1. sports
2. skiing
3. nordic skiing

Rice Lake
Snow Drifters
Newsletter
Winter Edition
Rice Lake Snow Drifters – 18th Anniversary
A Word from Our President
Rice Lake Snow Drifters, we’re on a roll.
●
●
●
Inside This Edition:
President’s Message …..1
Come Snowmobile …..2
Trails/Permits…..3, 4
Volunteering…..5
Thank You Landowners
…..6
News …..7, 8, 9, 10, 11
We are all committed to bringing you the very best trail system we can
provide. We have your need for safety, beautiful scenery, dining and
accommodations in mind.
Our club is making great progress on extending the rail line into
Peterborough. In turn, we hope to provide local businesses with
always needed customers and an awesome snowmobiling, skiing or
cycling experience.
Groomer operators are anxiously waiting for that first big dump of
snow.
See you on our trails!
Elwood Ellis
Executive:
● ●Ellis - 905-623-0002
●
President: Elwood
Vice President/Trail Warden: Kevin English – 705-639-2009
Treasurer: Doug Luff - 705-295-4321
Secretary: Sherri Luff – 705-295-4321
Online Reporting System: Nathan Jackson at davnaja@gmail.com
Sign Coordinator: Doug Luff - 705-295-4321
Inspection Coordinator: Tom Irwin 705-696-3005
Volunteer Coordinator: Mary Martin – 705-696-3005
Permit Coordinator: Michelle Atkinson – 705-696-3005
Driver Trainer: Rachel Stillman – 705-931-1916
Director Executive Committee – Julie English – 705-639-2009
Directors: Donna Atkinson, Mary Ellis, Shelley and Aaron Palmer
CONTACT US AT 705-295-SNOW (7669) OR BOX 125, KEENE, ONTARIO K0L 2G0
PLEASE SEND YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS TO luffcdks@nexicom.net
FUTURE NEWSLETTERS AND UPDATES CAN BE SENT TO YOU ELECTRONICALLY
*****VISIT OUR WEBSITE AT www.ricelakesnowdrifters.com for regular updates
and information about our trails and what our club is up to*****
COME SNOWMOBILE WITH THE RICE LAKE SNOW DRIFTERS
Get Started with Great Reasons to Go Snowmobiling!
1. Quality Time with Family & Friends
2. Get Outdoors & Be Active -There’s nothing like a day of
snowmobiling in clean air and fresh snow to keep you
healthy, sharp and fit!
3. Escape the Daily Grind- Snowmobiling carries you away
from worries and stress
4. Connect With Nature - Snowmobiling connects you with
scenic places only accessible during winter…an awe inspiring wonderland just waiting for you!
5. Make Winter More Fun- Snowmobiling makes winter fun.
So let your fun begin – Go Snowmobiling!
The Rice Lake Snow Drifters’ area is rolling out its’ white carpet of
snowmobile trails, welcoming you to great snowmobiling. Our groomed
trails await you and will provide you with a day of amazing scenery and
fresh air and of course a great place to ride. Check our website for
snow conditions and trail updates at
www.ricelakesnowdrifters.com
Come see us this winter and discov er all the excitement and fun of
snowmobiling!
INFORMATION ABOUT SNOWMOBILE PERMITS
A Snowmobile Trail Permit entitles you to access any available OFSC
Trail, at your own risk, at any time during the winter. Trail Permits are
required by law in Ontario.
Permits generate the revenue our club needs to maintain snowmobile trails
(signage, trail maintenance such as grading or resurfacing , redecking of
bridges etc.), our recent purchase of a new groomer and to support trail
projects. They are the only source of funding for trail operations.
By purchasing a permit, each rider contributes to the cost of providing
snowmobile trails as part of the OFSC User Pay System. To ensure that
your permit money goes to the OFSC district , whose trails you ride most, it
is important to buy your permit from a club in that district.
Permits are still available.
The cost for the season is now $260 for a regular permit and
$170 for a Classic Permit. 7 day and 3 day permits are also
available online only .
Please contact Michelle Atkinson
705-295-4833
Don’t ignore this sign. Use of OFSC trails is at your own risk.
Our club functions because of the willingness of volunteers, who work on
trails, organize events and stay up to date on current happenings within our
District and in the province. Without our volunteers our trails would not be
prepared. This work begins a long time prior to the snowmobile season. This
includes people working many hours to speak to current landowners to ensure
we still have permission to use their trails, brush back, reroute if necessary,
sign the trails, organize the selling of permits at events such as Sledarama and
to ensure all equipment is in good working order for the season, as well as
people organized to be groomers. It is the law that all
trails be signed with appropriate signage to ensure the
safety of all riders. Events such as the Elimination
Draw and the Poker Run would not occur if our
volunteers did not organize these. This occurs because
we believe strongly that we need to bring our club
together at fun events that promote the wonderful
sport of snowmobiling. On the second and fourth
Monday of each month volunteers attend meetings to
keep the club functioning. If any of you could offer
your time we would gladly welcome your help. Please
speak to an executive member or attend one of our
meetings.
IF YOU HAVE SNOWMOBILED THIS SEASON ON RICE LAKE
SNOW DRIFTERS’ TRAILS THANK A LANDOWNER.
NO LANDOWNERS=NO TRAIL SYSTEM 
RIDE SAFELY ON OUR TRAILS
REPORT ANY SAFETY ISSUES TO TOM IRWIN AT 705-696-3005
Please Respect Landowner Property By:






Staying on the Trail
Leaving Signs & Stakes Intact & Leaving Gates & Fences Alone
Respecting the Equipment and Property That You May Pass By
Avoiding Farm Animals & Pets
Using the Trail for Snowmobiling Only ~ 4-Wheeling is Not Allowed!
Using Trails ONLY When They Are Open
Congratulations to our Turkey Winners!
The landowners who won turkeys this year at a random draw at one of our meetings are:
John Bischof, Tom Davidson, Bryan and Marg Nelson, Bill and Barb Bradley,
Warren Craft, Larry Urquhart, Marc Habgood, Merle Hannon, Arlene Webster
Funny but true. Many deer have been spotted on a number of our
trails. Be aware and watch for our wildlife friends.
RIDE SAFE!
VERY VERY IMPORTANT
Conditions on our trails can change quickly due to mild weather,
freezing rain or rain. Always check our website at
www.ricelakesnowdrifters.com for information about whether our
trails are open. It is very important that you also check to see if the
lake trail remains open. SAFETY is our top priority!
Green means available
Yellow means limited availability
Red means closed
We have purchased a new groomer to replace
one of our older ones. Our trails will be kept
in great condition this year with this new
acquisition.
News
Annual Elimination Draw
Held on October 25th
We would like to congratulate the following winners at our recent Elimination
Draw. A great evening was had by all at Elmhirst Resort.
The winners included Angie McGovern, Kay Gravelle, Shawn Graham, and Pat
Bennett who all received their $100 back. Lori Roche was the 198th ticket out
winning $200, Barb Traviss was the 199th ticket out winning $300
and the grand prize winner was Jim Glenn who decided to take the cash prize of
$6000.
Congratulations to all the winners. It was a great evening and was as always very
well received. Thanks to everyone for keeping our snowmobile club strong.
The evening would also not have been a success without the support of our
prize donators for our raffle draw. Please support if you can:
Endicott Fuels, Three Roads Farms, Banjos in Hastings, Labatt’s, McIntyre Auto
Wreckers, OtonaBEE Apiary, Marty Moo’s, Carousel Restaurant, Ritson Tile and
Carpet, Stillbrook Riding Stables, Nelson’s Western Boot and Apparel, Trailers
Plus, Todd Equipment, Old Railroad Stop, Atlantic Lifts, Rice Lake Motor Sports,
and Royal LePage.
Special thanks as well for donations from Mary Martin and Tom Irwin, Wally
Ramsay and Sherri and Doug Luff.
Projects Complete
Staging area & Bridge Redecking in Hastings.
The new staging area is located at the bottom of the 7th Line of Asphodel,
beside the Trans Canada Trail. The swing bridge in Hastings has also had a
beautiful facelift...just in time for the snow to arrive!
These 2 projects were done with the support of funding from the Provincial
Government and OFSC. The Hastings swing bridge was completed by R and J
Machine and the staging area was completed by Drain Brothers.
Driver Training
C
Congratulations to all students who completed the snowmobile driver
training course on Saturday, December 20th and Saturday, January 3rd.
Many thanks to Joe Steed and Rachel Atkinson for teaching the
Snowmobile Driver Training course. We appreciate your willingness to
volunteer and help foster a love of snowmobiling for our young riders.
Rice Lake Crossing - The lake has been staked from
Hiawatha to Bewdley. However pressure cracks continue to
appear. We have closed it at this time. Stay tuned – we will
be out marking the unsafe areas in the near future.
Our great volunteers signing Rice Lake
Family Day Weekend
The OFSC is pleased to promote snowmobiling by
allowing free access to our trails on Family Day Weekend
to those snowmobilers who do not have a permit. More
details are available at the OFSC website.
www.ofsc.on.ca
MANY THANKS TO OUR WONDERFUL GROOMER OPERATORS WHO DO AN
AMAZING JOB KEEPING OUR TRAILS IN EXCELLENT SHAPE. WHILE WE ARE
SOUND ASLEEP THEY ARE GROOMING THE TRAILS.
AND FINALLY
Hopefully the snow conditions will allow us to hold
Two Poker Runs
Cost $20 a hand. 50-50 take of the money brought in.
On Saturday, February 7th ride the trails that day and come draw
your hand at Elmhirst Resort in the Wild Blue Yonder
between 12 – 5 pm
Bring a non-perishable food item for the OSM Food Cupboard and
draw an extra card.
On Saturday, February 28th ride the trails that day and come and
draw your hand at the trailer we will have set up at the new Staging
Area located at the bottom of the 7th Line of Asphodel
between 12 – 4 pm.
Watch for signs on the Trans Canada Trail. We will be selling hotdogs,
and sausages with all proceeds from these sales going to Easter Seals.
Bring along a non-perishable food item for the Norwood-Asphodel
Food Bank and draw an extra card.
For Your Information:
All of our trails are closed at this time. This means that they need
fresh snow fall to make them rideable. The trails are bumpy and in
certain sections bare. If and when the snow comes we will open them
again and provide you with that information through our website.
Driving on trails in this condition will damage landowner’s lands,
fields and more than likely your sled.
Please check the OFSC website or our website at
www.ricelakesnowdrifters.com for updates on trail conditions.
Please note that Trail #504 is not open at all this year.
This is the trail from Rice Lake, through Peter Loucks’
and Fred and Jeannine Stillman’s property and to the
rail line. Please do not use this trail.
Happy Snowmobiling!!! Happy Trails!!!
Groomer for Sale – Rice Lake Snow Drifters
390T Massey Ferguson tractor - asking $10k






4 cyl turbo, 95 horsepower, 2927 hours
12x4 speed synchro transmission
Marcel grooming undercarriage and 9’6” drag unit
Auxiliary fuel tank for increased range
Popular model, can be converted to a farm tractor
Spare unit, we want to sell quickly!
Call Nate: 705-295-4545
Groomer for Sale –
Rice Lake Snow
Drifters
390T Massey
Ferguson tractor asking $15k obo
 4 cyl turbo, 95 horsepower, 2700 hours
 12x4 speed synchro transmission
 Hi-Line cab, flat floor, comfortable suspension seat,
passenger seat, air conditioning
 New starter, batteries, track rubber and steel cleats
 Marcel grooming undercarriage and 9’6” drag unit
 Popular model, can be converted to a farm tractor
 Spare unit, we want to sell quickly
MF 390T groomer for sale
Nate: 705 295 4545
MF 390T groomer for sale
Nate: 705 295 4545
MF 390T groomer for sale
Nate: 705 295 4545
M
F
3
9
0