The snowmobile industry is one that drives the winter economy, and is “built on the backs of volunteers,” according to Maine Snowmobile Association Executive Director Bob Meyers.
Unfortunately, year after year, though the member base of local clubs may grow, the number of those willing to volunteer to maintain the 14,000 miles of trails in the state shrinks.
Robert Lowell, vice president of the Greenstock Sports snowmobile club in the Greenwood/Woodstock/Bryant Pond area, said that even though they have 75 families and businesses in the club, only six to eight people help with trail maintenance, and most of them are pushing 70 years of age.
“Young people aren’t interested in doing manual work,” Lowell said. “They think the trails take care of themselves. There’s apt to be no more trails in Bethel soon with the way things are going.”
The Otisfield Trailblazers club has a similar problem. Almost 25 families are members of the club, and only six to eight people pitch in, President Stan Brett said, and they’re all above the age of 40.
“There’s a different society out there now,” Brett said. “Younger people don’t give of themselves like the older ones do. The younger generation may have a tougher time making a living than what I have had, so it’s harder for them to help.”
Craig Young, president of the Slippery Sliders club of Roxbury and Byron, has a shortage of volunteers as well. In his club of roughly 30 members, only 10 help maintain the 100 miles of trails the club is responsible for.
But Brett said it’s not just the members’ unwillingness to help that is the problem. It is also those who use the trails, and aren’t members of clubs at all.
“Each town tries to have a snowmobile club to maintain the trails, and a lot of residents in the town who belong to the (Maine Snowmobile Association) don’t join the clubs,” he said. “It would really be helpful if they did, and then helped with trail maintenance and building bridges.”
The problem is statewide, and Meyers said there has “been some discussion” about making club membership and trail maintenance mandatory, but there is hesitation in taking such a drastic measure.
“Why should the state be telling people to join a private organization?” he asked. “But we’ve set the bar high, and now the expectation is perfectly groomed trails all the time, with a smaller and smaller base of people actually getting the work done.”
Brett said he believes part of the problem is that many don’t understand the amount of labor and hours required to maintain the trails, which Meyers said is “mind-boggling.” Although the fun happens in the winter, getting the trails rider-ready requires work all year long.
In the spring, summer and fall, brush is cut back from the trails, bridges are built and repaired, trees are cut after storms blow them across trails, culverts are dug and installed, signs are put up, and more. For those who participate, almost every weekend is devoted to trail upkeep.
“There’s so much work for those who are willing to do the work,” Young said. “We’re spread pretty thin.”
In the winter, club volunteers who are certified spend around 30 hours a week in the groomers, which pack down and smooth the snow, making a prime riding surface. On top of that, regular trail maintenance, including signs, clearing debris from wind and storms, and other tedious, time-consuming tasks, are left for the few and far between.
While the lack of volunteers has no quick fix, Meyers said there are a few things people can do to help.
“For starters, we need to remind people that this doesn’t just happen, everyone needs to have a little skin in the game,” he said. “Joining a club is a great first step, and then get out there and do a little bit.”
He’s hopeful, however. Since the recent attention gained by the Fox Glen snowmobile club in Augusta, which sold its clubhouse because of declining membership and lack of trail masters, more people are reaching out.
“I’ve been getting emails from people saying where they live, and asking how can they help. I think a lot of riders want to do the right thing, but don’t know how,” Meyers said. “Give the (Maine Snowmobile Association) a call and we’ll connect you instantly with a local club, where you’ll be welcomed with open arms.”
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Bob Casey, trailmaster for the Windham Drifters Snowmobile Club, drives a trail marker into the ground as fellow club member Ted O’Brien holds it upright Saturday as they prepped some of the club’s 45 miles of trails for the season. (Carl D. Walsh/Portland Press Herald)
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