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Posted:
22-10-10
Source: Anita Locke,
Lakefield Herald, January 15th, 2010
The Paudash Trail Blazers Snowmobile Club (PTBSC),
established in 1978, has been providing quality
snowmobiling opportunities to enthusiasts for over 30
years. With over 380 km of groomed trails, half of those
located in the Township of North Kawartha, tens of
thousands of riders travel through the beautiful winter
scenery, enjoy the company of fellow sledders and
participate in a number of activities hosted by the
club. The PTBSC trails tie into the provincial
network which offers thousands of kilometers of trails.
In the early years of the PTBSC, landowners, who were
neighbours, friends and snowmobilers, were approached
and permission was granted to build trails on their
private property, a concept which three decades later is
still the primary basis for snowmobiling. The club is in
a very unique position in Ontario. Besides being one of
the largest single, non-amalgamated clubs in Ontario, it
has one of the largest group of private landowners who
support the trail network.
Over the years, trail grooming equipment has been
purchased and the club continues to upgrade its grooming
equipment. The most recent acquisitions include a pair
of New Holland – Ford Surtrack grooming tractors and
Mogul Master drags.
In the early 1980s a clubhouse, affectionately known as
the “Saunder Inn” was constructed. It is a place
where snowmobilers on the Paudash trail system can rest,
chat with other snowmobilers and get warm. The
club leased a parcel of land from the Ministry of
Natural Resources. The property was eventually purchased
from the MNR and in addition to the clubhouse, repair
and storage facilities have been built. The
Paudash Clubhouse is located approximately a half hour
drive north of Apsley. The main clubhouse, which
includes a woodstove, outhouses, a few tables and
electricity for interior and exterior lighting is kept
open 24/7 during the snowmobile season in case of a need
for emergency shelter. There is also a guestbook and
trail guides.
The club has computerized its membership and landowner
databases, introduced a toll free 1-800 number and
improved membership communication through annual
newsletters. The club also has a comprehensive
online presence, with a website that outlines the
history of the club, contact information, trail
conditions and status, links to other information for
snowmobile enthusiasts and much more.
In 2006, the club was awarded the Ted Day Communications
Award by the Ontario Federation of Snowmobile Clubs for
excellence in contributions to the newsletter and
website.
The club continues to stand as one of the largest
independent snowmobile clubs in Canada and leads by
example through efforts including Driver Training, Trail
Patrol and other programs. There are a number of
volunteers who act as Trail Patrols. These people
promote safe sledding, sell trail permits on the trail,
hand out trail maps, offer assistance to people who are
lost, represent the landowners, act as public relations
officers, inform trail groomers of any hazards on the
trails, and other duties.
A trail permit is required to travel on the trails. The
cost is $250 for the season. The PTBSC, alone, sells
1,600 to 1,700 permits through the club. Throughout the
2009-2010 season, the PTBSC is offering driver training
courses. Two have already been completed, and two more
will be offered before the end of the current season.
To legally snowmobile in Ontario, operators must have a
valid driver’s license, proof of snowmobile ownership,
registration complete with current validation tag,
insurance and helmets. An Ontario Trail Permit is
required to travel on Ontario Federation of Snowmobile
Clubs (OFSC) Prescribed Trails. Many of the same
rules of the road that apply to motor vehicle drivers
are also the rules of the trails for snowmobile
operators. Failure to comply with these rules carries
similar penalties, including possible fines, loss of
drivers license, criminal charges and/or imprisonment.
The courses are open to anyone 12 years of age and older
who does not have a valid Ontario driver’s license of
any class and who wishes to obtain the Ontario “Snow
Vehicle Operator’s License” or for those wishing to
obtain a safety certificate from the MTO. The
Peterborough Lions Club and Township of North Kawartha
are sponsoring these training sessions by providing free
use of the community centres. The next session will be
held January 16, 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. at the
Peterborough Lions Centre (Burnham Street,
Peterborough). To pre-register call Bill Ripley at (705)
745-8466.
The final session will be presented February 20 at
Wilson Park Community Centre, Woodview. To pre-register
call Dave Wease at (705) 654-3436. This session is being
run in conjunction with the Stoney Lake Snoriders and is
not specifically the Paudash Club. The cost of the
course is $30 per person.
The Paudash Club organizes a number of special events
throughout the sledding season, including its annual
Club BBQ and Cookout, which is scheduled for Saturday,
February 6.
For more information:
Contact the Paudash Trail Blazers Snowmobile Club
P.O. Box 130, Apsley, Ontario K0L 1A0.
Phone: (705) 656-2292 Fax: (705) 656-2602 or toll free:
1-800-385-8644.
Email:
info@paudashtrailblazers.on.ca
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