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North of Sault Ste Marie A beautiful photo taken by my friend Joey Lethbridge showing how the winter is starting to shape up in the mountains.

Contrarily to years past, i wouldnt want to take the risk of pre planning and deposits on any areas to ride till at least December as i believe things will change in some areas before then. Colds and flu along with the virus will only complicate things for the officials and more closures or lockdowns will be imposed due to the still much unknown. As far as grooming operators goes, I can see having to add disinfecting wiping down of all in cab/touch point areas before handing off the machine to another operator. Districts will have to allow for more time for this on top of doing pre and post trip checks etc. If you are doing your trips just try to bring disinfecting wipes and sanitizer with you. heck I even wipe down a timmies coffee cup with one before drinking from it, better to be safe than sorry. Coming back into the truck i have my sanitizer in my centre console and give a squirt in the hands before even touching my face or to take the mask off and even before touching the door handle to close the door. Yes maybe a bit extreme but again id rather be over cautious than not. We will have a good season ahead just have to change some things and use common sense although i know common sense isnt that common now a days. Also a tidbit of knowledge from a friend that is one working on a vaccine right now, they have found vitamin D3 does help lesson the affects of covid if you do get it. Stay safe all.

I am patiently waiting for the mic drop announcement of you southern guys cannot travel north to ride. Mean while, we have plane loads of infected people pass thru Pearson each week, Hunting and fishing where allowed, camping was allowed etc etc. I am planning on the worst, and hoping for the best.......I think us people who live outside 'Hotspots' should be ok dont yah think?. Time will tell....

The Aubrey Falls / Black Creek Outfitters area on highway 129, is another early season riding opportunity. A beautifully secluded, hidden gem in south Algoma that typically is ridable on about the 7th of December, due to adequate snow. This is one of a few regions in the Sault Ste. Marie area to receive early snow, unfortunately, it is also one of the last in District 13 to get groomed. I have been a strong proponent of hoping a Groomer could be stationed at Black Creek Outfitters, then groom in 3 directions, allowing for early season riding. South-East along the Kindiogami on the Elliot Lake F to highway 546, South-West on the D106 to Conacher Lake and North-West along the D201F. We need to support small businesses like Black Creek Outfitters and keep alive the uniqueness it brings to District 13. Its unfortunate this area is not a higher priority on the grooming list. Chad and I do our part every December removing downed trees from the trails and bring some business by making at least 2 visits in the month. Attached are photos of Chad, Don and I working on the Black Creek road on December 8th, 2019. This area will be one of our destinations this upcoming December for some early season riding.

Mr Nicholson put this link on Facebook: https://www.ofsc.on.ca/2020/10/22/flex-trails-pandemic-developments/?fbclid=IwAR3ISDZXq8LjJ0AxT9UIH-h19AT82luhvldz2m5IukyIAG9_yiUtRjxsm-Q I skimmed through it. Looks like OFSC has a flex trail idea for closing down trails that enter into areas that have stage 2 restrictions. Might work to keep sledders out of the hot spots. But I don't see anything in this update to keep the snowmobilers that live or work in the hot spots off the trails, out of the restaurants/bars & hotels in the areas that have few or zero infections.

No way he is switching, same with sled junk. Yamaha forever like nunz is to Polaris.

I have first handedly experienced the Ukrainian Kobassa, rye bread, cheese, pickles, you name it. I am about ready for a redo of that trip Mr. CANUCK.....If you will just spring order a Doo, you would have the LINQ stuff..

I'm pretty sure most if not all of the restaurants mentioned are not of the type or are in locations that that most truckers would be looking to eat at while they are working.

Riders have ignored closed trails before, no???...

I have never ever had the permit on the windshield on any sled since at least 1988, never once been hassled about it.

Taking daily dose of vitamin D before getting covid is a good idea also, as there is less sunlight for the next few months. I found this link on Quebec Rider forum which might come in handy: https://www.quebec.ca/en/health/health-issues/a-z/2019-coronavirus/progressive-regional-alert-and-intervention-system/map-of-covid-19-alert-levels-by-region/ I have not found anything similar for Ontario except for general information and the heavier infected areas in the GTA and Ottawa.

I'm just wondering how they would enforce it. How would you recognize that someone is on your trail system that doesn't belong? If there are people enforcing it, what do they do? yell "STOP!! or I'll yell STOP again"? Being sarcastic here, but I don't see how this will work unless its the honour system

Call Darin McRae at the D-1 Office. He can provide some insight into the negotiations. IMO there are at least 2 snowmobile friendly councillors at the City who are big supporters of the local clubs. Having said that I believe the city staff "get it" when it comes to winter tourism and recreation. What with the Rideau Canal skate way, Winterlude, and proximity to the Quebec network they the importance of putting a quality product forward to gain a fair share of winter tourism. The 5 clubs involved with the City all had their own agreements and they were all different to a large degree. I think the city also sees benefit in having 1 master agreement for the trails within their jurisdiction.

Asc I understand the plan, orders who within a hot spot can still ride within the hotspot. Trails within the hotspot can be listed as available. What will show as closed are any trails that connect the Stage 2 with any other zone. Its up to the establishments to control access to their busineses.

As I see it the key difference on permit placement is pretty straight forward. Slow down and continue or get stopped. If the permit is where it's supposed to be it's easy for the OPP or trail patrol to see and validate. You slow down and don't need to stop. If it's somewhere else, like behind the windshield pointing straight to the sky it can't be seen as you approach a check. That means you actually have to stop.

Even if the person isn't effective, the virus certainly is. If the person is infected, you can get the virus.

They shut the trails still open down early last season because of the threat caused by Covid 19. As far as this year goes, here is what the OFSC said on their F/B page: "Confidence Bonus applies only if there is a province wide trail closure before February 16, 2021 resulting from COVID-19 public health measures." No mention of tourists was made in that post. As someone previously posted, you need to get your crap right!

I dont see any butter tarts. And on that note, stopping at the Thornloe cheese store the other day, they had a beautiful selection of butter tarts..

Contact snow country district 6 office I would say 95 % of brush bars in our district are hydraulic retractable. Work great we had fixed positions and had lots of damage. Since retactable no problems

need more local involvement, by more than a handful of burnt out former volunteers, that remember how it "was". most residents of those communities look at grooming as a great option to make it easier to ride but, most never leave the communities further than 25-40kms to go to fish, hunt, camps, etc... their feelings revolve around seasonal roads, routes, trails that are on crown land that shouldnt cost them anything to utilize. they dont see the need to spend all the time, money, and energy to groom for tourists who may or may not come. could it happen again? sure, will it? is the bigger question. Ski