Hi all -

     Thanks to those that helped yesterday!  We got a lot done, and were able to finish up the CMP pole lines from Whitney rd, to Rt.100, Dutton Hill, and all the way out to the Windham intersection.  We put up signs at all the road crossings, and also at the intersections.  Still more to put up on the Whitney rd, to Cumberland/No. Yarmouth end, and also from there back to Gray Plaza.  We have some bridge work and a trail reroute to take care of in the next couple weeks.  Email or call Brad if you can help, 428-3308.  Thanks. 

 

Brad

We're kicking off the 11-12 season with trail work parties starting this Sunday.  Lots of bridges to repair, trees to remove, signs to be put up, etc. before snow flies.  We'll be meeting this Sunday 9/18 at 9am at the end of Libby Hill rd. where it turns to dirt.  Bring an ATV if you have one, chainsaw, and/or clippers.  Contact Brad for more info: 428-3308

 

After one of the best snow years in recent memory here in Gray, the season has come to a close...Due to the onset of Spring and the recent rains, and with respect to our landowners, we are closing ALL trails in Gray to ALL traffic effective immediately.  Thanks to all the club members and hard working volunteers for keeping the 42 miles of trails in Gray, cleared, bridged, signed, groomed, and open for all to use again this season!!!  Most folks have no idea how much work it takes to keep this trail system in tact.  Every volunteer is very much appreciated no matter how little or large a contribution you are able to make during the course of the year, however there are a few that go above and beyond and without them, there would be no trail system available to enjoy here in Gray.  With that said, I would like to personally thank the following, for making my life that much easier!

 

Bronc Skilling - Spends countless hours in the fall helping us prepare the trails for the winter, making sure the grooming equipment is mechanically sound, and assisted with our largest project to date, the Bombi ram steer project, which Bronc has donated over a month's worth of labor and saved us hundreds of dollars on parts.  Bronc has been doing this for the club for over 15 years! 

 

Kim Shelley - Between serving as the club treasurer for the past 15 years, landowner relations, fundraising committe member, and Winterfest coordinator, as well as many hours spent on the trails in the fall and winter during club work parties, Kim has been an integral part of the club and carried the weight of 2 to 3 positions all on her own.  Most of this work is tedious, time consuming, and goes unnoticed, however is very much appreciated by all of us!

 

Doug Falabella - New to the club a couple years ago, Doug has been an addition that any club president loves to see come aboard!  Right out of the gate Doug has been a huge help.  I reviewed the trail work party sheets from the fall and winter and cannot find one work party that he missed.  Keep in mind I schedule these for every Sunday from the end of August through Christmas!  Doug also brought a lot of grooming experience along with him from his old club, and has been a huge help to me in respect to Grooming activities in West Gray.  Doug has also spent a lot of time working on the grooming equipment and donated the use of his tractor at times when we needed it.  Thanks Doug!

 

Clarke MacDonald - Thanks to Clarke, our club now has the ram steer floater Bombi project completed and operational!  This project included many different hands, however without Clarke's it would not be a reality, plain and simple.  His dedication to the project, and long nights working through different issues along the way are greatly appreciated.  Clarke has also been there every time I called on him for help, and also rarely missed any work party, fall or winter.  I'm glad he finally got to groom with the Bombi this year after all the hard work, and for any of you that had the oppurtunity to have first tracks after he went through, know what an addition this rig will be to our fleet of groomers.  Thanks Clarke! 

 

  We have been busy getting all of our trails in the best shape of the season over the past few nights in preperation for this weekends Winterfest!  Clark groomed from Cole Farms to Gray Plaza, Big Apple, across the turnpike, Rt.115 to the High School, Crystal Lake, and down Libby Hill with the Bombi last night.  Brad and Doug have been grooming the West Gray trail from the High School to Windham, Elder Rd., and all other West Gray trails which are in excellent condition.  Hope you are all out there enjoying the trails and stop by to see us at Winterfest on Saturday, March 5th!

 

GSW

All groomers have been out since the storm yesterday and operations will continue this evening in order to get the trails flat again before the warmup tomorrow and refreeze that is forecasted for Tuesday.  Please tread lightly and keep the snow on the trails!  Only takes a few cowboys to tear the trails up.  Hope you are all out there enjoying the trails while we have all this snow! 

  With the hard pack snow conditions, we've been doing our best over the past two weeks to continue to try and smooth out the trails. Thanks to  Clarke MacDonald and Bronc Skilling for all their hard work getting the Bombi up and running.  These two have spent countless hours on this project.  If you see them on the trail, take a minute to say thanks!  Clarke has been pulling the big drag on the South Gray trails, over to the High School and Crystal lake area, while Doug and Brad continue to hit the West Gray trails with the widetracks and drags.  We'll put off grooming operations while this storm hits, and pick back up as soon as the trails are broken open and settle.  As always, try to tread lightly, and keep the snow on the trails.  Hopefully we can squeeze a few more weeks out of this amazing winter!