By Adam Frisk, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
With the warmer temperatures, the melting snow, and residents trading their sleds for sap buckets, local officials and businesses are looking back on an “excellent” snowmobile season.
Despite battling fallen trees and some grueling equipment repairs, the Haliburton County Snowmobile Association (HCSA) said the trails saw high traffic, an increase in pass sales, and a boost to the local economy.
“Well, it started with trees down, and it ends up with trees down, but the verdict is it was an excellent season,” Neil Vanderstoop, HCSA president, told The Highlander.
The season got off to an uncommonly early start in mid-December, but the harsh winter temperatures put heavy strain on the association’s machinery mid-season.
“The challenges this year with grooming were keeping the equipment together when it got to those extreme temperatures,” Vanderstoop said. “Silly stuff like hydraulic lines and wheel bearings (failing).”
The president credited the association’s mechanic for working around the clock to keep things moving, often turning repairs around in hours rather than days.
The early start to the season translated to busier dining rooms. Over at Kosy Korner in Haliburton Village, the influx of early sledders was much-welcomed and was a vital part of the winter economy.
“We definitely have an influx in our clients, specifically snowmobilers, that come on weekends and even during the week,” manager Emily Keller said. “You get a slew of different varieties of ages, too.”
She noted that sledders came with healthy appetites, often skipping the lighter snacks for “heartier foods” like burgers, beer, and the “Eye-Opener” breakfast. The sledding community is known for being “good tippers” and highly loyal, Keller added.
However, while accessibility to the main strip in Haliburton was generally good, Keller highlighted one area for improvement – helping tourists find their way once they park their sleds at Head Lake Park. She said that while the regulars know the lay of the land, first-time visitors sometimes struggled finding their way to the shops and restaurants.
“A few of them had mentioned that signage at the parking area could be better… in the sense of ‘Main Street this way,’” Keller explained.
County of Haliburton manager of tourism, Angelica Ingram, said the early arrival of winter and consistently cold temperatures kept sledders on the trails throughout the area.
“Unlike some of the previous winters we have had recently, it stayed consistently cold for the majority of the winter, which helped,” she said. “Even with the early start sometimes we get thaws in the season that can be really tricky for snowmobilers and the club maintaining the trails. So we had the trails open most of the winter with less disruption, which was great.”
Vanderstoop said HCSA remained a regional leader in trail pass sales, with a two per cent increase over the previous year. He said most of the sales were seasonal passes, indicating a dedicated, recurring rider base, but the “pass-less” rider was a concern.
“The lack of passes was an issue this year,” the president said. “Some guys wait until after 4 p.m. to head out… that just hurts the sport.”
While the safety record was generally good, Vanderstoop pointed to speed as the root cause of complaints on the rail trail. Comparing sleds to ATVs, he explained that while dust keeps ATV speeds naturally lower, the “instant” power of a snowmobile requires more rider discipline.
The HCSA will hold its annual general meeting on May 24. The event will include the announcement of the Volunteer of the Year and a donation presentation to the Minden Urgent Care Clinic.
So, what’s next for Vanderstoop?
“I’m just sitting in the garage boiling down my maple syrup,” the president laughed, while offering one final piece of seasonal advice. “Don’t boil sap in the garage and try to wax your truck at the same time.”
