ontario Snowmobile Trail Permit and it’s clear that snowmobilers in Ontario are getting revved up for the 2016-17 snowmobiling season. WCSTA is working hard to ensure trails are prepped for when the snow comes and by all predictions thus far, it looks like this winter will be bringing lots of cold and snow, exactly what snowmobilers everywhere have been asking for.
There is still an opportunity for savings and snowmobilers can take advantage of $50 savings on their 2017 Ontario Seasonal Snowmobile Permit and $30 savings on their 2017 Ontario Classic Snowmobile Permit for sled model years 1999 and older. The permit gives riders access to any of the available 30,000km of trail connecting communities throughout the province. There is no better way to enjoy a winter full of adventure! This special rate is only available for a limited time and prices go up at midnight EST on December 1, 2016.
This year, all permit sales will take place online. “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
An Update from the Ontario Federation of Snowmobile Clubs
(Barrie, ON October 20, 2016) – While there are some people who are sad to say goodbye to summer, snowmobilers in Ontario are getting revved up for the 2016-17 snowmobiling season. West Carleton Snowmobile Trails Association is working hard to ensure trails are prepped for when the snow comes and by all predictions thus far, it looks like this winter will be bringing lots of cold and snow, exactly what snowmobilers everywhere have been asking for.
For the fourth year in a row, snowmobilers can take advantage of 30% savings on their 2017 Ontario Seasonal Snowmobile Permit. For the low price of $180 they can enjoy a winter full of adventure on any of the available 30,000km of trail connecting communities throughout the province. This early bird rate is only available for a limited time and prices go up at midnight EST on November 1, 2016. This year, all permit sales will take place online. “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
WCSTA 1st Annual Snowmobile Swap Meet
Saturday Oct. 15, 10am to 3pm
Kinburn Community Centre
Admission: $2
12 and under free
Wow. For our very first year, this is shaping up to be a big event!
The WCSTA Swap Meet is going to feature a HUGE Blow-Out Sale of Ski-Doo accessories with two tractor trailers full of new gear at blow out prices. Among local and not-so-local businesses participating will be George’s Marine and Sports, March Road Motorsports, Ottawa Argo (with the new WCSTA Argo Centaur groomer), Perth PowerSports and Urban Motorsports
Tickets will be on sale for the District 1 Raffle for 2 Yamahas and trailer, as well as WCSTA swag. And, of course indoor and outdoor swap tables, trailers full of parts, and the used sled corral!
There will be a barbecue going and we will have a big screen and a projector playing sledding videos inside the Beer Lounge!
The club is also looking for volunteers to help out at the show, so please email swapmeet@wcstai.com if you can lend a hand.
We hope to see everyone there – please spread the word. This is going to be a fantastic community event!
https://www.facebook.com/events/142517329497713/
Contact: swapmeet@wcstai.com
or:
Douglas VanderVelde
phone: 613-316-6199
Its 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!
Sledding is just around the corner and early indicators are pointing toward a great sledding season this year! In preparation for the installation of trail signage and markers, WCSTA will be holding its annual trail signage course on November 1, 2016, 6:00-7:00 PM in the Conference Room* at the Kinburn Community Centre. Correct signage is the cornerstone of the club’s risk management program and critical to safe sledding on our trails. The trails cannot be opened until this important work is completed.
If you are new to trail signage this season: a) THANKS for volunteering; and b) please plan to attend this course. Note that preparing the trails depends entirely on volunteers like you. If you just want to help out but aren’t sure where to start, feel free to come to the training and we will happily pair you up with an experienced installer.
If you cannot make this training, or have any questions contact the director responsible for risk management at safesledding@wcstai.com
*The conference room is located at the southwest end of the building (closest to the soccer fields). It is NOT the room near the bar nor the large hall.