More packing today. All 3 groomers are out! Lots of work ahead for our operators to get trails packed. Please be patient. So many snowmobilers riding on closed trails today and even partially opening private landowners gates to get through!! Not what we like to see nor do our landowners!!
Please refer to the OFSC ITG to see where you can ride. We do have some colour other than red and will do our best to continue to get more colour changes this week.
Update: the snow storm has arrived to our area! The Gilbert was out today to begin packing trails. It will take our 3 groomers a few days to get all the trails packed so please remain patient as we will do our best to get out there and going! Our operators will be happy to get out and have some snow to work with. 😃🚜 A week ago it was pouring rain....today lots of snow! Crazy weather!
Please refer to the OFSC ITG for where you can ride.
The upcoming forecast shows some cold and snow! 🥶 Let’s hope both will be enough for us to get our groomers rolling. Nothing much to work with after last weekends rain! Looking back to last season, we didn’t start grooming until January 23rd.
A message from our ODSC President:
“Well, not quite shaping up to be a banner year just yet, but keep the dream alive!
As always we are working with what we have available and continuing to get our exercise as we jump through our many proverbial hoops to keep the trails open!!!
Thought I would pass along an update and some details as to some of the issues and concerns we have going on this year.....besides just the weather!
B105C - Uhthoff Trail Orillia-Coldwater
There has been some bridge construction going on this year along by the township. They have invested a significant amount of money in to the 2 of 5 bridges thus far. As with many construction projects of this nature the end date was delayed many times, so we were a little late being allowed to open the gates and get people through. Please use caution around the construction zones, as minor work and cleanup may continue.
B205C Moonstone - NO ACCESS Through Moonstone for the 2020 season!
We have had some issues and communications about the snowmobile trail over the past many years within the town of Moonstone. It has been an ongoing concern for many years, mostly dealing with issues of snowmobilers on the roads, which is an unfortunate sign of the times as urban development continues. The towns people have been quite vocal to the township, council and of course the private landowners in the area, where a trail may work well and not disrupt the peaceful nature of the town.
So there is simply no passage through Moonstone at this time. There are road runs to get around, but they are very long and not great options, so these will not be marked.
Please plan your trips accordingly.
If you are a snowmobiler and live in the Moonstone area, your options to get out of town and get to the trails are a little limited for this year. Please feel free to comment and/or contact your township office, as in most situations, they will never hear the up sides of having a controlled access, maintained trail servicing their community.
204 Trail Heading to Gravenhurst
At last check the Blue Swing Bridge in Hamlet is getting very close to completion, and the Snowcrest Riders Club in Gravenhurst has marked some trails around some private land issues for access to Gravenhurst this year. So we remain hopeful for this option.
B Trail North to Gravenhurst - East of Washago
The B trail north of Brooks Bridge, which is the large cement bridge at the Black River north of Sebright. This trail is expected to be marked by the amazing volunteers of the Gravenhurst club along the roadside, along 6 and up Houseys Rapids Rd. Thus getting to the Summerland Store (Blue building) by a new trail this year. It is expected to be mostly off the road surface, so may serve as a more long term solution as the Private Landowner north of Lewisham Rd does not want further passage for the trail to the east end of Riley Lake.
B Trail - Orillia, West of Hwy 11/ Hwy 12 crossing
As many have seen there is a fancy new intersection at Hwy 12 and Fairgrounds Rd/Atlantis Dr. Although the MTO has given us permission to cross east of this or closer to the gas pipeline we have lost our access across private property up to this point.
Please do your best safely use the intersection for crossing for this year and follow standard driving rules for crossing at this intersection.
DO NOT, by any means use the school property at all, for any reason. Please stay out of the way and off school property and away from the crossing guard area especially during school hours. Trust me, this will close the trail instantly if this happens, so if you see someone abusing the privilege, let us know, let them know, pass the word...its our future.
B trail Gas Pipeline west of Westridge
With the continued development and new construction on the gas pipeline trail, there are sharp berms and expensive erosion control structures in use down the gas pipeline trail west of WestRidge. Unfortunately, the groomer cannot get over these safely this year, so we are forced to road run along Bass Lake Sd Rd to Line 14. At this point we can pop down for a small section of trail before once again popping back on to Bass Lake Sd Rd at Line 12.
Please be very courteous to walkers and homeowners along this stretch of roadway. A packed in trail is not what they want in front of their homes and driveways, and a packed icy ditch does not drain properly in the springtime and can cause severe flooding.
203 north of Hwy 11, long road run bypass to 15/16th Sd Rd
This is unfortunate but as the farms continue to develop there is less and less access away from the roads, so we are still in discussion and looking for ways around some of these issues.
In General!
Please be courteous to all walkers, dog walkers, horseback riders, vehicles, landowners and everyone else out enjoying the great outdoors. Slow down, proceed with caution. Even though you have control of the vehicle, they don't know that, and dogs on a multi use trail or roadside may be very unpredictable!!! Trust me when I say, those stories get around, town council, social media....this does not help our cause to keep the trails opened!
I realize this is a long explanation, but thought I would pass along our situation.
Please remember to thank our many gracious landowners and many fabulous volunteers that allow us the pleasure of using the trails we do have!
It takes many hours of work to prep and cleanup the trails, regardless of the weather and the duration of the season. Remember we are all doing this just for fun, so let's enjoy it together!!!”
Thanks very much,
Happy Trails!!
ROB
Yup this is how our season has been so far!! 🥴
Let’s hope we get another dump of snow soon and some cold weather! 🥶