Snowmobile riders looking at expanding trails in Vermilion-area

Local snowmobile enthusiasts have set out with a goal of creating a trail from Mannville to Vermilion along the north side of the Vermilion River.

This trail would help complete a loop from Mannville to Myrnam, Derwent, and Vermilion.

In the long run, riders from Mannville are looking at creating their own club within the next five years.

They would need to maintain nine trail passes per year in order to register with the Alberta Snowmobile Association (ASA), so in the meantime they would like to support the Vermilion Ridge Riders and Myrnam River Ridge Riders with memberships and continue to work with them in the future.

“For now, it’s better to support the existing clubs because it takes funds to keep their equipment in operation and the trails groomed,” said Gorniak.

Groomed trails have packed snow that allow for a smoother ride and less chance getting stuck.

The idea has been in the works for a couple of years, but last year farmers did not get their crops off and there was no snow early in the season so it just wasn’t feasible.

To have local clubs extend their boundaries, they are looking at interacting with farmers to avoid trespassing within a designated loop. Farmers willing to cooperate and have trails go through their land could also be insured for liability through the ASA.

Local snowmobile enthusiasts have set out with a goal of creating a trail from Mannville to Vermilion along the north side of the Vermilion River.

This trail would help complete a loop from Mannville to Myrnam, Derwent, and Vermilion.

In the long run, riders from Mannville are looking at creating their own club within the next five years.

They would need to maintain nine trail passes per year in order to register with the Alberta Snowmobile Association (ASA), so in the meantime they would like to support the Vermilion Ridge Riders and Myrnam River Ridge Riders with memberships and continue to work with them in the future.

“For now, it’s better to support the existing clubs because it takes funds to keep their equipment in operation and the trails groomed,” said Gorniak.

Groomed trails have packed snow that allow for a smoother ride and less chance getting stuck.

The idea has been in the works for a couple years, but last year farmers did not get their crops off and there was no snow early in the season so it just wasn’t feasible.

To have local clubs extend their boundaries, they are looking at interacting with farmers to avoid trespassing within a designated loop. Farmers willing to cooperate and have trails go through their land could also be insured for liability through the ASA.

Seen as an opportunity for people to get to know each other, families often ride between the communication enjoying the scenery and contributing to the economy by stopping in Derwent for pizza, Mannville for Chinese food, or Vermilion for gas.

He said the Myrnam club has won ASA awards for being so successful – they even have warm-up cabins and groomed trails.

“Riding out there is amazing. You can come across moose and deer on the trail, but to understand the thrill of it you have to experience it,” said Gorniak.

Much of the work to keep the clubs active and engaged is done by a large number of volunteers.

Within a week, he has already heard from six people in Mannville interested in helping out. He hopes to garner more support in the coming weeks as they prepare for a new snowmobile season.

Gorniak encourages riders to get involved and obtain memberships and trail passes from their local clubs.

Volunteers looking to help set up the trail from Vermilion to Mannville can call Warren Young at 780-581-0716. Farmers interested in signing permission slips can call Gorniak at 780-214-8340.