Greetings from the Glendale Lake SMC. As we approach spring in central PA, we reflect back on a disappointing winter in our area. We didn’t even get a chance to check out any of our trail improvements that were completed last fall. Fortunately for some club members, they still got some PA rides in or they traveled to Maine, New York or Quebec for rides. But it was a tough winter for members who are used to riding out their back door, hitting our club trail or putting some miles in at Black Moshanon, Colerain, Laurel Highlands, or SB Elliot State Parks. The travel freeze prevented many from trailering to that last ride, where ever it might have been.
Glendale Lake SMC Club ride 
Round the park 
Round the Park Trail 
PapPap my Sled won’t start 
PA Wilderness Glendale Lake SMC Club ride 
Historic Stage Coach Before 
Historic Stage Coach After
Looking ahead to next year, the early spring weather has allowed trail clearing to begin on the club’s new Around the Park Trail at Prince Gallitzin State Park. The section completed so far is in an absolutely beautiful part of the park and the new trail follows a meandering stream in addition to providing winter glimpses of the lake. It’s obvious that a lot of thought was put in to the trail design by the Trail Committee leadership. Several bridges will be part of the trail and planning, and construction will need to be done before next winter. The club is hoping to have a lot of the trail cleared by late spring so that hiker’s and horseback riders can take advantage of the trail over summer. Because of the mild March weather several late winter trail improvements were made to our Prince Gallitzin to Black Moshanon Connector Trail. A section of the Historic Stage Coach Path part of the trail was reopened back to its original path. This will make for an easier option for an off-camber section of this trail. Once again thank you to our volunteers that take the time and effort for making these trails safer and better for riding for all. Planning also continues with regards to several additional future trails.
Membership renewal emails went out to those members who hadn’t renewed for 2020. It’s the hope that they’ll respond to the email and save the club the expense of mailing membership renewals. Even though the winter was mild, the club still had the expense of the insurance and the railroad crossing lease. Memberships are needed to cover these expenses and to allow us to grow our trail system. If you haven’t renewed or joined our club, please do so ASAP. A big thanks on that. And don’t forget that we still have club hoodies, T-shirts and hats available for sale all at discounted prices.
Our March meeting was held at the newly renovated social hall at Patton’s Sportsman. Turnout to club meetings continues to be good, in spite of the lack of snow. Is it the great food at the club or the great camaraderie of the group that keeps everyone coming? Not sure, but it’s working. Meetings are the first Monday of the month at 7:30pm. Please join us when you can.
This past month the club was active in promoting the DCNR ATV Revised Trail Policy Study. This Study was looking at ATV use in the State Forests. This would not, I repeat not, include State Parks, State Forest Joint Use Roads, Game Commission or Private Grounds. The study was asking the question: “If the designated ATV season is only Memorial Day till the end of September, would snowmobilers support sharing 975 miles of State Forest Trails with ATV’s if it meant more, improved and connector trails for snowmobilers?” You were to let DCNR know your thoughts throughthe survey. The club promoted participation in the study via Facebook and we share the study with many other clubs via Facebook. Visit our Facebook Group page to see some of the responses:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/864367483745347/?source_id=297210950313815.
Just ask permission to join the group and we’ll get you in pretty quickly. Don’t forget to follow our group for up to date meeting, trail clean up, trail rides and other activities. Plus learn about the SAE Clean Snowmobile Challenge and see special offers from our Club Business Members. And always mention that you’re a club member when visiting our Business Members to receive your club discount.
Something new that we’re going to try at upcoming meetings: cover a Special Topic at each monthly meeting. Some of these will be: summerizing your sled, what skags are you running, preseason checklist, what tools do you carry, etc. Please bring your ideas on what you’d like to learn or hear about. Or what you’d like to present.
The club was disappointed to hear that the PSSA Spring Meeting has been postponed. The PSSA Spring Meeting has always been the gathering spot for PA snowmobile fanatics. And if you can’t be on the snow with your snowmobile friends what better way to cap that season than to get together and exchange trail stories and experiences. And work to improve the sport for next year. This is a sledder’s gathering where each participant knows the best places to ride both in PA and elsewhere because they’ve done it or they’ve possibly even built the trail. What’s new to the sport in PA and what can be done to improve it? Where are new trails being planned? What’s happening with DCNR and Trail Funding? What can we do to work together to improve the sport we love? The meeting has been rescheduled to August 22. The gathering will be held at the Ramada Golf and Convention Center in State College. Look for more details elsewhere in this edition of the Keystone Snowmobiler. Hope to see you there!
Please join us for one of our next meetings on April 6th or May 4th when we meet again at the newly remodeled social room at Patton’s Sportsmen’s Club. The meeting begins at 7:30 but many club members and their families come early to enjoy the great food at the club.
Our Club is located in south central PA, about 1.5 hours east of the Laurel Highlands and about 45 minutes west of Black Moshanon State Park. We’re not far from Ebensburg and Altoona. If you’re from this area or ride in this area, we urge you to join our club. We meet the first Monday of the month, year round at 7:30 PM at the Patton Sportsman’s Club. We have a great time at our Club Meetings. We take care of business, enjoy some great food if you’re hungry, and swap some real good sled stories. Come join us.
Randy Green
Glendale Lake SMC
glendalelakesmc@gmail.com
