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Snowmobilers told to stay off Searchmont hill

Risk of liability exists on private property; sledders instructed to use Hult Road trail

The message is plain and simple.

Stay off private property.

That from the Sault Trailblazers Snowmobile Club after Searchmont Resort management encountered snowmobilers riding up and down its ski hill.

Though the resort is closed this season due to the havoc caused by COVID-19 travel restrictions, it is still private property. 

“It’s been happening for a while but it came to a head this past week and I got a call,” said John Breckenridge, Sault Trailblazers president, speaking to SooToday.

“They (Searchmont management) asked if I could close the trail to Searchmont through their yard because they are under construction there, and because of liability they don’t want anybody riding the hill (at any time, whether the resort is open or closed).” 

“There’s no riding on the hill (allowed) at all,” Breckenridge said.

“There are lots of obstacles on the hill that aren’t covered with snow (colliding with any one of them would cause personal injury or damage to property)."

“I know there have been a few (riding up and down the hill). It only takes one (to cause serious problems, whether it be personal injury, snowmobile damage and/or unnecessary disputes with Searchmont management)...I can’t say if it’s any of our members or someone who’s bought a permit. There are so many free riders out there right now who haven’t bought permits, so they just ride our trail and they see a ski hill and they think ‘this is going to be fun’ and away they go,” Breckenridge said.  

Snowmobilers are being told by Sault Trailblazers to divert for this season and use the trail down the plowed portion of Hult Road. 

“Please keep speeds to 30 km/hr or we will be forced to close the trail in its entirety,” a Trailblazers Facebook post states.

“It would be appreciated if all riders would stay on the groomed trails and not be riding on private property,” Breckenridge said.


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Darren Taylor

About the Author: Darren Taylor

Darren Taylor is a news reporter and photographer in Sault Ste Marie. He regularly covers community events, political announcements and numerous board meetings. With a background in broadcast journalism, Darren has worked in the media since 1996.
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