INTERLAKE SNOW TRACKERS

By Erik and Jared

WHO IS THE INTERLAKE SNOW TRACKERSThe Interlake Snow Trackers is a organization that maintains trails and warm up shacks in their area. People in the Gimli area that have a snowmobile, use these trails to go to the lake for ice fishing, hunting in the wooded areas, to traveling to communities, and for recreational purposes (remember that is illegal for snowmobiles to drive on public roads). They maintain over 600 km of snowmobile trails. The trails go from Arborg, to Heckla, to Riverton, to Gimli, to Winnipeg Beach, to Petersfield and to Narcisse. They own seven warm up shelters throughout the Gimli area. They have two large groomers that help them maintain the trails. They work with RCMP and the local governments to make sure that the trails are safe but enjoyable. They are a non profitable organization. The money goes to maintaining trails and warm up shacks. We found out that Snoman Manitoba founded this organization. The Interlake Snow Trackers is the largest snowmobile club in Manitoba.

WHY DID WE PICK THIS ORGANIZATION?

Jared uses the trails for snowmobiling in the winter and for driving his quad in the summer.I use them for driving my quad in the summer.Recently, they made the path by my cottage easier to drive around the farmers dugouts. They have put stop signs at every road to make sure their trails are safe as possible. We use their trails throughout the year and we appreciate what they have done to make it as fun and safe as possible.

WHAT WE KNEW BEFORE RESEARCHING

We knew that Interlake Snow Trackers made and maintained trails for snowmobiles but we did not know how many trails they had. We knew that it was mainly managed by volunteers but we did not know if there were any employees. We did not know a lot about this organization at all in the beginning but we learned so much from their website and from our interviews.

MEMBERSHIP FEES

Annual membership $125If a member drives 500km the cost per km is $0.25.Driving on the trails is more fuel efficient because you are putting less stress on the motor which uses less oil and gasoline.7 day membership $60.50If you are caught using the trails without a membership they will fine you $474.15 which is almost 4 times the amount of annual membership fee.

WHO ARE THEY AND WHAT DO THEY DO

Carla Wilson is the President and she manages the whole organization.

Cindy McRae is the Secretary. Cindy is responsible for taking and redirecting all the phone calls, keeps the office organized, and is involved with all the event planning.

Barb Kummerfield is the Treasurer. Barb deals with all financial information and makes sure that the money coming in is going to make the trails and warm up shacks better. She also balances the budget.

Les Thordarson is the Snoman rep. Les is apart of the snoman group which makes sure that all of the organizations are being as environmentally friendly as possible. Les only represents the Interlake Snow Trackers.

These are the 4 volunteers that stay with the organization. It truly depends on how many events they have each year and the weather. If the winter is warm they need more volunteers to keep the trails from melting and if it snows a lot they need volunteers to run their Bombardier to groom their trails.

WHERE DID WE GET OUR INFORMATION

We got our secondary information from there website. http://interlakesnowtrackers.ca

We got our primary information from Carla Wilson and Cindy McRae.

We would have liked to job shadow Carla Wilson and Cindy McRae but they were too busy so we did a phone interview and an email interview.

EVENTS

They put on a Christmas ride which all the members are invited.

They put on a photo challenge every year. Members can take photos while they are on their trails and win prizes for the best photo. This year they could win a snowmobile trailer.

COOL FACTS They use signs to warn the snowmobile drivers

about what's coming up throughout the trail. Drivers have to know hand signals to be allowed to

drive on the trails. Unlike ATVs, Snowmobiles don’t leave any damage

to the trail or nature (produces very little emissions) They put on meetings to make sure that the

members are happy about their trails. Like roads all around Manitoba the Interlake Snow

Trackers have speed limits to reduce the chance of a crash.

COOL FACTS

o Interlake snow trackers tries to make their organization as green as possible.

o There are 51 different snowmobile clubs throughout Manitoba.

FINAL THOUGHTS

Our opinion has changed tons. We thought that this organization was small but now we know that they are the largest snowmobile club in Manitoba. As long as there is still gasoline and oil this organization will still be around because there will always be people that want to have fun on their snowmobiles. Without the Interlake Snow Trackers there is nobody to maintain trails from Hecla to Gimli. The Interlake Snow Trackers is a crucial part of snowmobiling in the Interlake.

PHOTOS FROM THEIR WEBSITE

THEIR REGIONS

http://interlakesnowtrackers.ca/uploads/interlakesnowtrackers_map_2012_13_14.pdf

HAND SIGNALS

THANK YOU