The Rangeley Lakes Snowmobile Club begins its 25^th year in 2011.  We wish all of our wonderful members an enjoyable 2011.  As of January 1^st, we have our trails open and packed.  There have been plenty of riders here for the Christmas Vacation week. We are off to a good start but more snow and consistently chilly weather will be welcome. Current conditions are available on our web site and by calling our Snow Phone at 207-864-7336.  Our maps are available either at many Rangeley area stores, the Rangeley Lakes Chamber of Commerce or by mail at the address below. Maps are $5 at points of sale and $6 if ordered by mail. Please send mail orders to our address above.

Also, Anniversary Mugs can be purchased during Snodeo at one of our booths.  The cost is $10 or one of our regular club mugs for $8.00.  They also can be purchased by mail by adding $4.95 for the cost of shipping and handling. 

Snodeo will be January 20-22 and plans are well underway.  We will have our largest fireworks display ever to celebrate Snodeo and the RLSC’s 25^th anniversary. Art Dower, a co-owner of Atlas Fireworks, is donating over $1000 in additional displays.  If the weather cooperates, this should be spectacular from any vantage point.  The best seat in the house is on your snowmobile out on Rangeley Lake.  Consider participating in the snowmobile parade, which starts at the Rangeley Inn, proceeds down Rangeley’s Main Street and then out onto the lake ice just before the fireworks begin. For a full schedule of events, check our web site or look in the MSA Newspaper.  We are printing schedules that will be available at business sponsors around town.

We received good news from the National Park Service that a trail that allowed connections between lower Mooselookmeguntic Lake and ITS Corridor Trail 117 will be open for this year.  Corridor 117 and this trail are not RLSC trails but many of you use it.  The RLSC was among three snowmobile clubs and several landowners that met in November with the National Park Service to discuss a proposed trail that would cross the Appalachian Trail.  This trail is used by many of the RLSC’s members as an alternative to riding on Mooselookmeguntic Lake and as a short cut to the Corridor 117 Trail.  It was a productive meeting that ultimately resulted in the National Park Service’s decision to allow this trail to reopen.

We are happy to report that our re-routing of ITS 84 connecting to New Hampshire and to Bosebuck Camps, is done.  The owners of Bosebuck Camps donated almost three weeks of excavation time to this project. Wagner Forest Management marked the trail and removed trees as needed.  Steve Morrill also donated several days of excavation time as well. The Club’s Project Director (our liaison with the Town of Rangeley and the person who manages our Municipal Grant), Rick Godaire helped build a final bridge and sign the new trail.  I apologize to Rick for whacking him in the head with a sign and giving him a nasty cut. He would not stop work even for a little first aid.  He's a tough man who does a lot for the Club. Thanks Rick. This new trail should be a safer alternative to riding the plowed roads up there and it should hold snow late into the season.  The new trail also offers some very nice views. Thank you to everyone who helped get this big project done.

At this time, we are undecided about a January Membership meeting.  Please check our web site.  We hope to see many of you here for Snodeo. We will draw four Easy Bucks winners Saturday afternoon during Snodeo so remember to be there to double your prize.

The RLSC Officers, Board of Directors and membership wishes everyone a wonderful and safe 2011 We look forward to you riding here in Rangeley.

Steve Dudley, president

Please visit our Sponsors page to check out businesses who have donated or pledged to donate to our grooming and trail maintenance program for this season. Be sure to patronize these businesses when in the area. It is due to their donations that we have the great riding conditions we all enjoy!