SAM Partners with Land Trust to Protect Trail in Northfield
One of the most important north-south snowmobile trail corridors in Northfield is one step closer to permanent protection thanks to a partnership between landowners Bill and Nancy Ames, the Northfield Snowmobile Club, the Town of Northfield, Mount Grace Land Conservation ...Read more
Published on Wednesday, January 6, 2016 in Environment, News & Updates
Tags: access, environment, volunteers
2016 Massachusetts Recreational Trails Program Grant Applications Open
The Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation has just announced that the 2016 Massachusetts Recreational Trails Program grant applications are open. Information Sessions: Three information sessions will be held to inform and update the public on the Recreational Trails Program, ...Read more
Published on Sunday, October 11, 2015 in Education, News & Updates
Tags: access, DCR, education, public lands
New Trend for Land and Snowmobile Trails (Larry Tucker)
This is the time of year to get our trails cleaned and ready for the coming snowmobile season. The trail crews for all the clubs are out there working on our most important asset – our trails. My club has ...Read more
Published on Friday, November 28, 2014 in Environment, Guest Columns, News & Updates
Tags: access, DCR, environment, opinion, public lands
2014 Massachusetts Trails Conference
The Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) in partnership with the Massachusetts Recreational Trail Advisory Board (MARTAB) presents the 2014 Massachusetts Trails Conference to be held on Saturday, November 8, 2014 at the Double Tree Hotel and Conference Center in ...Read more
Published on Tuesday, September 30, 2014 in General Announcements, News & Updates
Tags: access, DCR, education, environment, public lands
DCR Releases Volunteer in Parks Program Guide
The Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation releases their new Volunteer in the Parks Program Guide policy “with an opportunity to achieve the goal of standardizing and simplifying the process for proposing, reviewing, and conducting all volunteer activities – whether ...Read more
Published on Friday, May 2, 2014 in General Announcements, News & Updates
Tags: access, clubs, DCR, environment, Grooming, press release, public lands, volunteers
Snowmobiles and Land Partnerships in Massachusetts (Larry Tucker)
The Snowmobile Association of Massachusetts has worked to create an awareness of SAM among public and private land agencies. Over the last couple of years SAM has established relationships with land trusts, has partnered with a land trust to purchase ...Read more
Published on Sunday, January 26, 2014 in Guest Columns, Legislative Affairs, News & Updates
Tags: access, DCR, environment, legislative, opinion, public lands
Conservation Restrictions and Snowmobiles (Larry Tucker)
The topic of Conservation Restrictions (CR) is involving an ever-increasing amount of SAM’s time and attention, since it is within these CR’s, that to a great extent, the future of our recreation lie. In the October and November issues of ...Read more
Published on Wednesday, December 25, 2013 in Legislative Affairs, News & Updates
Tags: access, DCR, opinion
Snowmobile Trails Damaged By Illegal Use
An open letter from the Florida Mountaineers Snowmobile Club. Our Club experienced a very disturbing incident on Sunday, December, 1, 2013. At approximately 2:30 PM, our club president’s cell phone started ringing off the hook from various landowners stating that ...Read more
Published on Friday, December 13, 2013 in Guest Columns, In The News, News & Updates
Tags: access, clubs, environment, public lands, volunteers
Massachusetts Trails Conference (Larry Tucker)
While this past summer did have its hot spells, overall it was real nice with beautiful weather. I hope everyone was able to enjoy some cookouts, camping, the beach and some parties. While we put our sleds away for the ...Read more
Published on Monday, November 4, 2013 in Legislative Affairs, News & Updates
Tags: access, DCR, education, environment, people, public lands, sam
DCR Volunteers in Parks Program Guide Draft
The DCR released a draft of their newly proposed policy as it relates to volunteers and non-profit organizations working at DCR properties. All snowmobile clubs should review the document and comment, both to the DCR and the Snowmobile Association of Massachusetts. ...Read more
Published on Sunday, June 23, 2013 in General Announcements, In The News, News & Updates
Tags: access, DCR, in the news, legislative, public lands, volunteers
Permanent Snowmobile Trail Protection (video)
Permanent Trail Protection – Learn how to set up permanent snowmobile trails via the use of land easements. Topics include how to approach landowners, assessing trail easement values, reassuring landowners and closing the deal. The workshop was presented at the ...Read more
Published on Thursday, November 8, 2012 in Education, News & Updates
Tags: access, clubs, education, opinion, public lands
In The News: ISC 2012
Press coverage of ISC 2012 appeared in the Worcester Telegram and Gazette, featuring interviews with SAM members as well as our guests from Russia (pictured above). An excerpt of the article follows, the whole story can be read at this ...Read more
Published on Monday, June 11, 2012 in In The News, News & Updates
Tags: access, clubs, education, ISC 2012, opinion, people, sam, volunteers
ISC 2012 RTP Grant
Attention Massachusetts snowmobilers and others interested in maintaing recreational trails. Here is a rare opportunity for snowmobile leaders & volunteers to attend ISC 2012 through the RTP grant. You must be a Massachusetts Resident You must include a $50.00 check ...Read more
Published on Saturday, March 10, 2012 in General Announcements, News & Updates
Tags: access, DCR, education, ISC 2012, press release, sam
Israelis, Floridians, and U.S. Air Force Trek into Yellowstone Park by Snowmobile (Jack Welch)
What an Adventure! On Sunday the January 15th I had the opportunity to join a guided group on the trek from West Yellowstone, Montana to Old Faithful. Our guide was Gaylon Tibwell from Yellowstone Arctic and Yamaha Tours, one of ...Read more
Published on Saturday, February 18, 2012 in Guest Columns, News & Updates
Tags: access, public lands, trail-riding, travel
We Need Your Support: An Open Letter To Snowmobilers
To all snowmobilers… I overheard a couple of fellow snowmobilers talking about our “lack of snow this season” and the fact that the forecast doesn’t look promising. It was actually an upbeat conversation until they spoke of how proud they ...Read more
Published on Sunday, February 12, 2012 in Guest Columns, News & Updates
Tags: access, clubs, opinion, volunteers
A Community's Passion for a Sport (Melissa Allard) (video)
Many of you have seen me running around with my camera at various SAM events over the past season. For those who don’t know me, I’m a born-and-raised snowmobiler from the Berkshires. Growing up, the Snow Seekers were like my ...Read more
Published on Thursday, January 12, 2012 in Guest Columns, News & Updates
Tags: access, DCR, education, environment, family, opinion, people, public lands, sam, trail-riding, volunteers
State Buys Forest Land for $8.8M
A 5.4-square-mile forest in Leverett and Shutesbury will be protected from development through a land conservation restriction announced today by state officials who called it the largest of its kind in Massachusetts history. The Brushy Mountain land restriction will protect ...Read more
Published on Saturday, December 24, 2011 in General Announcements, In The News, News & Updates
Tags: access, environment, press release, public lands
First Annual Massachusetts Trails Conference
This past Saturday, November 14, the First Annual Massachusetts Trails Conference was held. Over one hundred trail enthusiast attended the day-long event presented by The Massachusetts Recreational Trail Advisory Board (MARTAB) in partnership with the Department of Conservation and Recreation ...Read more
Published on Monday, November 14, 2011 in General Announcements, News & Updates
Tags: access, DCR, education, environment, public lands, sam, volunteers
SAM Trail Protection Workshop Nov 9th
Attention SAM clubs: It is vital that you attend the upcoming trail preservation workshops created specifically for you. SAM and the Highland Communities Initiative are teaming up to insure that generations of riders will always enjoy access to snowmobile trails ...Read more
Published on Saturday, September 10, 2011 in General Announcements, News & Updates
Tags: access, clubs, education, environment, public lands, sam, volunteers
Friends of Snowmobiling Supports Recreational Freedom
The Friends of Snowmobiling Political Action Committee (FOSPAC) was initiated by the snowmobile community in response to our desire to continue the family snowmobiling tradition we have created here in the United States. Snowmobiling access is consistently under attack and ...Read more
Published on Wednesday, June 29, 2011 in General Announcements, Legislative Affairs, News & Updates
Tags: access, legislative, opinion, press release, public lands
DCR Map of Land Designations: Please Attend Meetings!
DCR Releases Draft Map In Anticipation Of Its Second Workshop Series On Landscape Designations For State Properties SAM members are encouraged to attend these very important meetings that will outline public land use and recreation, such as snowmobiling. Meeting dates ...Read more
Published on Monday, May 23, 2011 in General Announcements, Legislative Affairs, News & Updates
Tags: access, DCR, environment, opinion, press release, public lands
DCR to Hold Pittsfield State Forest Forum
The Department of Conservation and Recreation will hold a forum on the master plan for the Pittsfield State Forest area which include snowmobile trail areas such as Wahconah Falls! This plan will spell out what activities are allowed and which ...Read more
Published on Thursday, April 21, 2011 in General Announcements, News & Updates
Tags: access, DCR, public lands, sam
Urgent Action Needed to Fund Recreational Trails Program!
SAM members need to contact their U.S. Congressman and ask that they support the Recreational Trail Program (RTP). Losing RTP would be disastrous to the clubs that use the program to purchase grooming equipment and fund other projects that improve ...Read more
Published on Monday, April 11, 2011 in General Announcements, Legislative Affairs, News & Updates
Tags: access, DCR, environment, legislative, public lands, sam
President’s Award Presented To Stan Kopala
This year SAM recognized a member who has carried the torch longer than most have snowmobiled. He has been negotiating snowmobile access with private landowners and the DCR for an eternity. Well maybe not eternity, but I’m sure it seems ...Read more
Published on Saturday, April 2, 2011 in Awards, General Announcements, News & Updates
Tags: access, clubs, people, sam, volunteers
Friend of SAM: Roy and Jim Hoellerich
Throughout the years Roy and Jim Hoellerich have allowed the Adams Sno-Drifters and SAM members to access their land for a corridor trail. They allow the club to host activities, and support the concept of sleds using their property that ...Read more
Published on Saturday, April 2, 2011 in General Announcements, News & Updates
Tags: access, clubs, people, sam, volunteers
DCR Posts Public Comments
DCR has posted all of the written public comments the agency received regarding the Landscape Designation criteria and management guidelines, as part of this fall’s public process. SAM has been encouraging it’s members to keep informed and take part in the ...Read more
Published on Thursday, February 24, 2011 in General Announcements, Legislative Affairs, News & Updates
Tags: access, DCR, environment, opinion, public lands
Organizations! (Larry Tucker)
(The photo above depicts the founding fathers of SAM viewing a new piece of equipment that was purchased to send newsletters to members in 1972.) I hope that by now you have all seen billions of the “white flakes” in ...Read more
Published on Wednesday, January 26, 2011 in Guest Columns, Legislative Affairs, News & Updates
Tags: access, laws, legislative, opinion, public lands, sam
