Snowmobiling season is in full swing, bringing business booms to VT

Yahoo

28-02-2025

HOLLAND Vt. (ABC22 FOX44) – For snowmobilers, the inches of snow has made for an economic boom.
Snowmobiling is a massive contributor to Vermont's economy, second only to skiing, bringing in over $500 million to the state according to the President of the Vermont Association of Snow Travelers, Patty Companik.
The past two winters, she says, were more challenging due to warmer weather cutting the season short. But this year, VAST trail pass purchases have jumped from last year's 18,000 to 19,000 and counting.
'Our volunteers put in tens of thousands of hours preparing for the season every year, not knowing what the weather is going to deliver. But this year the weather has delivered,' Companik chuckled.
The groomers and managers of trail 105-A, which runs directly parallel to the Canadian border, say they've seen hundreds of visitors this winter. And with a newly built warming hut, built by snowmobile club volunteers, they've been able to connect with the many snowmobilers who leave their names, and sometimes the humorous note or two, in their guest book.
'For us it's huge to get the membership out here, numbers are way up, and I think local businesses are getting a big impact which is huge,' said Mike Koehler, the President of Drift Dusters Snowmobile Club.
Roger Gosselin, a part-time snow groomer, says has been staying out as late as midnight maintaining the trails— packing and clearing snow and trimming nearby tree branches.
'We haven't had grooming like this in probably four to five years, mother nature has really done well dropping a lot of snow in our area,' he said.
Being on the border, Gosselin says, snowmobilers often get to know border patrol agents on a personal level. He says members of the club are hoping to honor fellow snowmobiler and Border Patrol Agent, Chris Maland, who died in a deadly shooting exchange last month.
They will dedicate the 'Border Hut' in his memory at an official ribbon cutting ceremony on March 8.
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