Hot Dog Roast & Ride To Be Rescheduled.

Due to the lack of suitable riding conditions, we are sorry to report that the annual Hot Dog Roast & Ride will have to be rescheduled. Check back for the rescheduled date.

December 27 Report-Trails Closed.

Trail system is still closed until further notice.

We received 2-4" of snow Monday night which was followed by a cold rain for most of yesterday. We were left with a thin crust and not nearly enough snow to ride on. Keep you fingers crossed that the storm forecasted for later this weekend will bring us snow.

Opening Day Update-Trails Closed.

December 16 was supposed to have been the opening day for the VAST trail system. Unfortunately, due to unfavorable weather conditions we do not have any snow and the entire statewide system is closed. Long range weather models are calling for a change around December 23rd so keep your fingers crossed that we will be able to ride later in the month.

December 2006 Newsletter

December 2006

President: Art Dages (496-2577)
Vice President: Tony Amenta
Secretary: Cathi Dages
Treasurer: Lois De Heer
Trail Master: Marty De Heer (496-7051)
Ass’t Trail Master: Paul Pizzale (496-4476)
Safety Officer: Skip Wallace (244-1580)


The Mad River Ridge Runners held their Annual Holiday Pot Luck / Yankee Gift Exchange Party in conjunction with the monthly meeting on December 5th at the Fayston Town Hall. Twenty members attended.

There is still time to purchase your TMA to be eligible for a raffle ticket to win a new sled from one of four major manufacturers. TMA’s are available for purchase at the Duxbury Store and Kenyon’s. Purchase your ticket before 12/16/06 to become eligible. Drawing will be held on 1/8/07 at VAST headquarters.

Weather permitting

Our Annual New Years Hot Dog Roast will be Sunday, December 31st at 1:00 pm. Check the blog site for updates.

**THINK SNOW**


Again, weather permitting, Trails open Saturday, December 16, 2006.


The annual overnight ride to Saint J’s is planned for Saturday, January 28th. Please contact Kathi Orr at 802-496-4161 to reserve a room.

Our next meeting

Tuesday, January 2, 2007 at Fayston Town Hall – 7:00 pm

Snowmobile Safety Course

Our Safety Officer Skip Wallace conducted the clubs annual snowmobile safety class this week at Reggie Orr's shop in Waitsfield. Five local riders took the class and passed with flying colors.

Trail Work December 9 2006

We completed our new bridge behind Harwood Union High School and the pics say it all.

Thanks go out to Art, Marty, Doug, Paul, Skip, Kerney, Kevin, Howard, Tony, Reggie, Stefan, and Nicholas for their fine work today.

Holiday Party

We held our annual Holiday Party this past week and enjoyed a pot luck supper and yankee gift exchange.

Trail Work December 2 2006

On Saturday 12/2 the volunteer trail crew met at Kenyons and split into two groups. One group including Reggie, Skip, and Kerney went out to complete some last minute brush cutting. The other group including Paul, Nicholas, Stefan, Art, Marty and Tony began work on our new bridge near Harwood Union High School.





Caterpillar Excavator operator Jason Dunbar.

Trail Work November 25 2006

The Trail Work crew was out on Saturday and cleared brush and put up trail signs the top of the Northfield ridge down to the Neil Farm on the valley floor. Members volunteering their time included Tony, Art, Reggie and Paul.

Trail Work November 18 2006

Snowmobile season opens in less than one month!!!!!

This morning the all-volunteer trail crew met at Kenyons and headed up to the Log Job to post signs and trail markers. Thanks go out to Reggie, Skip, Art, Paul, Nicholas, Stefan, Doug, and Tony for volunteering their personal time today.

We still have a major bridge project to complete during the next couple of weeks. Please help out by joining us at 8AM at Kenyons on Saturday mornings. We need your help.

November 2006 Newsletter

November 2006

President: Art Dages (496-2577)
Vice President: Tony Amenta
Secretary: Cathi Dages
Treasurer: Lois De Heer
Trail Master: Marty De Heer (496-7051)
Ass’t Trail Master: Paul Pizzale (496-4476)
Safety Officer: Skip Wallace (244-1580)

The November club meeting was held on Wednesday, November 8, 2006 at the Dages’ Residence. Fifteen members attended.

Our annual Raffle Dinner was a tremendous success and everyone had an excellent time with good food and great dancing. Congratulations to Nick Kenyon for winning the 2006 Polaris 550 Snowmobile. Thanks to everyone who participated.

TMA’s are available for purchase at the Duxbury Store and Kenyon’s. Purchase your ticket before 12/16/06 to become eligible for a raffle ticket to win a new sled from one of four major manufacturers. Drawing will be held on 1/8/07 at VAST headquarters.

The Safety and Education class has been scheduled for December 11th, 12th and 13th . Please call Skip Wallace at (802) 244-1580 for details.

Trails open Saturday, December 16, 2006. Trail work is still needed. Trail maintenance is scheduled every Saturday. Meet at Kenyon’s at 8:00 am and bring a friend! We still have lots of work!

To receive newsletters via email or post information to the blog please notify
Tony Amenta at vastridgerunner@gmail.com

Our next meeting

Tuesday, December 5, 2006 is our annual Holiday / Pot Luck / Yankee Gift Exchange Party

Please join us for a fun time at Fayston Town Hall – 6:30 pm

Bring a dish to share and your own beverages

Bring a gift for the Yankee Exchange; there is a $10.00 limit

Trailwork November 11 2006

The Ridge Runner's volunteer trail crew was out today putting up trail signs and markers in the fields along the Mad River. Special thanks go out to Doug, Skip, Tony, Marty, Reggie, Paul, Nicholas and Stefan for their hard work today and also their dedication to the club.

Trail Work November 4 2006 "UPDATED"

Two separate groups of volunteer's from the Ridge Runners were out getting the trails ready for the fast approaching season. One group that included Reggie, Art, Kevin, Marty, Kerney, and Tony left from Patterson's camp and cleared brush and blow downs on the trails around the Log Job. A second group which included Paul Pizzale and Jason Dunbar were out with Jason's excavator smoothing out Paul's Trail. Paul and Jason went out again on Sunday with the excavator and Paul reports that as of Monday night they had almost reached the power lines.



The trail crew meets each Saturday morning at 8AM at Kenyons in Waitsfield. There are many projects to complete before the season begins including an upcoming bridge project, more brush cutting and the fields have to be signed. We need your help so please come out and pitch in.

The next club meeting will be held on Wednesday night at Art Dages house on River Road in Waitsfield.

TMA's Now On Sale At Kenyons & The Duxbury Store

TMA's are now available for sale at Kenyons and the Duxbury Store.

This season there is an extra special bonus for purchasing TMA's early.

TMA's purchased prior to December 17 will include a coupon from VAST to enter a drawing to win the 2007 sled of your choice from Yamaha, Arctic Cat, Polaris or Ski-Doo.

Nick Kenyon Wins Polaris 550 Super Sport

Nick Kenyon was the winner of the 2006 Polaris 550 Super Sport raffled off at last nights snowmobile dinner.

Thanks to all of those who donated prizes, Poor Farm Trading Post for supplying the sled, the Kenyons for selling tickets and supporting the Ridge Runners, the Elks Club, Jim the DJ, and the hardworking club volunteers whom made this event a success.

Snowmobile Raffle Dinner Tonight

We have a few extra tickets available for our annual snowmobile raffle dinner at the Elks Club in Montpelier tonight. Tell your friends! Social hour begins at 6:00 pm and dinner will be served at 7:00 pm.Tickets remain $110.00 this year and include two dinner tickets and a chance to win a 2006 Polaris snowmobile and lots of other great prizes. Tickets ickets will be on sale at the Elks Club Saturday night.

This is our major fundraiser so come out and support the club.

October 2006 Newsletter

October 2006 Newsletter

President: Art Dages (496-2577)
Vice President: Tony Amenta
Secretary: Cathi Dages
Treasurer: Lois De Heer
Trail Master: Marty De Heer (496-7051)
Ass’t Trail Master: Paul Pizzale (496-4476)
Safety Officer: Skip Wallace (244-1580)

The September club meeting was held on Tuesday, September 5, 2006 at the Fayston Town Hall. Fifteen members attended.

The Snowmobile Safety Course is scheduled for November 13, 14 and 15th. The course will be held at Reggie Orr’s shop from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm. Please contact Skip Wallace for registration and further information at 244-1580.

Trail maintenance is scheduled every Saturday and volunteers have been busy getting the trails ready. If you are available we meet 8am Saturdays at Kenyon’s. Bring a friend! We still have lots of work and need help.

Don’t forget our Annual Raffle Dinner will be Saturday October 21st at the Elk’s club in Montpelier. Social hour begins at 6:00 pm and dinner will be served at 7:00 pm. Tickets may be purchased at Kenyon’s. Extra raffle tickets are also available. Please purchase your tickets ASAP. The cutoff date is Thursday October 19th . Tickets remain $110.00 this year which include two dinner tickets and a chance to win a 2006 Polaris snowmobile and lots of other great prizes. Please be sure to have all donated raffle prizes to Kathi Orr (496-4161) by Saturday October 14, 2006.

To receive newsletters via email or post information to the blog please notify Tony Amenta at vastridgerunner@gmail.com

Next meeting: Wednesday, November 8 2006 – 7:00 PM at the Dages’ Residence. 119 Riverview Road, Waitsfield
496-2577

Trail Work October 7 2006

We had a hard freeze last night and today was a perfect day for trail work with bluebird skies and abundant peak foliage. The trail crew worked on a re-route below the gravel pit in Fayston. Members helping out today included Art, Tony, Marty, Kerney, Paul, Nicolas, Reggie, and Bobby Halpin.



Two of our younger members, Bobby and Nicholas have been a great help this year. Make sure you thank them for their hard work and dedication to the club.

Trail Work September 30 2006

Reggie, Tony, Art, Kerney, and Paul were out working on Paul's Trail today. We meet each Saturday morning until the season begins at Kenyons Store in Waitsfield at 8AM. We have a bunch of projects planned for the fall so stop by and give us a hand.






Don't forget that the clubs October meeting will be held on Tuesday night (10/3) at 7 PM at the Fayston town hall. All members, new and old welcome.

Annual VAST Meeting

The Annual VAST Meeting was held on September 23rd at the Barre Auditorium. The Ridge Runners were represented by Art Dages, Cathi Dages, Marty De Heer, Lois De Heer, Red Goodman, Doug Wilson, and Tony Amenta. Club members attended several informative seminars during the day, learned more about recent Ancient Roads legislation, participated in the afternoon business meeting and enjoyed a chicken barbeque dinner.

One of the highlights of the afternoon occured during happy hour when Governor Jim Douglas was seen test driving a Tucker Cat around the parking lot.

Reggie's New Compact Brush Hog

Thanks to the generosity and ingenuity of our clubs resident fabricator Reggie Orr, we now have a new compact brush hog powered by a Honda 750cc powerplant to assist us with trail projects this fall.