Trail Update
Sherri Luff: January, 2025
Hello Everyone,
Our volunteers and groomers are out on the trails working with the snow that we've had. There are wet spots, that even with the cold temperatures, the groomer is breaking through. Unfortunately the trails will be scratchy with bare spots as we need fresh snow.
The trail from the Havelock T to Stoney Lake, 569 north will not likely open this year. We have lost landowner permission in a couple of spots and we will have to reroute. Given the enormous work this will involve it will remain closed.
There have been messages asking about staking Rice Lake. We have heard that even with the cold temperatures the current is stronger this year and there are still open areas of water, ice huts taking on water and pressure cracks forming. Once our land trail work is done we will check the situation and determine if it is safe to stake. We need 10 to 12 inches in the middle.
Thank you for your patience. We are doing our best.
Important Information Regarding the ITG
RLSD Team: December, 2024
December 1st marks the official launch of the OFSC Interactive Trail Guide and Go Snowmobiling Ontario App and you will notice it looks different than it has in the past. We’d like to take this time to remind you about an extensive initiative that has been in progress throughout the Spring, Summer, and Fall and will continue throughout the winter.
In the spring, OFSC Club volunteers started work on the most significant trail data project in the history of our Federation. This initiative utilizes precise GPS data collected during our grooming activities to realign our digital trail footprint. Given the vast size of our network, our volunteers have had a notably busy offseason with work continuing as we prepare for the arrival of winter.
In addition all Land Use Agreements had to be reviewed and updated and the trails cannot be shown on the Interactive Trail Guide unless they are in place. This is a huge undertaking, especially for our club as all of our trails go through a landowner's property. If you don't see all our trails, don't worry, as the agreements are finalized they will become visible on the ITG.
Thank you to all the landowners for their cooperation in this matter.
Just a friendly reminder that the falling of snow does not mean trails will be open right away. The real work begins then. The groomer must travel all trails to pack down the snow to get a good base, otherwise you'll be riding on dirt. As this occurs trail maintenance begins as many of our trails are only accessible by the groomer or a snowmobile. Often we find trees or branches down or trails damaged by fourwheelers, who by the way aren't allowed on our trails. All signage must be in place before we can open a trail as well. Also some farmers, who allow us access, are still taking off crops or must move their livestock.
Please be patient. We too want to get out on the trails.
Volunteers are always welcome to assist with getting trails open faster.
If interested contact Nathan Jackson at 705-872-1353.