The Moose Mountain Snowmobile Club has been active since the 1980s according to the current president, Troy Foster. Through ups and downs of membership they currently have approximately 130 riders associated with their club.
Across the province there are approximately 60 clubs, which are all non-profit corporations run by volunteers. They ensure safe, groomed trails throughout the entire province. Foster explained one could ride from Gainsborough all the way to Candle Lake if they desired, so long as the snow was there.
Together the communities of Kipling, Windthorst, Corning, Stoughton, Kisbey, Arcola, Carlyle, and Kenosee Lake maintain a vast network of trails in the area. This includes both the 315 km found outside of Moose Mountain Provincial Park as well as the 124 km within the park. Though they maintain trails across these areas, the shelters and everything else in the park are taken care of by them.
Everything outside of the park, however, is their domain. They have seven shelters set up at various areas. All of the shelters are now new. They are a fair sized building, which are insulated, with a wood stove, and have solar powered lights.
The trails themselves are maintained by a couple individuals in each community. They put in thousands of volunteer hours each year to ensure these trails are up to provincial standards. On their 315 km of trail outside of the park there are about 31, 000 field markers set out. Identifying stops, turns, and upcoming road crossings they are important in ensuring a safe but fun adventure out on the trails.
There are about 12 people that put in much of the effort. They groom trails, ride the trails once a week to ensure they are up kept while using their own machines and their own gas to do so. Many people enjoy the trails and it is because of these few that it is possible.
This year the trails are many times better than last because there is actually snow on the ground.
"Last year didn't have any trails because didn't have any snow," Foster explained.
This year the three groomers have been out quite a bit. Every trail is open currently except for the one between Stoughton and Corning because of the increased oil activity in this area. Though, they are hoping to have it opened soon.
The clubs mostly get funding through a percentage of the amount paid to register a snowmobile each year. It used to come heavily from holding poker derbies; but, thankfully the club is able to get funds through the registration sales as the volunteers associated with the club are not plentiful enough to necessarily hold events.
Trail inspectors have been out this year and have given the Moose Mountain Snowmobile Club full marks. If trails don't meet the proper standards then points are deducted, which relates to the funding they receive each year from registration sales.
"A lot of guys in the club take a lot of pride in how they do the trails," Foster said.
Though they receive funding through this means they are forever thankful to people and businesses in communities that support them.
"We get businesses that volunteer shops to do maintenance and repair to groomers, and donate money directly to the club to help fund all of our expenses," Foster explained.
Foster gave an example of a new snow groomer costing around $350,000. They are currently running equipment over 20 years old and use much of their funds for maintenance and fuel for the groomers, as well as maintaining their shelters.
For avid snowmobilers in the area more information on the club can be found at www.mmsnowmobileclub.com. There are updates constantly being published as well as various offers from businesses in the areas, such as a deal at the Kenosee Inn currently being offered to members of the Moose Mountain Snowmobile Club.
They also have a Facebook page which allows them to keep in touch with riders and for riders to have access to club members.
Trail conditions can be found at www.sasksnow.com. Every club in the province sends in a report to this website and it is updated every Thursday at noon.
For people wishing to join the club meetings are held at various areas throughout the season, which can be found on their website. Anyone is welcome to attend these meetings and all are encouraged to consider joining the club if interested. Maps can also be found online or at a variety of businesses across the area.
