SAM Partners with Land Trust to Protect Trail in Northfield
One of the most important north-south snowmobile trail corridors in Northfield is one step closer to permanent protection thanks to a partnership between landowners Bill and Nancy Ames, the Northfield Snowmobile Club, the Town of Northfield, Mount Grace Land Conservation ...Read more
Published on January 6, 2016 in Environment, News & Updates
Tags: access, environment, volunteers
2016 Massachusetts Recreational Trails Program Grant Applications Open
The Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation has just announced that the 2016 Massachusetts Recreational Trails Program grant applications are open. Information Sessions: Three information sessions will be held to inform and update the public on the Recreational Trails Program, ...Read more
Published on October 11, 2015 in Education, News & Updates
Tags: access, DCR, education, public lands
New Trend for Land and Snowmobile Trails (Larry Tucker)
This is the time of year to get our trails cleaned and ready for the coming snowmobile season. The trail crews for all the clubs are out there working on our most important asset – our trails. My club has ...Read more
Published on November 28, 2014 in Environment, Guest Columns, News & Updates
Tags: access, DCR, environment, opinion, public lands
2014 Massachusetts Trails Conference
The Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) in partnership with the Massachusetts Recreational Trail Advisory Board (MARTAB) presents the 2014 Massachusetts Trails Conference to be held on Saturday, November 8, 2014 at the Double Tree Hotel and Conference Center in ...Read more
Published on September 30, 2014 in General Announcements, News & Updates
Tags: access, DCR, education, environment, public lands
Committee To Plan National Forest Designation
The Franklin Regional Council of Governments has contacted 20 communities, requesting that the town Select Boards appoint a representative to the Mohawk Trail Woodlands Partnership Advisory Committee to study the National Forest Designation. The deadline is July 25, 2014. There are ...Read more
Published on June 29, 2014 in Environment, National, News & Updates
Tags: access, DCR, environment, National, opinion, public lands
DCR Releases Volunteer in Parks Program Guide
The Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation releases their new Volunteer in the Parks Program Guide policy “with an opportunity to achieve the goal of standardizing and simplifying the process for proposing, reviewing, and conducting all volunteer activities – whether ...Read more
Published on May 2, 2014 in General Announcements, News & Updates
Tags: access, clubs, DCR, environment, Grooming, press release, public lands, volunteers
National Forest Designation Public Meetings
Do you support or oppose land being designated as National Forest in Massachusetts? There is a proposal by the state and the U.S. Forest Service that would provide federal funds to expand forestry activities on privately owned land. Those lands ...Read more
Published on February 10, 2014 in General Announcements, National, News & Updates
Tags: access, environment, legislative, National, press release, public lands
Snowmobiles and Land Partnerships in Massachusetts (Larry Tucker)
The Snowmobile Association of Massachusetts has worked to create an awareness of SAM among public and private land agencies. Over the last couple of years SAM has established relationships with land trusts, has partnered with a land trust to purchase ...Read more
Published on January 26, 2014 in Guest Columns, Legislative Affairs, News & Updates
Tags: access, DCR, environment, legislative, opinion, public lands
Conservation Restrictions and Snowmobiles (Larry Tucker)
The topic of Conservation Restrictions (CR) is involving an ever-increasing amount of SAM’s time and attention, since it is within these CR’s, that to a great extent, the future of our recreation lie. In the October and November issues of ...Read more
Published on December 25, 2013 in Legislative Affairs, News & Updates
Tags: access, DCR, opinion
Snowmobile Trails Damaged By Illegal Use
An open letter from the Florida Mountaineers Snowmobile Club. Our Club experienced a very disturbing incident on Sunday, December, 1, 2013. At approximately 2:30 PM, our club president’s cell phone started ringing off the hook from various landowners stating that ...Read more
Published on December 13, 2013 in Guest Columns, In The News, News & Updates
Tags: access, clubs, environment, public lands, volunteers
Massachusetts Trails Conference (Larry Tucker)
While this past summer did have its hot spells, overall it was real nice with beautiful weather. I hope everyone was able to enjoy some cookouts, camping, the beach and some parties. While we put our sleds away for the ...Read more
Published on November 4, 2013 in Legislative Affairs, News & Updates
Tags: access, DCR, education, environment, people, public lands, sam
Snowmobile Winter Access To Yellowstone National Park Announced
The BlueRibbon Coalition reports: The National Park Service (NPS) has announced the release of a final Rule/Regulation for Winter Use of Yellowstone. The publishing of the final Rule officially completes the Winter Use Plan/Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (SEIS) process. The ...Read more
Published on October 24, 2013 in General Announcements, National, News & Updates
Tags: access, National, press release
DCR Volunteers in Parks Program Guide Draft
The DCR released a draft of their newly proposed policy as it relates to volunteers and non-profit organizations working at DCR properties. All snowmobile clubs should review the document and comment, both to the DCR and the Snowmobile Association of Massachusetts. ...Read more
Published on June 23, 2013 in General Announcements, In The News, News & Updates
Tags: access, DCR, in the news, legislative, public lands, volunteers
Comment on Yellowstone Proposed Rule for Winter Use
SITUATION The National Park Service (NPS) has announced the release of a Proposed Rule concerning winter use inYellowstone National Park for public review and comment. This rulemaking process is in addition to the Final Winter Use Plan/Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement ...Read more
Published on June 14, 2013 in Legislative Affairs, National, News & Updates, Snowmobile Travel
Tags: access, environment, legislative, National, opinion, press release, public lands, travel
Yellowstone Snowmobile Trek to Old Faithful (Jack Welch)
On Sunday the 13th of January, I had the opportunity to join a guided group on the trek from West Yellowstone, Montana to view the many thermal features, several groups of wildlife, and Old Faithful. I have visited Yellowstone in ...Read more
Published on February 1, 2013 in Guest Columns, National, News & Updates, Snowmobile Travel
Tags: access, people, public lands, travel
Permanent Snowmobile Trail Protection (video)
Permanent Trail Protection – Learn how to set up permanent snowmobile trails via the use of land easements. Topics include how to approach landowners, assessing trail easement values, reassuring landowners and closing the deal. The workshop was presented at the ...Read more
Published on November 8, 2012 in Education, News & Updates
Tags: access, clubs, education, opinion, public lands
In The News: ISC 2012
Press coverage of ISC 2012 appeared in the Worcester Telegram and Gazette, featuring interviews with SAM members as well as our guests from Russia (pictured above). An excerpt of the article follows, the whole story can be read at this ...Read more
Published on June 11, 2012 in In The News, News & Updates
Tags: access, clubs, education, ISC 2012, opinion, people, sam, volunteers
American Council of Snowmobile Associations E-News (Christine Jourdain)
Snowmobilers on Capitol Hill Snowmobilers from 20 states (including SAM members) were in Washington, DC March 17-20 to “Tell the Truth About Snowmobiling.” This is the 13th Annual Snowmobile Fly-In. Sunday was a day for meetings! The Western and Midwest ...Read more
Published on March 27, 2012 in Legislative Affairs, National, News & Updates
Tags: access, education, environment, ISC 2012, legislative, National, opinion, public lands
ACSA Fly-In to Washington DC (Randy Toth)
SAM President Dan Gould and Legislative Chairman Randy Toth attended the American Council of Snowmobile Associations (ACSA) annual Washington DC Fly-In from March 17 through March 20, 2012. To be more accurate we actually went via AMTRAK. On Sunday the ...Read more
Published on March 25, 2012 in Guest Columns, Legislative Affairs, National, News & Updates
Tags: access, education, environment, legislative, National, opinion, public lands
ISC 2012 RTP Grant
Attention Massachusetts snowmobilers and others interested in maintaing recreational trails. Here is a rare opportunity for snowmobile leaders & volunteers to attend ISC 2012 through the RTP grant. You must be a Massachusetts Resident You must include a $50.00 check ...Read more
Published on March 10, 2012 in General Announcements, News & Updates
Tags: access, DCR, education, ISC 2012, press release, sam
American Council of Snowmobile Associations E-News (Christine Jourdain)
RTP Update: Hopefully by now, you all know about the Recreational Trails Program. This program is funded by the federal gas tax dollars you pay every time you fill your snowmobile or other OHV. This program is housed in the ...Read more
Published on March 5, 2012 in Legislative Affairs, National, News & Updates
Tags: access, legislative, National, public lands
Israelis, Floridians, and U.S. Air Force Trek into Yellowstone Park by Snowmobile (Jack Welch)
What an Adventure! On Sunday the January 15th I had the opportunity to join a guided group on the trek from West Yellowstone, Montana to Old Faithful. Our guide was Gaylon Tibwell from Yellowstone Arctic and Yamaha Tours, one of ...Read more
Published on February 18, 2012 in Guest Columns, News & Updates
Tags: access, public lands, trail-riding, travel
We Need Your Support: An Open Letter To Snowmobilers
To all snowmobilers… I overheard a couple of fellow snowmobilers talking about our “lack of snow this season” and the fact that the forecast doesn’t look promising. It was actually an upbeat conversation until they spoke of how proud they ...Read more
Published on February 12, 2012 in Guest Columns, News & Updates
Tags: access, clubs, opinion, volunteers
American Council of Snowmobile Associations E-News (Christine Jourdain)
Victory for Snowmobilers ACSA partnered with the Michigan Snowmobile Association to fight the efforts of a single person to ban snowmobiling and gun hunting in the Huron Manistee National Forest. This week the Forest Service relased their Record of Decision ...Read more
Published on February 5, 2012 in Legislative Affairs, National, News & Updates
Tags: access, legislative, National, public lands
American Council of Snowmobile Associations E-News
RTP Update The future of RTP is bleak. This is not new news to you – RTP has been extended a number of times during the past several months. It was last extended through March 31st. There is a national ...Read more
Published on January 20, 2012 in Legislative Affairs, National, News & Updates
Tags: access, legislative, National
A Community's Passion for a Sport (Melissa Allard) (video)
Many of you have seen me running around with my camera at various SAM events over the past season. For those who don’t know me, I’m a born-and-raised snowmobiler from the Berkshires. Growing up, the Snow Seekers were like my ...Read more
Published on January 12, 2012 in Guest Columns, News & Updates
Tags: access, DCR, education, environment, family, opinion, people, public lands, sam, trail-riding, volunteers
State Buys Forest Land for $8.8M
A 5.4-square-mile forest in Leverett and Shutesbury will be protected from development through a land conservation restriction announced today by state officials who called it the largest of its kind in Massachusetts history. The Brushy Mountain land restriction will protect ...Read more
Published on December 24, 2011 in General Announcements, In The News, News & Updates
Tags: access, environment, press release, public lands
American Council of Snowmobile Associations E-News (Christine Jourdain)
The American Council of Snowmobile Associations eBay Auction closes soon: Don’t forget to check out the ACSA eBay Auction, all items will close out in a few hours and will be shipped in time for Christmas! DC Fly-In Dates Mark ...Read more
Published on December 20, 2011 in National, News & Updates
Tags: access, environment, National, opinion, public lands
