Feb. 25 2006; CONCORD—Former N.H. governor inducted into snowmobile Hall of Fame; Former New Hampshire Governor Meldrim Thomson Jr., will be posthumously inducted into the International Snowmobile Hall of Fame in the category of Trail and Program Development in a ceremony to be held Feb. 25 in Grand Rapids, Minn. The N.H. Bureau of Trails and the N.H. Snowmobile Association cooperatively nominated the former governor for this prestigious honor. During Governor Thomson’s term in the 1970s, he recognized the significance that snowmobiling would have for the state’s economy and recreational opportunities. He helped establish the Bureau for Off Highway Vehicles, now known as the N.H. Bureau of Trails, making New Hampshire the first state to have such an office. He was also instrumental in the state purchase of a Landowner Liability Insurance Policy to protect landowners. This helped to enhance and expand the snowmobiling experience, since landowners became more willing to open their lands for snowmobiling. Governor Thomson, who served from 1973 to 1979, supported leasing 180,000 acres from Brown Company in northern N.H. for the first statewide trails system.“He took pride in what was being done. Not only did he talk the talk but he walked the walk,” said Paul Gray, N.H. Bureau of Trails chief. “I remember Governor Thomson spent many days out on the trails on snowmobiles.”At the Hall of Fame ceremony, Governor Thomson's son, Tom Thomson, will be at the International Snowmobile Hall of Fame representing the Thomson family, and will give a slide presentation of his father’s work as governor to promote this important family sport in New Hampshire.
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Friday, February 17, 2006; DUNBARTON, New Hampshire (AP); Where snowstorms are desired; Some parts of Northeast suffer because of snowless winter; Martin Beattie stands by a plow and a groomer near the snowmobile trail. What Is This? The Dunbarton Country store is on the map, literally, for snowmobilers. A popular trail runs right by the gas pumps, but this winter, not many snowmobilers have fueled up. It's been pretty quiet. Pretty quiet," said co-owner Sam Richard.

A record-setting storm dumped more than 2 feet of snow along parts of the East Coast during the weekend, but Dunbarton, population about 2,100, got only a few inches. Parts of northern New Hampshire and more than half of Vermont got one-tenth of an inch or less. On a normal winter weekend, about a third of Richard's customers arrive by snowmobile -- to pick up food and drinks, use the bathroom, rest and buy trail maps. But this year, the trail network is closed because there hasn't been enough snow to groom, and the maps provided by snowmobile clubs go unsold. "My mother's going to be 85, and she's never seen anything like this," said Martin Beattie, owner of Marty's 1st Stop grocery store and gas station in Danville, Vermont.

It's the same story for snowmobilers, cross-country skiers and others who depend on snow and ice. Sled dog races have been canceled and ice fishing derbies have been postponed. The Vermont Association of Snow Travelers reported this week that most areas did not have enough snow for safe riding. A recorded trails report said limited snowmobiling was available at higher elevations but warned riders to "be prepared for bare patches of ground, lots of ice and exposed hazards at any moment." The report posted by New Hampshire's Bureau of Trails lists similar conditions and offers some advice: "All together now, perform a Snow Dance!"

Debbie and Ron Ouelette of Goffstown snowmobiled to Richard's store on Monday, enticed by the weekend's snowfall. They wanted to ride farther north but called ahead and were told to forget it. "It's fairly bumpy," Ron Ouellette said. "We definitely need another snowstorm." Downhill ski areas in all three states have been making snow and are thankful that 2 feet fell in Boston and New York, where many of the skiers live. It's called the "snow in your back yard" effect and gets people thinking about skiing and snowboarding.

"It kind of put people back in the mood," said Suzie Grimes, owner of the Stowehof Inn in Stowe, Vermont. "It's turned around." Skiers who make the trip should find snow on the slopes. "Despite the weather being obviously less than ideal, the conditions have been surprisingly good," said Heather Atwell at the Vermont Ski Areas Association.

Melting ice, puddles; At the National Toboggan Championships in Camden, Maine, temperatures that climbed to the mid-40s melted ice on the 400-foot chute and created puddles. Competitors ended their runs with a blast of water, much like a log flume at an amusement park. As of Wednesday, three of the 16 ski areas in the Ski Maine trade group were closed. Those still open have spent up to 20 percent more than normal to keep snow guns running, said Executive Director Greg Sweetser. New Hampshire's Great Rotary Ice Fishing Derby, the biggest ice-fishing competition in the state, is on for this weekend, after a week's delay to let the ice thicken. Parts of Lake Winnipesaukee still are unfrozen.

Tourism is big business in all three states, and dips in the weather often cause dips in tax revenue. New Hampshire Revenue Commissioner Phil Blatsos said the state's meals and rooms tax was $2.7 million behind at the end of January. But he said high fuel prices crimped revenues starting in August. He suspects there will be a snowless impact, but in New Hampshire and Maine, the figures that might show any shortfalls will not be reported until later this month. Back at Richard's store in Dunbarton, Fred Mullen, one of the idle trail groomers for the Bow Pioneers Snowmobile Club, watched a couple of snowmobilers ride Monday on a few inches of fresh snow. "They'll be lucky to get back," he said. "It's melting fast." Copyright 2006 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.