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1/29/2008 9:59:00 AM Email this article • Print this article

Rich Desjarlais of Troy fills the tanks of his and his dad Gil's snowmobiles at Marty's 1st Stop in Danville Monday.


Diane Chamberlin signs the petition at Marty's 1st Stop to start a new Peacham-Barnet snowmobile club in hopes the trails through those two towns will be reopened as part of the VAST system.

Peacham Sledder Petitions For New Snowmobile Club

Sally Anderson Cook
Staff Writer

PEACHAM -- Baffled cross-country snowmobilers head south from Danville anticipating what has been called "the prettiest trail in the state" through Peacham toward West Barnet, where they know there is gas and pizza, only to find blocked or nearly impassable trails.

Meanwhile, West Barnet and Peacham snowmobilers are mostly marooned from the rest of the Vermont Association of Snow Travelers' vast connected network of trails throughout the state, finding they have to trailer their snowmobiles at least to Cabot or Danville to access trails.

The problem is the Bayley-Hazen Snowmobile Club no longer exists in the Caledonia County Snowmobile Association, and by virtue of that fact, it's no longer a member of VAST. While a few local members of the now defunct club try to keep open short trails in the two communities, it's mostly a disconnect from the rest of the snowmobiling state.

But there is a light of hope over the horizon, and he's got headlights on his three snowmobiles to add to the shine.

"I'm trying to start a new snowmobile club," said Kevin Hudson, 36, who lives on the backside of Peacham Pond. "It all started out when I tried to ride through Peacham to Walden, and I had to go around through Cabot to get there. I headed toward Cabot and it's horrible. I'm half a mile from the VAST trail that Groton grooms. We're now land-locked. I got pretty upset when I had to stay here."

Hudson said he really wanted to find a way to reopen trails through Peacham, even if they weren't the same trails of the past. He wound up calling Ted Chase, the Caledonia County Snowmobile Association trailmaster, to ask what he could do.

"Ted said I had to get 25 signatures on a petition to start a new snowmobile club," Hudson said.

If he did that and brought the petitions to the county club and membership accepted the new club, then it would be a VAST member, he learned.

So, Hudson put out petitions to find out what kind of support there was. He wound up with way more than 25 signatures on his petitions, but he's not sure exactly how many there are since they are still out there. Petitions are at Tim's Convenience Store in Plainfield, Harry's Hardware in Cabot, Derrick's Quick Stop in Marshfield, and Marty's 1st Stop in Danville.

"I've got 30 alone at Tim's Convenience Store," Hudson said of signatures on his petitions.

By last Friday, there were more than 50 signatures on his petitions, he said, plus he's gotten a few telephone calls of support and found there are a few other people in the area who would like to see a new snowmobile club.








"I'm going to try to do my best," the self-employed excavation contractor said. "But, I'm going to need some support. I'm going to need people who are willing to come forward and serve as officers and trail groomers."

Caledonia County Snowmobile Association Director Ken Gammell from Newark said that he would welcome a new club representing the Peacham-Barnet area, but he said Hudson will have to have to follow through with what is required.

"We not going to try to make it too difficult," Gammell said Sunday. "All he has to do is to meet the petition requirements. I'd love to help him in any way I can. I love that ride through Peacham and West Barnet. I would love to have it open."

But Gammell cautioned that Hudson is going to have to have perseverance.

"We'll have to talk to landowners and get their permission to cross their land," Gammell said.

He said that before the problem with the Bayley Hazen Club, that lasted several years, became insurmountable, it was the largest club in the state and had the best "ride-in" that people from all around the state looked forward to. But, now he said it was time to look forward.

"Let's get the trails going. Let's put the past behind us," Gammell said. "What is great is that Kevin has come forward. We really need to get the trails open again. We don't need to fight and argue over them. We just want the trails to be open. Nobody wants trails open any more than I do."

Hudson agreed with that sentiment saying he had dished out $300 to register his three snowmobiles, and now what he really wants to do is ride them.

He said "trucking my slide far away" doesn't cut it.

Bypassing problems during the past four to five years to try to keep trails in Peacham open again has already cost VAST $30,000 to $40,000, Gammell said.

Costs occurred when alternate routes were developed around landowners' closed trails due to controversy.

Part of the problem is that once the Bayley Hazen club was out of business, as far as the county and state organizations went was insurance, he said. Because landowners had $1 million in liability insurance from VAST under the membership club trail system, $2 million for state and forestry land, once the Bayley Hazen club was outside of the membership, landowners were reluctant to sign off on permission for snowmobiles to ride across their land.

"The state won't let you ride on their land without insurance," Gammell said.

Ironically, the state has a law that says landowners aren't liable for accidents on their property that happen involving people involved in recreational pursuits. But, in a sometimes lawsuit happy society, most people, including the town of Peacham is not a believer.

Peacham may be the only town in the region with a specific snowmobile policy that requires proof that any group requesting permission to travel even short distances on their maintained roads have proof of a $1 million liability insurance policy, renewable annually by specific application. Directly crossing a town road or traveling on roads not maintained by the town does not require the permit.

The policy is written to protect the town and all of its officers, employees, elected officials, and agents. For some property owners like Board of Selectmen Chairman Tim McKay, VAST-backed insurance was not a prerequisite when he gave permission for snowmobilers to ride over his land this year, but for fellow board member Gary Swenson it was.

"I said no," Swenson said of his response to someone who asked if snowmobilers could continue using a trail through his property on Mack's Mountain Road. Swenson, who is an attorney, said that he and others remarked it was much quieter in Peacham this year without widespread snowmobiling through the village.

Swenson said he believes a new trail through Hookerville bypassed the Lookout and Macks mountains former trails.

God I can only hope this happens . No offense but i'm sick of going through Cabot for the last 3 years. And if you never ridden this trail or area in the past your really missing out. Plus I miss Martys!!!

I truly hope that for everyone's sake this new club is approved and that we will be able to ride the Peacham trails once again real soon! I must say that Peacham has very beautiful views and my family misses riding in that area! I agree with topper302, having to go to Cabot to get to Groton sucks!

Well, Ken Gammell said the problems with the Bayley Hazen club were insurmountable. Insurmountable for him, some of the clubs in the county, the VAST board of Directors, Executive Director, past president, etc. Not the club. I think it's a waste that our club had submitted paperwork for several trail projects totallying about $15,000 to get most of our closed trails open this year. All but two projects were denied due to lack of funds. So now it's taken $30,000 - $40,000 to reroute around our former trails. I bet it will take much more since once trails are lost they can be lost forever. So was it worth it to expell the club? Doesn't seem like it to me. Personalities vs. $100,000 and loss of land? I would take working out the differences. Shows where the VAST officials stand and their priorities. Good luck to the new club.

I offer the best of luck to this new club if it materializes...but I have no doubt you will bitch about them and there sucky trails too!

i think she means it sucks to drive all the way around in terms of distance and mileage, and not the actual trails being shitty

Dont count on this happening anytime soon. Peacham is notoriously Anti-snowmobile, its the new little rich town, with a connecticut attitude,..the haydays are over.

"Connecticut attitude" OUCH!!!

Dont ya mean new york city attitude? I love watching them driving home from the ski areas every weekend its like watching a student driver at the wheel except in a bmw.

Very true, but it could be the famous Fairfield County snobs that your mainly talking about who are anti-snowmobile. Greenwich Darien New Canaan, including my hometown Wilton CT and then NYC. When I leave my house on Sundays from my place in Chester I cant beleive how many CT plates I see coming down and making the left hand turn onto RT11 from Ludlow. Especially when it snows its like the road doesnt have to be plowed because the travel it gets from the cars heading home in their BMW, Land Rovers and Fully loaded Burbans. And once they get on the highway they dont even know how to drive in the snow. Thats another story and Joe knows was I am talking about his 7 hr drive once.

On the other note. good luck with starting the new club we need to re-open the trails the best we can otherwise we wont have anything. Just dont piss off the landowners and we will have trails. There is one trail in Weston, VT that is on the verge of closing apparently. They wont even try and groom a section on the side of the road of the snow bank or anything. So its either try and go on snow bank or ruin carbides on muddy dirt roads for 4 miles yeah 4 miles i think, I had to stop once for my dad because he is not that good on going on the snow banks so he was overheating on the hardpack dirt at that time.


Phil

You seriously need a major ATTITUDE adjustment! Not everyone on here is attacking the Cabot club and trails!!!! I simply meant that it sucks having to ride from Danville to Cabot to get to Groton when there is a shorter, prettier way! People miss the beautiful Peacham trails, and those of us that used to ride them and live near them miss them. Maybe you should stop attacking everyone on here and stop making yourself look like an ASS! I used to actually respect your posts, but now forget it. All you can manage to do is attack everyone, and think that we are all out to get you...

Thanks Skifreek! That is EXACTLY what I meant!

I love the cabot trails I also was just wanting another way , just driving to work the same way bores me, so i go different ways, I think the word CABOT just makes people go crazy.

I could not agree with you more! I love going to Cabot as well, but the same ride gets boring!

Sorry for being touchy...been a VERY sore subject these days...

Open 'em up!!!

It's going to take time.