Groomer out on the trails. (Northern Lights Snowmobile Association/Facebook)

By Alyssa Rudolph

snowmobiling

Catching up: Meadow Lake Northern Lights Snowmobile Association

Dec 2, 2025 | 4:00 PM

“If we get the snow, riders can look forward to beautifully groomed trails,” said Kelly Schmidt, president of the Northern Lights Snowmobile Association in Meadow Lake.

The association’s trail team has been busy over the past few weeks getting everything ready for this season, now the wait for snow is on.

Schmidt has been the association’s president for the past three years. He said this year is the first time he will be hosting a rally which is scheduled for February 7. The trail crew hopes to see roughly 500 riders participating and enjoying the trails.

“We have the executive hall in the new Meadow Lake Co-op Centre booked for the evening activities. There’ll be draws. We also are buying a new snowmobile to give away,” said Schmidt.

This season, the club also hopes to purchase a new groomer which would eventually let them lengthen the trails for upcoming years. The Saskatchewan Snowmobile Association controls the number of trail kilometers in the province, and once a club reaches a certain kilometer, the association wants them to have a second groomer.

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“There are no free kilometers to apply for, to lengthen the trails at this time. So, we are maintaining our current trail system. We’re just upgrading it, making it better,” said Schmidt.

About 90 per cent of the association’s trails are signed and ready to go. However, Schmidt said there are a couple that the team has not been able to reach due to unfrozen muskegs.

“That’s where a lot of people refer to as the pipeline from the Meadow Lake Ram shelter south to the where Chitek Lake joins up at the Elcott Creek, TransCanada 109A,” he said.

Once the water freezes, the team will head out to prepare that trail for the season as well.

Memberships are not sold for the club; instead, riders can show their support by volunteering. Volunteers help to sign trails and keep them clear during the snowmobiling season. This year, the club will need extra people to help the rally run smoothly.

“To support the club, registering your snowmobile is the first way of doing it. We do have sponsors and signage for businesses. They can become sponsors. And we have individuals that donate, but we do not have a membership that riders have to pay for,” said Schmidt.

The club reminds snowmobilers on the trail system to license their sleds, not to drink and drive and respect private property, but most importantly to enjoy the season.

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alyssa.rudolph@pattisonmedia.com