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.

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!

 

Signage Training Nov. 1, 2016

snowmobile-trail-signage

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.

First Meeting of the Season

WCSTA Club Meeting - Oct. 20, 2015 @ Kinburn Community Centre | Kinburn | Ontario | Canada

Please join us at the West Carleton Snowmobile Trails Association September club meeting – to be held on Tuesday September 6th, 7:00pm, in the board room at the Kinburn Community Centre (doors to the left of the main entrance).

Important changes are coming to snowmobiling in Ontario to ensure its sustainability. The first phase of this was the Framework for Change, which has been implemented over the last few years. The next phase, “More on the Snow (MOTS)” is being voted on at the OFSC AGM in September. Your understanding of these changes is very important to us and at our next WCSTA meeting on Tuesday, September 6, 2016 we will be discussing how we want our delegates to vote. If you can, please make a special effort to come to our meeting to learn more about MOTS.

The club is currently looking for volunteer coordinators, people to help with events, brushing, signage and other volunteer positions. Have any special skills that you might be willing to share to help make our club, our trails and our events even better? Please contact us.

Signage and pre-season trail work will also be key topics at this meeting. If you are one of the many people who adopted a section of trail last season, or if you would like to find out how you can help get our trails ready for the upcoming season we encourage you to join us. We hope to see you there!

WCSTA AGM – Tuesday May 3, 2016

WCSTA AGM - Tuesday May 3, 2016

WCSTA AGM 2015

Please join us at the West Carleton Snowmobile Trails Association Annual General Meeting – to be held on Tuesday May 3rd, 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 setting the course for snowmobiling in West Carleton, and representation of our club within the OFSC for next season.

Come out to see what is going on with your local club. We have a new clubhouse and will be doing many more fun and exciting things next year. Come out and join our dynamic team of fellow snowmobilers. 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
Trail side BBQ
Swap meet (new for 2016/17 season)
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 2016-2017 season.

We hope to see you there!

 

WCSTA Awards Nominations

WCSTA volunteers opening new trailHello everyone,

WCSTA will be taking nominations for the following end of year awards. If you have someone you would like to nominate, please email contact@wcstai.com with a description of the wonderful things they did to help the club

Your board of directors will be voting on this in one weeks time, so get them in please. There will be some prizes awarded……

1. WC Volunteer of the Year

2. WC Family of the Year

3. WC Safe Snowmobiling Ambassador

4. WC Outstanding Snowmobile Promotion

5. WC Rookie Volunteer of the Year

6. WC Trail Patroller of the Year

Thanks and Happy Easter Weekend!

Trails are now closed – thank you!

Spring thaw - Trails Closed

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, 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 an 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.

We are actively looking to fill a number of roles within the West Carleton club, as well as looking for individuals, groups or families to ‘adopt’ sections of trail and help with signing and maintenance of them. If you are interested in helping out, please let us know.

Trail Patrol Training Feb. 4th

OFSC West Carleton trail patrol

Hello Everyone,
We will be offering a training course for new trail patrollers.
Looking for people who love snowmobiling and are dedicated to the fun it is for everyone.
Easy 1.5 hour course, Looking for ambassadors

Please let us know ASAP on facebook or email westcarletonpokerrun@gmail.com for any questions you may have.

Come out and join our team!

Course is at our new Club House 🙂

WCSTA Club Meeting Updates

WCSTA Clubhouse at Kinburn Community Centre
Please join us for the West Carleton Snowmobile Trails Association first club meeting of the new year, Tuesday evening (January 5th) in the board room at the Kinburn Community Centre (doors to the left of the main entrance). The meeting will start at 7:30, rather than regularly scheduled time of 7:00pm.

Although unconfirmed at the present moment, we are hoping to have the club’s new Argo Centaur groomer available for a sneak peek prior to the meeting! This is the culmination of hundreds of hours of research, planning and paperwork by club volunteers, and earmarks the start of an exciting new era for WCSTA.

The club is currently looking for volunteer coordinators, people to help with events, brushing, signage and other volunteer positions. Have any special skills that you might be willing to share to help make our club, our trails and our events even better? Please come and introduce yourself at a meeting, or  contact us.

With some cold weather in the forecast early this week, we are all hoping trail opening will be imminent as our swamps and waterways freeze over.

We hope to see you at the meeting!