Staff Writer
LINNEUS, Maine — Keeping track of 165 miles of snowmobile trails is no easy task. Just ask the Linneus Sno-Sports Club.
Grooming and maintaining trails are an everyday responsibility for volunteers and this year, it has become extremely costly to the club. Despite several suppers, ticket raffles and a healthy club membership, fuel costs have tripled, exceeding the club’s budget, which in turn puts trails in jeopardy of not getting enough needed maintenance.
Carl Campbell has been a member of the club for years and he said this year’s continuing gas hikes has exhausted the club and its members.
“We’re slowly going behind,” he said. “If we can’t keep up with it, the trails would only be groomed once a week instead of two and three times. It could become a safety issue, but more of an inconvenience to riders.”
The trails would become rough without the additional grooming, which, could put riders at risk. Campbell said riders are already at risk from driving at high speeds, and adding ungroomed trails to that equation could be disastrous.
“We’ve already lost five riders this year,” said Campbell. “There’s been a lot of deaths this season. People trying to go too fast for trail conditions — we like to keep our trials smooth at all times and if that weren’t the case somebody could get hurt.”
The entire state of Maine has experienced a boom in snowfall, which has been great for snowmobilers, but like Campbell said everyone has felt the impact of increased fuel costs.
“With so much snow, we’ve had to groom so much more often,” he said.
Increased membership could help offset the expenses and those interested in helping out can call the club at 532-SNOW (7669).
