We were up yesterday with both CATS running, we put in a 10-12 hour day grooming. It is very slow going as the 3-4 feet of new snow is hard to get through. We are making a trench behind us about 3 feet deep, and running in first or second gear. We did get to both shelters, Ruckle and Bone Springs, Jubilee Rd both sides, to the store, around Coyote 3719 to Spout, Pole Trail, and in and out of the snow parks. We did not get Gordon Creek or Balloon Tree as the snow does not blade well and the CATS want to slide downhill. The snow does not react well when you are blading, and we can’t even blade as the snow was pushing up to the bottom of the windshield, and we were spinning out especially to climb the small hills. Just conditions as they are right now, we need the snow to settle so we can shape the trails and go around hillsides. Avalanche possibilities is another concern we have for our safety as well as snowmobilers. We had one CAT with a hydraulic problem yesterday, I am picking up more hydraulic fluid today. We will keep working on the trails, especially the main trails to keep them open, but the trails farther out on hillsides will not be groomed until it is safe to do so.
President Brandon has mentioned some people interested in helping us groom, but with Covid restrictions I have not taken on any new drivers this year to train. It takes at least a year to train a new driver in all the various conditions and maintenance on the equipment. The CATS always have a certain amount of maintenance needed each week, plus summer maintenance. They are lightly built for snow, not a bulldozer. Next year I will contact some of the names I have and see if they are still interested. With the extra traffic on the mountain this year, we have had a few complaints about rough trails, we are doing the best we can to keep them smooth. It would be a big help if people would ride to the right of the trail instead of the middle, as the CAT tracks pack the edges more than the center. The trails would hold up longer and not mogul out with everyone’s cooperation. Thanks to the six volunteers we have that keep our CATS running and trails groomed every week on a varying schedule due to conditions.
The highway has been closed off and on last week, and was closed last night again. Kudos to ODOT for doing the best they can to get it open and clear parking areas. It has been a rough year for parking.
Jess Thompson TTF grooming chair
