Winter, in full force, finally arrived!    On Valentine’s Day, the Rangeley area got about 35 inches of new light fluffy snow.  Not the ideal type of snow for grooming, but nevertheless, it is snow!  The week following was school vacation week and snowmobile traffic was very heavy.  It was difficult to keep the trails groomed with all the traffic and the powdery-type snow was just being blown off the trails.  Conditions got much better with warmer temps to put a little moisture in the snow and the riding right now is super!!! 

As I sit here typing this newsletter, it is snowing, we are expecting up to 24 inches of heavier snow which will be much easier to get groomed and keep on the trails.  So, if you’ve been itching to ride, waiting for ideal conditions, I would say that we can expect good riding for the next few weeks.   Come on up to Rangeley and ride, ride, ride!!

The Board of Directors of the RLSC voted to change the date for Snodeo 2008 to the last weekend in January hoping for more wintery conditions.  The date for Snodeo will be the 24^th, 25^th and 26^th of January, 2008.  If you made reservations for next year’s Snodeo, you should call and change the date as soon as possible.

We still have some seats left for the lobster and steak dinner/meeting on Saturday evening, March 10^th.  Dinner will be served at 6:30 PM and the meeting will follow.  We need volunteers to help with the cooking outside.  If you are interested in helping, let us know.  You can call Gail at 864-9047 or e-mail info@rangeleysnowmobile.com.  Time is getting short for reservations, so if you decide you’d like to attend, get in touch with me and make your reservation, you can pay at the door. 

Harvey Chesley, President of the Maine Snowmobile Association and Director of The Pine Tree Camp will join us at the steak and lobster dinner.  Harvey will be doing a presentation of how the Snowmobile Clubs assist the Pine Tree Camp.  For those of you who know nothing about the Camp, it is located in Belgrade, Maine and is a camp for disabled children.  You will be amazed at the things they do when you hear Harvey’s presentation.   There is a possibility that Bob Meyers, Executive Director of the MSA will also be attending our dinner.  This will be a great time for anyone to ask questions regarding the operations of the MSA and some of the new problems they are trying to solve.  One key issue that should be brought up for discussion is the possibility that everyone registering a sled in the State of Maine be required to join a club or pay additional registration fees.   This is how the New Hampshire Snowmobile Association operates.  It would be an interesting discussion to hear your ideas and Bob and Harvey can certainly fill you in on some of the pros and cons with this plan.

On February 25^th, The Rangeley Lake Snowmobile Club hosted Congressmen Tom Allen and Mike Michaud.  Jean Noyes of Niboban Camps generously donated lodging for the Congressmen and their aides, along with Bob Meyers, Harvey Chesley  amd Paul Davis from the MSA.  We went to dinner on Saturday evening .  On Sunday we took the dignitaries for a ride on sleds rented at Rivers Edge.  They were quite impressed with our trail system and promised to return in the future.   Steven and Mac Dudley, club secretary and Vince Banaitis guided them on their trip.  

Congressmen Mike Michaud and Tom Allen

Congressmen Tom Allen and Mike Michaud toured the RLSC Sargent Trail System on Sunday, 2/25/07.  Present at the group ride were (left to right): on sled: Congressman Tom Allen & wife, Diana; in rear - Kyle Noonan, Tom's Aide; Harvey Chesley, President MSA; Paul Davis, Vice Pres. MSA; Steve and Mac Dudley, RLSC; Bob Meyers, Exec. Dir., MSA; Congressman Mike Michaud. Present but not in photo, club secretary and Vince Banaitis.

It’s still snowing, get out your gear and get ready for some great riding!  The snow came late so enjoy it before it’s gone.  It’s a long wait to next winter…………..

Until next month………    club secretary

Please visit our Sponsors page to check out businesses who have donated or pledged to donate to our grooming and trail maintenance program for this season. Be sure to patronize these businesses when in the area. It is due to their donations that we have the great riding conditions we all enjoy!