Wow, what a fantastic season!  We've been waiting for a season like this.  Long, cold and lots of snow.  As I write this, the trails have only been closed for a couple of weeks in the far north, and our Paudash trails were open the longest in my memory (anyone care to remember a longer season?)

Now, anything great also has some hardships, and we did have some.  Storms caused lots of trees to fall, and we had rain that caused some problems.  But our volunteers and groomer operators worked tirelessly to clear those trails and get the trails back in good shape.  We actually had closed our trails on March 7, as the weather warmed up and the rain started, followed by a freeze-up and freezing rain, which dropped a lot of brush and trees on the trails.  Despite this, after a lot of work, we were able to open a decent amount of trail, and we were able to extend the season to the end of March. 

Among the highlights of the season were the newly repaired bridge near Mason Hill on E109 that allowed our groomer to groom that section of trail for the first time in five years.  The 612 (Baptiste) bypass was opened, which allowed us to keep that trail open after losing access to our old trail.  We spent some money on machine time and culverts on 608 (Hadlington) north of Highway 118 to make it less likely that we will sink a groomer there and be able to open it earlier.  The E110 bypass was finished mid-season, but we did get it open for a period of time, and this section is now on a road allowance after losing access on the old section.

The 607 was reconnected to the 606 rail trail, and with the help of our volunteer Ron S, Billings Lake was staked, and riders were again able to get to Gooderham and connect with Buckhorn and Haliburton trails.

These bypasses cost the club time and money, which is in very short supply, so it is very important for us to recognize and appreciate all of our landowners and respect and not trespass in the off-season and to stay on trail.  There are some sections of our trail system that cannot be replaced with bypasses, so if we lose access, the trail will be gone forever.  A big thank you to our landowners for their continued support.

We also improved the access to Chandos Lake on the 616 (Glen Alda) trail and to Baptiste Lake on the 612.  We paid for machine time and purchased some material and it was well worth it as it made them both safer and easier to get off and on the lake.

Our clubhouse received a much-needed facelift with lots more seating and tables, fresh paint, and the roof and wood stove were repaired.

In spite of it being a cold day, our cookout was very successful with lots of attendees who were very generous with donations and the purchase of merchandise and tickets for draws and the silent auction.

We did have several groomer breakdowns, but our new groomer coordinator this year, Darrin, and his excellent groomer staff were able to get them up and running as fast as possible.

Our first day of grooming was December 12th.  At that point, we had all three groomers running every day, packing all 290 kilometers of trails.  Again, our trails and those of Old Hastings were some of the earliest clubs to have trails open in central Ontario, with our first trail opening on January 1st.

Overall, we had a good season with lots of snow and very little warm weather up to March Break.  We closed trails then, thinking that it was the end, but there was still lots of snow in the bush, and when things got cold again, and we got more snow, we were able to groom and re-open some of the trails.  Our final trail closure was on March 30th. 

We did have some mechanical challenges, as we do every season, and the team got to fixing them as quickly as possible.  We also experienced some scheduling challenges, leaving some trails in rougher shape than we would have liked a few times.  We are hoping to grow our grooming team a bit more in the future.  If you think you might be interested in grooming for the club, please contact us.

Future trail work this year involves Wolf Lake trail (607) to bypass a very sketchy section that our groomer got badly stuck in.

  
The bridge near Fishtail Lake on TOP E trail north of Harcourt needs to be replaced but because of the large cost, we will need a grant from the OFSC.  We will be working on the application in the coming weeks.

We have many other trail improvements we want to undertake and are hoping we can raise the funds to complete them.  These include doing some work on TOP E south of the clubhouse in order to allow us to open that section of the trail earlier and reduce the wear and tear on the groomers.  We are going to be reviewing the list of other potential projects at the May club meeting, and then focus our energy and money on these.

  

We held our annual volunteer and groomer operator appreciation event this past weekend as a small gesture to thank them for the countless hours they put in and for the challenges they face and handle so well. 

They say it takes a village.

Running a not-for-profit club like the Paudash Trail Blazers Snowmobile Club might look easy from the outside, but behind every groomed trail, every sign, every bridge, and every ride, there’s a small group of dedicated people making it happen.

Today, our Committee is eight strong. And while that group has carried this club a long way, the reality is simple: If we want to take the Paudash experience to the next level, we need to grow the village.

As we look ahead to the 2026/2027 season, we’re not thinking small. We’re planning to:

 Host a full-scale Poker Run

 Launch a snowmobile raffle

 Expand merchandising through sponsor partners

 Increase our social media presence and storytelling

 Continue improving our trail system, grooming, and facilities

That’s how we elevate the rider experience.

That’s how we build something people talk about.

That’s how we secure the future of the club.

But none of that happens by accident, and none of it happens with eight people. This isn’t about “Volunteering,” it’s about finding your fit, and here’s the shift we’re making:

 We’re not just looking for “help.”

 We’re building a structured, capable, and connected volunteer community.

Because not everyone wants to swing a chainsaw. And not everyone needs to.

You might be:

 Someone who loves being out on the trails

 Organized and great at planning events

 Connected to local businesses or sponsors

 Handy with tools or equipment

 A strong communicator or social media contributor

 Someone who simply wants to be part of something local and meaningful

There is a place for you here.

Instead of the old “who’s available this weekend?” approach, we’re building a better way. We want to understand:

 What you’re interested in

 What skills or experience do you bring

 When you’re available (seasonal, occasional, or regular)

 Where you’re most comfortable helping (your local area or across the system)

From there, we’ll match people to roles, projects, and events, so your time is well used and the experience is rewarding.

This club is more than trails. It’s:

 A destination for riders

 A contributor to the local economy

 A community built on shared effort

 A legacy that’s been 50 years in the making

And like anything worth building, it needs people.

Over the coming weeks, we’ll be reaching out with more details on how to get involved. If you’ve ever thought, “I’d help out if I knew how,” or “I’d like to be part of this, but I’m not sure where I fit.” This is your moment. Because the future of the Paudash Trail Blazers won’t be built by a few. It will be built by a village. And we’d like you to be part of it. We will be sending out a survey in the near future. Watch for it, and if you want to join the village, fill it in.

We are always looking for volunteers or donations, and encourage people to contact us through Facebook page or info@paudashtrailblazers.on.ca

Thanks for your support, and wish you and your families a safe and happy 2026