This is a Club that works hard!

Snowmobiling Access Gained In Lyndonville

Tena Starr
Staff Writer

LYNDONVILLE -- For the first time in years, snowmobilers will be able to reach downtown Lyndonville.

The Vermont Agency of Transportation has agreed to let snowmobilers use an old trail that is in its right of way along the west side of the railroad tracks.

Earlier, VTRANS had said it did not want a snowmobile trail in the right of way, but at the urging of the Lyndonville village trustees, Lyndon Municipal Administrator Art Sanborn, and Paul Gilman, president of the Lyndon Sno Cruisers snowmobile club, it came to a compromise. The trail must be 25 feet away from the center of the tracks, and that works because the right of way in that area is unusually wide.

VTRANS will put up a fence to make sure the snowmobilers keep their distance from the railroad tracks, Sanborn said. The reason for that is the possibility of derailment, he said.

"If you happen to be in the wrong place at the wrong time, you're dead," he said.

The trail will be cleaned up and signed either this weekend or the next, and it will be ready for use by Sunday, Dec. 16 when the VAST trails open up for the season, Gilman said.




Volunteers will have to do some light brush cutting to get it in shape, he said. It will run from the car wash near the Lynburke Motel on North Main Street to a parking area near the Asia House restaurant on Depot Street.

Originally, the Sno Cruisers club had hoped to get the trail to go as far as the Lyndon Freight House. However, that would involve crossing the street and maybe some damage to the park during thaws, trustees had noted at a meeting on the idea last month.

It actually makes more sense for snowmobilers to park north of the Asia House and walk to their destinations, Gilman said. That way, nearly all downtown businesses may benefit from the potential business. There are at least four restaurants within minutes of the parking area.

Another piece of good news is that there is still hope for a crossing so snowmobilers may get to Northeast Agricultural Sales, a snowmobile dealer, Gilman said.

It's looking good, but it's not a definite," he said.

"This first year, everyone's going to be watching us, and it can be shut down at any time," Gilman said.

There's always a renegade, but 99.9 percent of snowmobilers use trails properly, he said.

I remember the days of 20 snowmobiles parked outside the Miss L. Always wished I could do that, but that trail has been closed for years. Would be nice if the trail could get to there at some point. I know it's a moot point to get it all the way through Lyndonville, but at least to High Boy, Bagel Depot, and the Miss L would be nice. Would help those folks out a lot. Shame the town boards are not more snowmobile friendly.

One step at a time