Once again the seasons are changing and it will soon be time to close the windows and get the winter equipment ready. This also includes preparing snowmobiles and preparing our elaborate trail system here in Windham.

This trail system is made possible by the generous landowners whose land we are grateful to be able to cross. I enjoy having the ability to go out my back door and ride a quality trail from my house. As a group we have built our local trail system to over 40 miles of usable trail covering the land of more than 100 private and public landowners. Unfortunately some of this trail involves landowner requirements to stake portions of the system to direct riders to the areas landowners allow us to use. These requirements from the landowners allow the public to cross their land and without their wishes being met they stand to close their property to public use.

The Windham Drifters as a group have built very valuable relationships with these issues over the years and wish to continue to provide a quality trail system for all to enjoy. Over the past couple of years we have not had enough snow to really make good trails locally. I hope all of you remember a couple years ago when we had great snowfall, the local trail system was stated to be the best local riding in the area due to the grooming and efforts of all the volunteers that maintain the trails.

As a group we have had diminished volunteer help over the past couple years and the entire trail system will be more of a task than can be accomplished with the volunteers we currently have. The early reports for the season indicate more snow and cold weather than normal. We may have to curtail our maintenance this year to the main corridor trail from Westbrook to Raymond and not be able to maintain some of the other parts of our fine trail system.

We are currently sending out a plea to the public for volunteers to come to our group and assist in any fashion they are able to. Our organization can be assisted in many different ways from all the people we are affiliated with. We will be starting our annual meeting schedule beginning Sept. 9 and 23. We meet at 7 p.m. the second and fourth Mondays during the fall season. Meetings are to be held at Gilbert’s Chowder House on Route 35 in Windham. Please come and join our great organization. All are welcome.

Check us out on Facebook or at windhamdrifters.com.

Ken Fortnam

Windham