Winter’s back — with a vengeance of two feet or more of snow in many parts of the Northeast! That means an extended smooth snowmobiling season for outdoor enthusiasts. And it wouldn’t happen without private-land access.

In Vermont, more than 2,400 miles of snowmobile trails approved by the Vermont Association of Snow Travelers — and private landowners — cross farmland. That’s more than half of all the VAST trails, statewide.

“Without farmers, the VAST trail system as we know it wouldn’t exist,” says Matt Tetreault, VAST’s trails administrator. That network covers 4,700 miles of trails in the Green Mountain State.

“VAST relies on the generosity of private landowners who allow the trail system to cross their property,” he adds. “We’re especially grateful to the farmers who make their land available in wintertime for our club members to enjoy.”

Some 64% of all the private land in Vermont’s VAST trail network is farmland. Private land accounts for about 80% of the total trail network.

America’s nonfarming public tends to overlook agriculture’s contribution to the nation’s outdoor world. “Farms add to the beauty and character of Vermont’s landscape,” notes Ag Secretary Anson Tebbetts. “Many provide fun recreational opportunities for Vermonters, too.”

VAST, a nonprofit group, coordinates snowmobiling, maintaining and grooming of more than 4,700 miles of trails. It includes 127 clubs with more than 24,000 members. The clubs, volunteers and landowners that allow riders to cross their land are its backbone.

Source: Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food & Markets