I’m sure the people that snowmobile are thrilled with the amount of snow that got dumped on us November 25th and I totally get the excitement in the air to get back on the sleds for the first time this season, but that white gold came too early. Yes, the cold weather came, ice started to form on lakes and then most areas got over 20 inches snow. That snow we received in a two-day span is close to 30% of our average 83 inches of snowfall and snowmobilers want to jump on their sleds and ride on our awesome trails, but let’s not get too excited.

I cannot tell you how many times I’ve heard statements like; THE TRAILS ARE RUFF AND THE MOGULS (uneven bumps) ARE TERRIBLE, IT’S SNOWING AND WE HAVEN’T SEEN A GROOMER ALL DAY”, THE TRAILS UP IN MICHIGAN ARE MUCH BETTER. Well, weather has a lot to do with that, because temperatures can be different and the U.P. could get more snow than Land O Lakes does.

In a perfect world, 20 degrees to minus 5 degrees is the best time to groom the trails. When the temp is close to 32 degrees, snow will build up in the drag (blade that is lowered) and spill over the sides and leave big pieces in the middle of the trail that will freeze and become dangerous.

Groomers just don’t run over a trail to smooth it out by taking out the bumps (MOGULS) and filling in ruts or grooves from wear bars and studded tracks, because moguls have memory and an hour later, those ruts and grooves will come right back. Then, if mother nature drops 4, 6 or 8 inches of new snow, it’s better to let the snowmobiles pack it down before grooming, because for great trails, the groomers cut off the top layer and trails are usually groomed at night for these reasons.

1) Safety. Groomers take up most of the trail, run about 6 to 10 mph and (A FEW IDIOTS) ride too fast on the trails. These types of riders come around a corner in front of a groomer without having time to stop or leave the trail to avoid hitting it. (GROOMERS HAVE BRIGHT LIGHTS AND CAN BE SEEN MUCH BETTER AT NIGHT)

2) Night grooming is more effective because it’s usually colder and the snow will set-up faster.

3) Freshly groomed trails can take 2 to 6 hours for a solid set-up, making it much more durable and will hold up much better to heavy traffic.

Believe me, when it snows, the groomers (AGAIN, ALL VOLUNTEERS) know what to do and when to do it AND will stay out ALL NIGHT LONG grooming the trails, so snowmobilers can have the best riding experience possible. Great trails depend on mother nature for snow and the people that groom them, so, if you want great trails to ride on, slowdown in corners, give the groomers a break and DON’T RIDE AT NIGHT.

For all the hard work and long hours that is involved to keep snowmobile trails open our snowmobile clubs DO NOT get enough acknowledgment regarding the behind-the-scenes effort involved.

THIS HUGE TASK IS DONE BY VOLUNTEERS, SO INSTEAD OF COMPLAINING ABOUT TRAIL CONDITIONS, HOW BOUT THANKING THE PEOPLE THAT ARE OUT THERE GROOMING THOSE TRAILS.