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What a week disappointment on the OFSC press release same old reteric,it's up to the clubs. Most clubs don't have the ability to understand the underwriting of the LUP's .Some districts do.This is the beginning of the end.As a 50 yr snowmachiner and 30 yr volunteer including all positions on the executive. The continued lack of support from the handsomely paid hands in Barrie has become to much.This situation should have been addressed last year when it became apparent.Shame on the payed staff in Barrie for leaving this to the clubs. Off to do a bridge repair at dawn,this will be my last one.

Same old $hit... lay the BS on the club/ volunteer and district....if u haven looked at your insurance in the last 20yrs or made changes for the changing times,time to take of those rose coloured glasses and put the bottle down....WE the volunteers are on the front line for this activity/sport,and when we need help this is the $hit that comes down the pipeline....and we wonder why club membership is going backwards and when clubs have no bodies we have no snowmobiling....IMO just a matter of time.

Who wants you to do 8 hrs max? Some of our routes were 14 hours but the new to us groomer shaves that down to under 10. Twice the HP, better front blade. better more responsive drag. Most of our groomer operators are professional truck drivers, 13 hours is a max day by MTO standards, or farmers that run equipment for any hours needed, sometimes we are both. We are all more than capable of safely operating the groomer for this length of time, and we are all more than man enough to admit when it's time to stop, or make a phone call to swap out a driver if needed. Where does this restriction come from? As for an abstract, I'm very happy to offer mine up. Everyone operating a groomer should have an abstract done at least yearly. I ride my snowmobile around these operators...don't need a questionable cowboy on the trails with a 9 foot wide weapon.

Has to be on point tonight. Took a ride from home here in Marmora with the intent to run to Bancroft and back. Ran into Old HAstings groomer at St ola and turned around. The whole ride I had to be on high alert as the deer were moving along side the E/B106. Never seen so many in all my life in a 2 hour span, saw 22 in total. The majority were Does and young ones but a few nice Bucks in there as well. Came close to hitting a few as they went nuts as the SRX approached. The whole ride there and back not one other sled but also ran into CHSC groomer heading north at Robinson road. 22 deer, 2 groomers and no other sleds made for a nice ride.

Just a heads up that if you want to continue from the gany up the rail line .. there is no longer gas in Bethany. Found that out tonight ..

I am in the middle of one of these negotiations. The press release is all true from the one example I am in.. .. simply horrible timing to do such a review. April would have a been a great month to start this. More stress and hassle for the few core volunteers that run the trails.... I just spent my lunch at work dealing with updates around this .. sometimes I ask myself why.

Thanks for the post. I still find it odd they waited this long just to say that, and why they couldn't post something to the same effect much earlier.

I cannot express my pride in the crew that make up the South Seguin. It has been a bit of a discouraging year these folks never gave up. Last year we lost our groomer base with the sale of Alves Auto center. A committee was formed and worked tirelessly to look at options. With a very generous offer from The new owners at the Jolly Roger/Super 8 the old original groomer base was offered up. It took tireless work by the crew but they got it done in style. Bridge problems on the Seguin were the sour taste of the year. The decking on several bridges had suddenly gone to the consistency of wet corn flakes and some special person had fallen through bridge 5 in what looked like a tandem truck failing the bridge. Working with our partners Park to Park as well as the OFSC and PSSD aswell as some cash from SSSC the bridges are safe again. There will be more bridge repairs and replacements in the future. Our Tucker was extremely tired and had repeatadly failed on us last year. Thank you OFSC and PSSD for the replacement rejuvenated Tucker never in my over 30 years with the OFSC have they ever had our back like today. With repeated windstorms and an aging forest windfalls were at an all time high crews were out all fall clearing the trees and getting it done. The Drags are both old and well worn. Joe rebuilt them both professionally and well. Thank You Joe ! I have been with the South Seguin since 1991 and the HCSA for 8 years before that. I have never ever seen a better crew To the Directors ,executive groomers ,volunteers,landowners and supporters I am beyond proud of all of you. Bill Park

Hello Everyone, I am trying to plan a loop for a trip in a few weeks. Previous years I have done official loops (RAP, NWOSTA) last year I did Abitibiti Canyon-Timmins-New Liskeard. This year Im looking at a 4 day loop Cochrane-Hearst-Dubreuilville-Chapleau and I would love any input/tips anyone has on any of it: Total - 1,222km Day 0 Trailer to Cochrane Night Stay: Best Western Swan Castle Inn Night Eat: The Ice hut Bar & Grill Day 1 - Thurs - 277km Cochrane to Hearst Breaky @ Best Western Swan Castle Inn (opens at ??am) Gas up at Kapuskasing Shell 154km Lunch: Papa Franco's Night Gas: Hearst Shell Night Stay: Companion Motel (heated sled storage $12) Night Eat: Companion Motel (10pm) Day 2 - Fri - 307km Hearst to Dubreuilville Breaky @ Companion Motel (opens at 6am) Gas up at Hornepayne Esso 159km Lunch: Hornepayne Cindy's This & That Night Gas: Dubreuilville Night Stay: Magpie Relay (heated sled storage) Night Eat: Lol Resto Bar (2am) Day 3 - Sat - 277km Dubreuilville to Chapleau Breaky @ Lol Resto Bar?? (opens @ 8:30am) Gas & Lunch at Halfway Haven 157km Night Gas: Chapleau Esso Night Stay: Chapleau Inn and suites Night Eat: Dominion Family Restaurant (10pm) Day 4 - Sun - 361km Chapleau to Cochrane Breaky @ Dominion Family Restaurant (opens @ 4:30am) Gas up at Foleyet 134km Gas up & Lunch at Timmins Esso 130km Pack up & Trailer home

Hi Folks, have been following the site for a while so I thought I would join. I am relatively new to sledding started two years ago at a later age I am 56, now have two sleds and it has been a great way to get out and enjoy winter and see amazing places and meet a lot of new people. I got my family riding as well, 3 out of 4 anyway. Last year put on 5000km, so I guess I am officially hooked, about 1600km so far this year. Looking forward to a long safe season...

Haliburton area would be fine. Calling for 25 cm’s up three,

Northern Corridor Du Nord...

In cochrane now and the west side is open, fellows next door at the West away rode the west side returning , said it was a little choppy for a small portion the rest they said was perfectly groomed and they were the only ones that had been on the freshly groomed portion!!

???

Three quarter is better then an half, but like to it fully open

I see its part way open now on the ITG..

I believe there was a clause in the old Land use agreement, that had been in there for a long time, and made it possible for companies like CP, Hydro etc to sign off on it. I think the OFSC insurer made them take that out, and have new LUP' s signed, which is where the problem lies currently. so, some companies will not sign the new LUP without that clause, and the OFSC / Insurer will not put it back in because of what happened with CP. and how it could leave clubs and volunteers on the Hook if they got sued. So, in a way, the OFSC statement is correct. The insurance hasn't changed, but they had to change the LUP so Insurance would cover the liability, and not clubs or its members. And what they are calling the "review process" stemmed from the court case with CP.

Thanks Jason for trying to fill in the blanks. This scenario certainly makes sense and explains the urgency of OFSC wanting to revise the LUP. Somewhat disingenuous of OFSC Press Release saying the Insurance Policy hasn’t changed in 20 years, which is probably true, but neglecting to say that recent liability claim experience has made it absolutely necessary to amend the LUP Agreement in order to better protect OFSC Volunteers and the OFSC from claims resulting from activities not directly related to snowmobiling or outside winter season. Below is what they said yesterday and it is a little confusing about “clubs have ... entered into agreements” which appears to put the onus on clubs being at fault. Just my interpretation, others may chime in to clarify or correct. “Contrary to claims on various social media platforms, THERE HAS BEEN NO CHANGE to the OFSC insurance coverage in 20 years. Any information stating our coverage has been altered is false. The truth is, some clubs have recently, through a review process, discovered they have entered into agreements which expose them to liability activities completely unrelated to snowmobile trail operations. The OFSC does not wish to see any volunteer exposed to such risk.”

All the information i was able to gather, is just what people posted on the net. No idea if it is all true, nor do i have any insider type information. - From what i have read: a snowmobile was struck by a train on CP property, that person died. It went to court, CP was able to wash there hands of it because of a clause the OFSC / insurer had in there previous land use agreement. After the court proceedings, the Insurer / OFSC removed that section of wording. CP now refuses to sign the new one because that clause was removed, leaving them open for liability. I think the old wording, left the OFSC clubs and Volunteers at risk of some liability. As far as i know, the court case finished in October, which is the reason for the crappy timing and scrambling to get new agreements in place with all land owners and Municipalities..

More snow is always needed!

Groups have been cancelling trip plans that use the D201F. Too many unknowns about the trail status at this time. Washouts, trees down, lack of volunteers. Chad and I have been up there twice clearing trees. Black Creek also had a crew out. No news from the Sault Trail Blazers on this route, mind you, the hard-working volunteers are continuing the battle with the recent ice storm to open the D trail to Searchmont from the Sault. We are still booked for Dunlop Lodge on Feb 7-8th weekend.

Will see how it pans out. CHEX is forecasting for another good dumping here. From what I saw in Whitney & LSP today, I don't think they need anymore snow LOL.

They are too busy getting driver abstracts for volunteers to be bothered with real trail issues, Ive been in this game for a long time and I am sick and tired of the crap that comes down the pipeline. They do a great job of passing the buck when it counts though!

Thank you for your hard work

i live on pigeon lake. Lots of riders out.

Yes I can see that being a big problem for next year, volunteer burn out after all this! I feel sorry for hard working clubs and volunteers! Many had to go out and get new permission and to re clear land to setup reroutes around affected area’s that got shut down. Thank you to those involved for giving us best possible trails in each area, this winter.

if you want to drive 1/2 hour north to Pidgeon lake east of Lindsey 5 or 6 of us are heading out for the day your welcome to join us meeting around 930 am

ZR, I can’t ride tomorrow but we have to get a ride in sometime this season. Been too long

It would have been nice to know before we all bought Permits for the year! It all came to light after Dec 1st! Pretty sneaky on the OFSC part!

You can't legislate against stupidity &/or the use of common sense!

Thanks, Daryl. We know you're battling this BS. There's a LOT of hate towards OFSC on line right now. Deservedly so, if what I'm hearing is true. I believe the word best used is "Shenanigans".

As they said, OFSC Head office and the Governors do follow social media closely and obviously they heard clearly that a clarification was needed as to what is happening.

This is from my personal stash, so please be carefull with it.

Every ride out is a good ride! We were just sick of waiting for winter to arrive this year. It’s a tad late this year, so we decided to put them up for sale as we were getting a little discouraged and didn’t think we would get to use them. Last year we were out December 12th for our first ride. But we’re all good now lol, got our fix and now want more!

I’ve cut a few before. Bring it inside to warm up, rough cut with tin snips, and finish with a bench belt sander. You can reuse the trim if it comes off clean, but I do remember seeing trim for sale at royal years ago if you need new.

X 1000. Stay on your side and don’t signal me last sled if you can’t keep it straight. Lift hands off bars and almost crash to indicate what you have no clue behind you is.

Exactly!

Too fast = the speed at which you can no longer keep the sled on your side of the trail..............period!!

What I notice is riders get lazy when they are in a group following someone. They think it is safe to cut corners sharp, ride in middle of trail and ride faster when they are behind there buddy. Gets dangerous when group gets spread out abit and on coming riders approach. When I see a rider hold up his glove with 3 or more sleds I know right away to get off trail and wait in a safe spot, especially if I can’t see any sleds coming. I know they will be coming at me at a high rate of speed in middle of trail and might possibly slide thru a corner and hit me (that happened to me in Dorset and I was on my side of trail). One guy slid into me and then his buddy did same thing for a three sled pile up.

That's why I cherish Monday to Thursday riding. Less traffic. I stop almost at blind corners now on weekends.

always good to see the old girl caked with snow!

Ĺ 103 one of my favorite little loops, leave cottage A trail south to A103 over to A106c to C trail up to smooth rock falls back on A to home great day ride for wife and I to get some fresh air

A priority that will require significant engineering and environmental impact studies. Plus the whole route will need to be upgraded for higher speed trains. And don’t forget the overpasses that will need to be built. This is a dream at best for the Liberals.

Just saw the Barrie news... All around Georgian Bay from Owen Sound south, Barrie around Midland Penetang, up to north of Parry Sound and then east into Muskoka has a severe freezing rain warning.

Not enough snow and mild temps +2 at the moment and calling for rain tonight. Took a quick boot on our lake,complete slush fest. Gang showing up tonight for our annual lake hockey weekend called them all up and told them to bring their water shoes instead. Crew is working hard to get things going but Mother Nature is working against them. 2020 season not look up as of yet in our area.

Calling for rain here in Kitchener again. That will be end of base we have I think. Hopefully central ontario misses rain this time.

Seems he took them off trail on to a known dangerous section of the lake. Locals interviewed were pretty angry about a "trusted" "guide" gave their area a bad name. Apparently, all it takes to become a guide is an ad and maybe a $10 box of business cards. The part that pisses me off ( my skiing background makes sledding look like a lark...) is that the tourists didn't do the dumb move, they tried to do things right, and got screwed by a scam artist. Lowest form of life.

Something doesn’t seem right. This stuff always seems to happen at worst possible time. Hopefully it doesn’t affect permit sales next season. Wait and see.