Snowmobile season is underway, and local representatives recently provided Rockwood council with an update on local trails.
During the Jan. 22 committee of the whole meeting, council heard from Joe Thievin representing the South Interlake SnoRiders Club, Todd Campbell representing the Inwood Snowmobile Club and Calvin Sedleski representing the Interlake Offroad Club.
Each of Manitoba’s 53 snowmobile clubs is independent and they report to the board of Snoman, which is an umbrella organization that carries club liability insurance and is a mechanism for funding.
Locally, trails run from the Stony Mountain area all the way to Arborg. The South Interlake SnoRiders Club manages the section of the trail from Stony Mountain to Teulon. Then the Inwood Snowmobile Club manages the trail through Teulon to Fraserwood. From there, the trail travels north to Arborg, where the Interlake Snow Trackers look after it.
The South Interlake SnoRiders Club has been working to develop a recreation corridor that enables riders to go through communities away from highways. They’re using abandoned rail beds to link communities — not only for snowmobile enthusiasts but for anyone who enjoys the outdoors.
“We’ve been working on the trail project for quite some time. The trail is not only the section that our snowmobile club managers from Stony Mountain to Teulon, but the Inwood Snowmobile club takes the trail north to Komarno and Malonton,” Thievin told the Tribune.
“We’ve opened the trail up and the response has been positive. There are many trail users out there now given that the trail surface is nice and firm. We see lots of people walking on the trail. It’s a really good multi-use trail.”
Thievin added that there haven’t been any noise complaints to his knowledge.
“We put signs in Balmoral and Gunton to reduce speed and we’ve really communicated that when you go through those communities to slow down — respect the people that live adjacent to that trail.”
Now that it’s open as a winter multi-use trail, they’re looking ahead to how it will evolve for summer use and what improvements might need to be made.
“The Interlake Offroad Club is interested in using the trail in the summer. And at the end of the day, it was decided that we need to create a trail management committee to make sure that we’re meeting the needs of the users — not just snowmobile clubs but the ATV club, the walkers, the cyclists, whoever wants to use that trail throughout the year,” Thievin said.
“I think it’s important that we have a trail management plan to make sure that we’re serving the best needs of the community. Trails are one of the most valued amenities in a community where people can get out and walk their dogs and go for a walk, cross-country ski, hike, ride their bicycles. We want to make sure that this trail is there for generations to use and enjoy.”
