ENVIRONMENTAL TIP
Leave
No Trace
Responsible
snowmobiling means Conserving Ontario's Last Frontier for the next person to enjoy as you did. So be trail wise and travel light. The only thing you should take is your memories.
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DidYou Know...
According to the U.S. environment Protection Agency, snowmobile emissions can hardly be considered additive to overall air pollutant episodes? |
| West Parry Sound Snowsport Association was incorporated in August of 1988, and from the beginning has experienced a myriad of responsibilities and functions not to mention a host of executives, staff personnel and volunteers. The combined efforts of the aforementioned have all helped to spark the flame of what is now known as Parry Sound Snowmobile District (PSSD).
In this district the clubs initially operated completely alone, competing with each other for permits, spending money on trails that did not connect with neighboring clubs, or trails that did not make sense in overall planning. There was no real accountability and some clubs had plenty of money, while others could barely survive. This resulted in terrible inconsistencies in trail conditions and width of trails. Some were single trail, groomed with pipe drags behind snowmobiles while others were as we have grown to expect, wide, smooth trails groomed by industrial tractors at least 8ft wide.
Joining together as an association, we took the view that all trails in the district needed to be of consistent quality in planning, signing and grooming. Rather than each club printing a one page plan of their own trails, staff marketed a district map to help raise money and provide an accurate guide to traveling snowmobilers.
It was then discovered that buying permits from OFSC in one block for all the clubs in District 10 we could save money, which would then be spent on the trails. This led to 8 of our 9 clubs taking a courageous step and combining permit purchases as well as all financial matters and operations. As a group, the clubs determine the needs of PSSD and establish how we spend. Staff is then able to do tasks for all clubs saving both time and money.
We no longer compete for permits with each other, and you can buy a district permit almost anywhere in the district while still supporting your club. We have true accountability of every permit dollar, at the same time we have been able to reduce the amount of paperwork that clubs are responsible for.
The next step is to implement a district grooming plan / breaking down club boundaries, with a goal of trail grooming consistency, maximum use of our groomers and perhaps even greater savings! | Latest News | 2012-02-26Hydro One bridge re-decking in Carling completed. Trails are now open. |
| Archive News ( Click on date to view article. ) | Hydro One bridge re-decking in Carling completed. Trails are now open. |
PSSD POKER TOUR
FEB 12, 2011 |
FUNDING AWARDED
Parry Sound Snowmobile District (PSSD) announces over $35,000 in Tourism Development Funding awarded by it’s parent organization, the Ontario Federation of Snowmobile Clubs (OFSC).
Parry Sound ON, November 30, 2010: PSSD announces that the grooming association was awarded funding to back projects in three of the association member clubs trails: Carling Trail Blazers, Six Star Snow Riders and South Seguin Snowmobile Club.
This is 100% funding and will be used to repair the section of TOP C between Hwy 124 North to C104D, to dry-land the trail at Conger Creek, and to reroute a section of TOP C trail between Black Rd and Rankin Lake Rd South where the trail detours onto the roadway for 2 kms.
At their November board meeting, the PSSD board of directors further confirmed it’s commitment to the ongoing maintenance and necessary improvement to it’s network of world-class trails by committing $15,000 from a contingency fund, which will be added to West Muskoka Trail Riders funds totalling in excess of $40,000. These monies will be used to assist the club with their Nippissing Trail project which was started late this summer.
Additionaly, $40,000 from the 2010/11 operational budget was allocated to trails and will be used to see the West Muskoka Nippissing Trail project to completion, fund culverts on C104D in the Magnetawan Ridge Runners trail system and to assist the Carling Trail Blazers with the anticipated reroute of trail #405.
“It is so rewarding after many years of working under a tight budget and setting monies aside in a contingency fund to be able to see our board of directors come to the table and see how these funds can be used for the greater good of the association as a whole and agree to fund projects regardless of club boundaries” comments PSSD President Marilyn Derks adding “we are looking forward to how our three-year planning goals will take shape and how far we can go when we are all working together!” Lisa Ernst, West Muskoka Trail Riders President was especially excited by the PSSD Trails Committee recommendation to see the Nippising project through, commenting, “we have applied for provincial funding in the past but have been unsuccessful. It has been a lot of work to get where we are and to have the support of the rest of the clubs in the association; it really means a lot to our club”.
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for further information please contact:
Marilyn Derks
President
Parry Sound Snowmobile District
(705) 746 7663
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By Sarah Frank Dec 21, 2011 - 3:28 PM
Just add snow
PARRY SOUND - If last weekend's snow was any indication, winter is on it's way. Local snowmobile clubs, businesses and tourism organizations are now ramping up to show community members and tourists what a Parry Sound winter has to offer.
Bill Park, president of District 10 of the Ontario Federation of Snowmobile Clubs, said he's hoping to have most trails within the eight area clubs open for use early in January - weather permitting.
click for the full article... http://www.cottagecountrynow.ca/community/parrysound/article/1268183 |
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