Tuesday, January 30, 2007

Trail Report Tuesday January 30 2007

It was -15 again last night and our trails have set up nice and hard however we do need more snow. Lower elevation trails are thin with the occaisonal loose rock or snirt patch and while the trails at higher elevation have good cover. The trail over to Huntington has been rolled and the best riding is in the log job and up into the park. We need more snow and hopefully Friday's forecasted coastal storm will come this way.

Friday, January 26, 2007

Trail Report Friday January 26 2007

Doug Wilson and his team of groomers have been working very hard since the snowstorm we received a week ago and the trails are in remarkably good condition. The majority of our terrain has now been passed over at least once with the drag and with the sub zero conditions the last couple of days everything had frozen up nicely. We do still need more snow and early season conditions exist including open waterbars, rocks, sticks and thin cover. Ride with care and have a great weekend.

Tuesday, January 23, 2007

Snowmobile Stolen In Waterbury Center

STATE OF VERMONT-- DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY

VERMONT STATE POLICE

PRESS RELEASE

INCIDENT: Stolen Snowmobile

CASE #: 07A300386

TROOPER: Aimee Nolan, Senior Trooper STATION: Middlesex

CONTACT#: (802) 229-9191

DATE/TIME: Between 1900 hrs on 1/21/07 and 0800 hrs on 1/22/07

LOCATION: Maple Street, Waterbury Center

VIOLATION: Stolen Snowmobile

ACCUSED: Unknown

SUMMARY OF INCIDENT:

The Vermont State Police received a complaint of a stolen snowmobile from a residence on Maple Street in Waterbury Center. The snowmobile was parked on a trailer with another snowmobile. It is believed that the suspect/s used a chain and a motor vehicle to pull the snowmobile from the trailer and drag it down the road a short distance before loading it into another vehicle.

The snowmobile is a 1988 Yamaha Phazer, black in color. The expired registration plate on the snowmobile is VT - 493M

Anyone with information is encouraged to call the Vermont State Police.

Monday, January 22, 2007

St Johnsbury Ride Canceled

The club's St Johnsbury ride scheduled for this weekend has been canceled. We are currently tossing around the idea of meeting for dinner at a local resturant on Saturday night or possibly organizing a group ride/dinner. We will keep you posted.

Trails are in good shape and cold weather is forecasted through the week. Get out there and ride!

Saturday, January 20, 2007

Trails Are Open

Finally some good news to report. We received 10"-14" of snow yesterday and last night and our trails are now open. Doug and Paul were out with the Piston Bully today, opening gates, clearing blow downs and packing the fresh snow down. Grooming will continue tomorrow and it will take several days to cover the clubs 80+ miles of terrain. Be aware that early season conditions exist, watch out for the groomer, open waterbars, rocks, fallen trees, and other hazards.

These pics were taken earlier today.




Friday, January 19, 2007

Winter Weather Advisory

We've received 6-8" so far.....

...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 7 PM EST SATURDAY...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN BURLINGTON HAS ISSUED A WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY...WHICH IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 7 PM EST SATURDAY FOR ORLEANS...LAMOILLE AND WASHINGTON COUNTIES...SPECIFICALLY FOR COMMUNITIES CLOSE TO THE GREEN MOUNTAINS.

SNOWFALL ACCUMULATIONS FROM THIS EVENING THROUGH SATURDAY WILL BE 3 TO 7 INCHES WITH LOCALLY HIGHER AMOUNTS POSSIBLE. THE HIGHER AMOUNTS ARE EXPECTED IN COMMUNITIES NEAR THE SPINE OF THE GREEN MOUNTAINS.

SNOW SHOWERS HAVE BEEN PERSISTENT THIS EVENING AND WILL CONTINUE THROUGH SATURDAY. THE MOST PERSISTENT AND HEAVIEST SNOW SHOWER ACTIVITY WILL BE IN THE HIGHER TERRAIN. IN ADDITION TO THE SNOWFALL...NORTHWEST WINDS WILL INCREASE TO 15 TO 25 MPH WITH WIND GUSTS UP TO 40 MPH LATE TONIGHT AND SATURDAY FOR CONSIDERABLE BLOWING OF THE SNOW.

Wednesday, January 17, 2007

Special Weather Statement

Keep your fingers crossed........

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BURLINGTON VT
345 PM EST WED JAN 17 2007

...PERIODS OF SNOW AND SNOW SHOWERS FRIDAY THROUGH SATURDAY ACROSS CENTRAL AND NORTHERN VERMONT WITH WINDY CONDITIONS POSSIBLE SATURDAY...

A WEAK UPPER LEVEL DISTURBANCE MOVING IN FROM THE WEST WILL BRING A GENERAL 1 TO 3 INCHES OF SNOW TO MOST OF VERMONT ON FRIDAY. MEANWHILE...A COASTAL LOW WILL STRENGTHEN IN THE GULF OF MAINE FRIDAY AFTERNOON AND TRACK NORTHWARD INTO NEW BRUNSWICK BY SATURDAY. ALTHOUGH THE BULK OF PRECIPITATION WITH THE COASTAL LOW IS EXPECTED TO REMAIN EAST OF THE AREA...WRAP AROUND MOISTURE FROM THIS SYSTEM WILL RESULT IN PERIODS OF SNOW SHOWERS FRIDAY NIGHT THROUGH SATURDAY AS THE LOW STALLS TO OUR NORTHEAST. ADDITIONAL SNOW ACCUMULATIONS ARE EXPECTED FRIDAY NIGHT AND SATURDAY...WITH THE GREATEST POTENTIAL ACCUMULATION IN THE MOUNTAINS OF NORTHERN VERMONT. SOME ADDITIONAL LIGHT ACCUMULATION IS ALSO POSSIBLE IN THE VALLEYS.

STRONG NORTH WINDS MAY ACCOMPANY THE SNOW SHOWERS LATE FRIDAY NIGHT INTO SATURDAY. MAGNITUDE OF WINDS ON SATURDAY WILL DEPEND ON HOW STRONG THE LOW PRESSURE AREA BECOMES TO OUR NORTHEAST ON SATURDAY. CURRENT INDICATIONS SUGGEST GUSTS TO 40 MPH ARE POSSIBLE.

Tuesday, January 16, 2007

Busted Storm

The following article appeared recently in the Burlington Free Press and was picked up by the Associated Press. It is important that all those who enjoy our trail system purchase their TMA's soon and show their support for the sport.

Busted storm another bad omen for snowmobile industry

By Wilson Ring
The Associated Press

MONTPELIER — Today's snowstorm that fizzled into a mess of sleet and freezing rain pushed Vermont’s snowmobile industry one step closer to turning the season into a complete washout.

Almost a month after the state’s 4,600-mile snowmobile system usually opens for the season, only one 30 mile stretch of trail — between Jay and Richford — was open, said Bryan Watson, the executive director of the Vermont Association of Snow Travelers.

“I have been a snowmobiler since 1965. This is by far the worst season I can remember,” said Watts. “To have this be the way that it is throughout the entire state is pretty much unseen.”

Watson said snowmobile trails needed a compacted base of about six inches of snow before they could be opened. The best case is for there to be a series of six-inch to eight-inch snowstorms that drop at least 18 to 24 inches.

To break even for the year VAST needs to sell about 30,000 trail passes. As of last week the organization had sold 4,855, Watson said.

There’s a similar story in New Hampshire.

“The first quarter of the snowmobile season was a huge loss,” said Craig Mayo, president of the New Hampshire Snowmobile Association.

On an average year, snowmobiling pumps about $550 million into the Vermont economy. Tens of thousands of snowmobilers spend money at convenience stores along the trails, restaurants, hotels and motels and for the equipment itself.

This winter is lining up to be the third consecutive tough season for the snowmobile industry. Watson has said it could push about half the state’s snowmobile dealers out of business.

While the weather forecast for the rest of the week calls for colder weather, there are no significant storms predicted through the end of the month. “It doesn’t look like there is anything in the cards,” Watson said.

The colder weather will help, though, if snow follows. Watson said that in much of the state the ground has been so wet that it would take several feet of snow before it could be compacted enough to open the trails. Once the ground freezes, it would be ready for the snow.

But even if abundant snow falls during the second half of the winter it might be too late.

“There comes a point when snowmobilers will just say ’to hell with it,’” Watson said. “We’re coming very close to that point right now.”

Vermont’s alpine ski areas are able to salvage the season with their extensive — and expensive — snowmaking operations. There is no snowmaking on snowmobile trails.

Vermont’s snowmobile trail system usually closes for the season some time in April.

Sunday, January 14, 2007

Winter Storm Warning

Winter Storm Warning

URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BURLINGTON VT
424 AM EST SUN JAN 14 2007

...SIGNIFICANT SNOWFALL POSSIBLE ACROSS THE NORTH COUNTRY LATE SUNDAY NIGHT INTO TUESDAY MORNING...

.A STALLED FRONTAL SYSTEM ACROSS THE NORTHEAST WILL BE THE FOCUS FOR SNOWFALL ACROSS THE NORTH COUNTRY FROM TODAY INTO TUESDAY MORNING. TWO AREAS OF LOW PRESSURE WILL MOVE EAST ALONG THIS FRONT...THE FIRST COMING TODAY...AND THE SECOND DURING THE DAY ON MONDAY.

TODAY...A WEAK AREA OF LOW PRESSURE WILL TRACK EAST THROUGH CENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA...RESULTING IN LIGHT SNOW ACROSS NORTHERN NEW YORK AND VERMONT. SNOWFALL AMOUNTS WILL GENERALLY BE LIGHT...WITH A DUSTING TO 2 INCHES OF ACCUMULATION EXPECTED.

THEREAFTER...A MUCH STRONGER LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM WILL DEVELOP IN THE OHIO VALLEY...AND MOVE EAST ALONG THE STALLED FRONT ON MONDAY. NORTH OF THE FRONT TEMPERATURES WILL BE COLD ENOUGH TO
SUPPORT ALL SNOW. MEANWHILE...SOUTH OF THE FRONT...SPECIFICALLY IN CENTRAL AND SOUTHERN VERMONT...TEMPERATURES ALOFT WILL BE WARM ENOUGH TO CAUSE A MIX OF SNOW AND SLEET DURING THE DAY ON
MONDAY...BEFORE CHANGING OVER TO ALL SNOW MONDAY NIGHT. THE POTENTIAL EXISTS FOR MORE THAN 6 INCHES OF SNOWFALL WITH THIS SYSTEM.

Saturday, January 13, 2007

Winter Storm Watch

Finally some good news for the Ridge Runners....

Winter Storm Watch

URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BURLINGTON VT
238 PM EST SAT JAN 13 2007

...SIGNIFICANT SNOWFALL POSSIBLE ACROSS THE NORTH COUNTRY LATE SUNDAY NIGHT INTO TUESDAY MORNING...

A STALLED COLD FRONT ACROSS THE NORTHEAST WILL BE THE FOCUS FOR SNOWFALL ACROSS THE NORTH COUNTRY FROM SUNDAY INTO TUESDAY MORNING.TWO AREAS OF LOW PRESSURE WILL MOVE EAST ALONG THIS FRONT...THE FIRST COMING DURING THE DAY ON SUNDAY...THE OTHER DURING THE DAY ON MONDAY.

ON SUNDAY...A WEAK AREA OF LOW PRESSURE WILL TRACK EAST THROUGH CENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA...RESULTING IN LIGHT SNOW ACROSS NORTHERN NEW YORK AND VERMONT. SNOWFALL AMOUNTS WILL GENERALLY BE LIGHT...WITH 1 TO 3 INCHES OF ACCUMULATION EXPECTED.

THEREAFTER...A MUCH STRONGER LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM WILL DEVELOP IN THE OHIO VALLEY...AND MOVE EAST ALONG THE STALLED FRONT ON MONDAY. NORTH OF THE FRONT TEMPERATURES WILL BE COLD ENOUGH TO SUPPORT ALL SNOW.
MEANWHILE...SOUTH OF THE FRONT...SPECIFICALLY IN CENTRAL AND SOUTHERN VERMONT...TEMPERATURES ALOFT WILL BE WARM ENOUGH TO CAUSE A MIX OF SNOW AND SLEET DURING THE DAY ON MONDAY...BEFORE CHANGING OVER TO ALL SNOW MONDAY NIGHT. THE POTENTIAL EXISTS FOR MORE THAN 6 INCHES OF SNOWFALL WITH THIS SYSTEM...ALTHOUGH AT THIS POINT THE EXACT TRACK OF THE LOW AND ASSOCIATED SNOWFALL AMOUNTS ARE STILL
UNCERTAIN.

Tuesday, January 09, 2007

January 2007 Newsletter

JANUARY 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)

Happy New Year!!!

Trails are closed due to lack of snow. Please check the website for openings. PRAY FOR SNOW !!!

We had our January meeting at the Fayston Town Hall on Tuesday, January 2nd, 2007. Nine members attended. Please join us at the next meeting.

The St. Johnsbury Overnight Ride is scheduled for January 27th and 28th. The trip is subject to weather and trail conditions. Watch the website for updates.

The Canada trip is scheduled for March 2nd and 3rd. Again this trip is subject to weather and trail conditions. Watch the website for updates.

We will be planning our annual February Progressive Dinner. More information next month.

Please contact Tony via emal at vastridgerunner@gmail.com if you have anything to be posted on this site.

Next meeting: February 6th, 7:00 PM at the Fayston Town Hall

Wednesday, January 03, 2007

Links To Weather Related Web Sites Added

We have recently added several links to weather related web-sites that will be of interest to club members. Scroll down and you will find these sites located under the "Links" section on the right side of this blog.

Mad River Weather Blog
- Mad River Valley specific forecasts updated by a shareholder at MRG.

National Weather Service
-Vermont forecast by NWS.

Roger Hill Weather
-Local forecast by a local meterologist.

Valley Weather Cam
-This weather cam is local webcam on the East Warren Road.

WXRISK Blog
-More technical than the others and offering long range predictions.

Monday, January 01, 2007

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year!

On Saturday 12/30 we received 6-8" of light fluffy powder and on New Years Eve we received an additional 1/2" of ice. We now have the makings of a firm base and one old fashioned snowstorm should put us in good shape. The VAST trail season is officially closed until further notice. We will keep you posted.