Out-Doors: The Vast Trails of VAST
by Elizabeth Bassett
February 24, 2011.....

The temperature was in the single digits, and the wind was whipping from the north. But the cab of the orange Tucker Sno-Cat was toasty when I joined Pat Leclaire at 7:30 a.m. one recent morning for a tour of Charlotte’s VAST trails. With the groomer trailing behind, we eased onto the snow en route to Mt. Philo.
The Vermont Association of Snow Travelers, VAST, is a private, nonprofit organization that maintains and grooms Vermont’s trails. VAST is one of the oldest snowmobiling organizations in the United States. Volunteers from Vermont’s 138 local clubs, like SCAT- Shelburne Charlotte Association of Travelers, make it possible for snowmobilers to crisscross the state from mid-December until snow melt. Amadee Denton, treasurer of SCAT, confirms 90 individual members from Charlotte and Shelburne. Her husband, Steve Denton, is president of SCAT.
For snow lovers, the winter of 2010-11 has been spectacular, and VAST’s 35,000 members are celebrating. Leclaire says, “On the coldest weekend of the winter, more than 400 sleds passed through Ballard’s Store in Hinesburg. In a good year snowmobiling is a half billion-dollar industry in Vermont.” And so far this is a great winter.
“All work is done by volunteers,” Leclaire says. “They maintain trails, build bridges, post signs, and get landowners permissions each year. We would have nothing if it weren’t for the generosity of our landowners,” he adds.
Eighty percent of Vermont’s trail system is on private land. SCAT secures agreements from 37 landowners and hosts an appreciation dinner for them each fall. “We listen to the landowners and respond to their concerns,” Leclaire says. “Sometimes we’ll build a gate or cut brush. We treat our landowners well because they make our sport possible,” a phrase printed in bold on the front of the Tucker.
Norm Thibault and Pat Leclaire own two groomers, both purchased second hand. “VAST sometimes has grants to help with these purchases,” Leclaire says. VAST pays Thibault and Leclaire $10 per mile for grooming, which, in a winter like this one, may need to be done several times each week. After a full day at work, Thibault and Leclaire will set off, Thibault on the 8-10 hour round trip to Huntington Gap, Leclaire on the 23 miles of trails in Shelburne, Charlotte and Hinesburg. The Sno-Cats use about one to one-and-a-half gallons of gas per mile.
Snowmobiling is not a casual undertaking. Pre-season membership in VAST and the local club costs $80 but rises to $115 after the season begins. A snowmobile, which gets around 20 miles per gallon of gas, can cost between $4,000 and $14,000. Owners must register their machines. Both liability insurance and helmets are mandatory. A helmet can cost from $140 to $400. All riders 12 years of age and older must take a safety course (but those under 12 may ride without the course).
As we pass a major intersection, Leclaire smiles. “From here you can cross the mountains to the Mad River Valley. From there you can ride south to Massachusetts and north to Canada. The trails in Canada are fantastic and seem to go on forever. At some of the warming huts you can even order a steak!”
They may not serve steak, but locals flock to Spear’s Store and Ballard’s, both of which have large plowed areas for snowmobilers’ vehicles and trailers. Kristi Brown at Ballard’s says Fridays are surprisingly busy. “One recent, sunny Friday we had 50 or 60 snowmobiles stop for gas and food. Most drivers use super gas so a fill-up is $25-30. Their business adds up.”
Back in the Sno-Cat, Leclaire narrates the three-hour journey from North Pasture Lane (off Carpenter Road near the Hinesburg line) to Mt. Philo and back. “That bridge we just crossed has less than $100 in it. Volunteers built it using old utility poles as supports. Rice Lumber donates all the decking material for our bridges.” As we float over the snow at between 5 and 10 mph, Leclaire identifies landowners as we cross their properties: David Carse, the Hinsdales, Joe, June and Mark Bean. “We would be nowhere without them,” he adds. Climbing a narrow and twisting section of trail up the east side of Mt. Philo, we travel a permanent right-of-way for snowmobiles that Bob Titus included in the sale of his land years ago. Then the Tucker crosses onto state land and bumps onto the paved road of the state park. Walkers reel in their dogs and stand to the side of the road as the 8-foot groomer passes.
On Saturday, March 5, SCAT will host a Ride-In at the Dutch Mill Restaurant on Route 7 in Shelburne. The midday pig roast and bonfire will benefit Camp Ta-Kum-Ta. All are welcome on foot, snowmobile, or by car.
More about VAST, including trail conditions and closures, links to current weather, and information about local clubs is at vtvast.org.