OAK HILL, NY — February 28th — At Bearpen Mountain, members of the Oak Hill-Durham Volunteer Fire Company, located at 103 County Route 22, conducted a trail familiarization and training exercise. Members of the Big Valley Trail Breakers Snowmobile Club and teams from the Grand Gorge Fire Department, Conesville Fire Department, and Town of Lexington Fire District joined the firefighters.

To increase access awareness and coordination during winter emergencies, participants practiced on a number of snowmobile trails. Because Bearpen Mountain is a well-liked snowmobiling location, responding authorities should be conversant with the route system. Firefighters who receive training in distant locations are better able to locate staging places, access points, and safe routes for snowmobiles and rescue vehicles. Additionally, the exercise improved cooperation between local snowmobile groups in the area and fire services.