Trail Grooming

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT TRAIL GROOMING

Have you ever wondered why the groomer wasn’t out last night?  Everyone has had a day where the trails weren’t as smooth as the day before, and you just can’t understand why.  Well, here’s a little insight into trail grooming.

While most clubs that operate groomers are funded by sled registrations, gas tax refunds and the state, the guys running the groomers are volunteers.  They’re up all night so you can have your fun the next day.  They understand the importance of tourism and the impact snowmobiling has on their local economy, and they often share your passion for riding.  Show them your utmost respect and don’t try to destroy the hard work they’ve just put forth.  Remember, groomers have the right-of-way, not you.

So you have a fresh 6” (15cm) of snow fall overnight.  How come the groomer is not out? In order to groom effectively and make the trail more durable, the idea is to cut the mogul off completely, not just fill in the void.  Moguls have a memory.  If you just fill in the void with new snow, by the time half a dozen snowmobiles run over it, the new snow settles and the mogul is back again.  When you groom fresh snow, the drag can’t be lowered deep enough to cut off the mogul because snow collects faster than it can flow out under the rear pan.  Again, the drag fills up and spills snow out over the sides.  After a fresh snow fall it’s often better to let the snowmobiles run it in and knock the air out of it.  Then when the drag processes this finer snow, it packs much tighter.  Often times, fresh snow means the groomer tractors can not pull as heavy of a drag, either.  Lighter, smaller drags don’t pack the snow as hard nor do they cut the bumps as well.  A trail may be groomed right after a snowfall, but it usually will not hold up nearly as well as after the snow has been packed and then cut.

Cold temperatures must also be considered for operator safety in case of equipment problems.  Less miles of trail will get groomed in extreme conditions.  As the temperature drops below -5ºF (-20ºC), steel starts to get brittle and equipment is more susceptible to breakage if it strikes a solid object such as a stump or rock.  Although the groomer operator usually has communications equipment and warm clothes, waiting for a snowmobile ride 25 miles (40 kilometers) in the country at 3 AM can be a very uneasy feeling.

For longevity of trail grooming, it is best to avoid riding a snowmobile on freshly groomed trails for at least two hours after the groomer passes.  If possible, choose an alternate route to help improve the quality and durability of the fresh groomed trail.  Avoid following directly behind a groomer because it immediately destroys the smoothing just performed by the drag.  If you come up behind a groomer and the operator beckons you to go around, that’s the main reason, to allow him to groom without snowmobiles on the trail enabling effective trail set-up.  He wants you in front of him, not behind him!

If you come across a “soft” or freshly groomed trail and you must use that route, try to minimize your impact on the trail: slow down; try to stay off the fresh grooming if the trail is wide enough to safely do so; operate only at the outside edge of the fresh grooming; ride in single file versus having everyone in the group take a different path on the fresh grooming; and don’t purposely fishtail or power through the soft snow.  Do as little damage as possible by backing out of the throttle and reducing your impact until you get off that trail or pass the groomer.  Better yet, turn around and take a different route. The mentality that “someone else will tear it up if I don’t” is what leads to a poor riding experience for all but the first few sleds to come through.