BruceST660 6 Report post Posted January 22, 2020 How many times have you been out riding and the trail signs are missing, not readable, hand-written, or confusing? As the Signmaster for the Monadnock Sno-moles I was asked to research and recommend a system to solve the sign problem EVERY club faces. We too had hand-written signs, and maintaining them was a monumental task. Pre-printed signs were just too expensive. And we all know trails change with landowners. I evaluated many different sign systems and came up with a workable solution that can be installed on any PC laptop or desktop. The Monadnock Sno-moles have invested in a sign making system that EVERY club can afford. We can now create trail signs as needed, put street names on all STOP signs, and the value to the riders of our trails is invaluable! We can still use the blanks provided by BOT. The signs are good for 7 years in harsh weather, highly REFLECTIVE, and easily readable from a distance, even at night. Take a look at the attached samples and if YOUR club is interested please let me know how I can reach you or your club Signmaster. I do not want to turn this post into a commercial for the sign system so most questions will be answered off-line. Rider safety is our number one job! Proper signage is our responsibility. NO MORE HAND-WRITTEN SIGNS! 5 PolarisCobra, Rock On, rossi46 and 2 others reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
gunmaker 29 Report post Posted January 22, 2020 Very nice signs. Really like the STOP ones in case you break down you know where to bring the trailer. I do wish signs had mileage to where the gas is though. Still great idea to save money and put more info out there Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
pathfinder 97 Report post Posted January 22, 2020 Great system! Great find! Signs are a perennial problem, with people grabbing them for souvenirs, moose scraping them off trees, and just plain wearing out. The system you found is ideal, great contrasting colors, and refined as seen with the street name on the Stop signs. Great idea. pathfinder Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
rossi46 90 Report post Posted January 22, 2020 Great thread. I've always been blown away by the signage in Vermont and Canada compared to NH... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BruceST660 6 Report post Posted January 22, 2020 5 hours ago, gunmaker said: Very nice signs. Really like the STOP ones in case you break down you know where to bring the trailer. I do wish signs had mileage to where the gas is though. Still great idea to save money and put more info out there Gunmaker, The signs you see are are working samples and additional directions may be on the post (North, East, South, West) as well as distances. Thanks for the feedback. Ride safe! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
classicdmax 58 Report post Posted January 23, 2020 Great work. Those handwritten signs are at times too difficult to read. FWIW as a rider I prefer to see corr/trail numbers on signs....which is def not always included on handwritten signs. I plan most my trips by trail number, not the direction of a local establishment/eatery/donut shop etc etc 1 snorander reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
gunmaker 29 Report post Posted January 23, 2020 The mileage for gas is what i meant. We have never been to the point of running out as when we get to 1/2 tank we start looking when in new areas. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BruceST660 6 Report post Posted January 23, 2020 4 hours ago, gunmaker said: The mileage for gas is what i meant. We have never been to the point of running out as when we get to 1/2 tank we start looking when in new areas. Good point, bud. I am with you on the gas. Distance is critical. Thanks for the feedback! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
rivercat 119 Report post Posted January 25, 2020 At least three clubs in Merrimack County ave gone with aluminum signs on steel posts that have a life cycle over 10 years , (yes sometimes trails change and those intersections change) However two of the clubs reached out to local businesses for "sponsorship" and not only covered the cost of the project but MADE money enough to put into reserve for updates as necessary, the businesses are listed at a couple major intersections on the trail system and I believe on the club websites. Sponsorship = FREE signs! I do want to say hats off to you Bruce because ANY improvement is an improvement! I Did request at a recent NHSA trails meeting, WHY CANT WE ADOPT A STANDARDIZED trail marking/signing system for the ENTIRE STATE? Not ONE of the "excuses why we couldn't standardize within the committee made ONE OUNCE of sense to me,,, but I recently have discovered that Im 20 years AHEAD of most curves, so I shut up and went with the "floor". Canada, Maine and Vt has accomplished it, whats so difficult? BTW I brought to the NHSA table SIX plus years ago that we needed a Statewide electronic map, it just happened this season. 1 snorander reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
TTA89 5 Report post Posted January 29, 2020 Out of curiosity, what were the reasons stated for not coming up with a standard? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
rivercat 119 Report post Posted February 2, 2020 There were ZERO reasons that held water with me,,, the ones I heard were, well its not easy for clubs, we can't REQUIRE volunteers to adhere to what we wish them to do. It may be too expensive, ,,,,,,,,,, EVEN after I illustrated how to do them for FREE I feel too often people think of WAY too many ways to make something NOT work,,,,, then ways to make it work My grandfather taught me when I was 13,, "if we wait to see what the weathers going to do, we will never get the hay made!" Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BruceST660 6 Report post Posted February 2, 2020 On 1/25/2020 at 11:42 AM, rivercat said: At least three clubs in Merrimack County ave gone with aluminum signs on steel posts that have a life cycle over 10 years , (yes sometimes trails change and those intersections change) However two of the clubs reached out to local businesses for "sponsorship" and not only covered the cost of the project but MADE money enough to put into reserve for updates as necessary, the businesses are listed at a couple major intersections on the trail system and I believe on the club websites. Sponsorship = FREE signs! I do want to say hats off to you Bruce because ANY improvement is an improvement! I Did request at a recent NHSA trails meeting, WHY CANT WE ADOPT A STANDARDIZED trail marking/signing system for the ENTIRE STATE? Not ONE of the "excuses why we couldn't standardize within the committee made ONE OUNCE of sense to me,,, but I recently have discovered that Im 20 years AHEAD of most curves, so I shut up and went with the "floor". Canada, Maine and Vt has accomplished it, whats so difficult? BTW I brought to the NHSA table SIX plus years ago that we needed a Statewide electronic map, it just happened this season. Rivercat, When you’re dealing with many clubs across the state it is difficult to force compliance that costs money. Your no-cost methods are exemplary, but we all know local business generosity can be limited. Keep the faith and I hope to see you on the trails! You are an asset to your club. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
rivercat 119 Report post Posted February 4, 2020 One thing I constantly see is that our sport continues to "morph" way faster then its organizational people, A "ride" today can exceed 300 miles, High end sleds are closer to $20,00 than $10,000 and I KNEW when they went past $10,k that sales would stop , the sophistication of all aspects of snowmobiling has ramped up, sponsors at $200-$400 each 6-8 sponsorships will cover the average trail system. A standardized marking system could allow a vendor or the BOT to inventory sign blanks, and brackets Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
