Volunteers – The Unsung Heroes of Snowmobiling

I’ve learned over the years that during the course of your life you pretty much come across two basic types of people – positive and negative. For the most part, just about everyone you ever meet will fit into one of these two basic categories. Some people make things work, some find reasons it won’t work. Some have a can-do attitude, some have a can’t-do attitude. I’m sure you know some of both types, they’re all around us. Personally, I chose to associate with the positive types, those who can and do make things happen.

An old friend once told me, “Do not worry about whether the sun will rise or not tomorrow. Instead, be prepared to enjoy it.” Wise words, indeed.

This basic premise also applies to snowmobiling. We have those who think it might never snow again, and those who anxiously await for its arrival. I tend to believe that most every one of us falls into the second group here.

Most of us will recognize the fact that weather can be fickle. I tell people there is no such thing as “normal” weather, only “average”. Meaning weather is always weird, and it is tough to determine what is normal and what is abnormal. Anytime it seems unusual, we can look at long-term averages and accurately state this is not typical, but past that it is a tough call.

Snowmobilers are so very dependent on mother nature to enjoy our sport, but even if it doesn’t snow in a particular area for an entire winter, or two, there is a whole bunch of work that needs to be done just to be ready. Trail groomers do not sit there waiting for the ground to freeze and a foot of snow to fall – if they did we would have no trails to ride. Before it ever snows, there are hours upon hours of prep work that needs to be done so that when the snow does fall, the groomers can go out and work the snow into trails.

The list is long – from removing overgrown brush to cutting fallen trees out of the way to putting posts into the ground and mounting trail signs, to installing culverts and building bridges, to securing easements for the many landowners, private and public, to all of the standing costs involved with having a groomer tractor and drag ready to go at a moment’s notice, to all of the administrative work and grant applications and fundraising to have enough money in the bank to pay for the posts, signs, gasoline and diesel fuel, any and all of it. Sounds like a lot of work, doesn’t it? It is, and most of it is done by people who do not get paid to do it. Yep, volunteers – the unsung heroes of our sport.

There are two types of people you will run across in snowmobiling – those who help get it done, and those who sit back and let someone else do the work. Some contribute their time, some contribute their money. Some buy trail permits whether it snows or not, because they know the money is needed just to make sure the clubs have a chance to be ready for when it does snow.

Which one are you?

Snowmobile clubs everywhere need your help. Donate your time and money, join their clubs, buy trail permits and renew sled registrations – even if it doesn’t snow in a given season. Be one that helps make good things happen.

Photo: Lake Sunapee Snowmobile Club – New Hampshire

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