To a lot of folks, the late start to this year’s winter was a blessing. A welcome little delay before the world turned cold and the wind began its brutal assault. Literally, the calm before the storms.
For others, the late winter was a curse. Each passing day of green and brown terrain a painful delay. An opportunity lost. Anxiety building as they gazed skyward waiting for the welcome white snow to turn our region into a frozen playground.
You will know these people as snowmobilers, and the trails around Niverville are their little piece of winter paradise.
“This was the second year in a row where the start of winter was a little disappointing,” notes Kevin Stott, Niverville town councillor and local snowmobile enthusiast. However, with January now underway and snow blanketing the ground, Stott and company can rest assured that the snowmobile season has officially begun in South-eastern Manitoba.
For avid sledders and casual hobbyists alike, the areas around Niverville provide some prime riding terrain.
“We have a good amount of highway trails,” says Stott while pointing out that Niverville is surrounded by a perimeter trail and that town to town travel is common in the area.
As for snowmobiling in Niverville town limits, local bylaws ensure minimal disturbance for town residents. Sleds are restricted to coming in and out of town by the shortest route possible and only for gas and food.
Most trails in Manitoba are maintained by local snowmobile clubs under the umbrella of Snoman Inc. Snoman, along with Manitoba Public Insurance, administer the Snopass initiative, the province’s snowmobile licensing program.
The Snopass costs $150 for the season, but the fine for being on the trails without one is over $400. New this year, your Snopass comes with a bright orange plate, making it easier to identify which sleds are and are not properly registered.
Besides avoiding the fine, there is another reason to make sure you have your Snopass. Fees go back to the member clubs to help maintain the over 12,000 kilometres of trails in the province. Stott says that this helps ensure a better sledding experience for everyone.
“I’m very pleased with the amount of maintenance,” says Stott, noting that better groomed trails mean more time riding his sled and less time repairing it.
Finally, Stott has some common sense advice for all sledders this winter: “Have a lot of fun but drive safely. Nothing ruins a good time like an accident.”
