The warm-up shack along the snowmobile trail in Graysville has recently reopened after being closed due to vandalism. A couple of weekends ago, Snoflies Snowmobile Club president Ryan Doell had a long day grooming the trails and stopped to check on the Graysville shack late Saturday night.
“I noticed a window was smashed out and I was like ‘oh no,’” he said.
Upon entering the shack, Doell, with his phone ready to take pictures, discovered that four more windows had been smashed, bringing the total to five. Additionally, the large glass door was broken, and all the plastic chairs inside were tossed around, with many being broken, alongside a damaged table.
“It’s kind of disappointing to see after having all our volunteers and sponsors make this all happen,” said Doell. “But at the end of the day, everybody kind of pulls together.”
Members of the Snoflies Snowmobile Club and sponsors collaborated to clean up the shack. They boarded up the windows and did their best to repair the facility, determined to have it ready for the club’s poker derby on Saturday, February 1.
The annual poker derby is set to begin at 10 a.m., with registration taking place at the Carman Golf and Curling Club. Riders can buy a hand for $10 or three hands for $20 and will cover 135 km of trails to collect their poker chips. The route will go from Carman to Elm Creek, St. Claude, Roseisle, Miami, Graysville, and back to Carman.
At 6 p.m., all scorecards must be submitted, and the rider with the highest number of chips will win. The prizes are as follows: first place – $1,500, second place – $1,000, and third place – $500. The poker derby usually attracts 100 to 200 sleds, making the local trails very busy for the day. Doell reminds all drivers to exercise caution, especially during the event. Those who wish to ride the trails on that day but do not wish to participate in the derby are also welcome to do so without needing to register for the event. The derby serves as a fundraiser for the Snoflies Snowmobile Club, helping cover the costs of maintaining trails and warm-up shacks in the region each year. Doell mentioned that the club has encountered vandalism at their warm-up shacks in the past, but nothing to this extent. They are currently working with insurance to replace the broken door and windows; however, until then, the shack will remain boarded up but open for use. The Graysville shack is frequented daily by local riders who stop to enjoy a fire, rest, and chat.
The Snoflies Snowmobile Club grooms a total of 285 km of trail each year, covering a vast area throughout the Carman region.
