GUIDELINES FOR SNOWMOBILE TRAIL
           GROOMER OPERATOR TRAINING


A Resource Guide for Trail Grooming Managers and Equipment Operators:


Chapter 3 - Managing Grooming Operations
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Preparing The Trail:
Remove Bumps, Holes, and Debris Prior to Snowfall
Trail preparation prior to freeze-up and snowfall can be the single most important item to help provide a smooth and stable winter trail.

The trail base should be made as smooth as practical since bumps and holes in the ground will also produce bumps in the trail after snowfall. Therefore, bumps and holes in the ground should be improved or removed prior to snowfall, with whatever equipment is practical and available, since removal after the ground is frozen or snow covered is much more difficult.

Bumps located under the snow trail can reappear as bumps/moguls on heavily traveled trails almost immediately after grooming.

         
Photo 3.1 Trail maintenance prior to snowfall can help make trails smoother in the winter.

Brush, stumps, and debris should also be removed from the trail, as well as along the trail, in areas where it could be a hazard to traffic or block visibility. A wide, smooth, brush-free trail makes grooming easier.

Keeping debris off the trail helps prevent hazards as well as premature thawing of the trail base since debris can attract heat that can accelerate thawing the snow around it. It is also good to set trail markers and signs that must be driven into the ground before the ground freezes.

            
Photo 3.2 It is easier to remove stumps, brush, and debris before snowfall accumulates.

Early Season Trail Preparation
The first snowfalls that are processed on the trail often create the base for the remainder of the winter. An early solid, smooth base of snow will help keep the trail smoother throughout the rest of the winter. Early winter snowfalls can contain more free water and can compact well. Therefore, vigorous smoothing and heavy compaction is often important for early snows.

Newly fallen snow layers should ideally be cut to 6 inches (15 centimeters) or less before compacting to ensure full compaction throughout the layer. Thick layers of newly fallen snow typically do not compact well.

In areas prone to wetness, such as low swampy crossings, it is advantageous to keep the snow thickness to a minimum in the early part of the winter.

This allows the underlying soil to freeze and become stable. This frozen layer of earth will also help to keep the trail solid later into the spring season. Since snow is an excellent insulator, these areas should be kept thin so the ground remains frozen. Banked snow can be pulled onto these areas later in the season if bare spots occur.

Some wet areas, such as springs or seeps, never freeze to any degree and should be of concern throughout the season, particularly if they result in ice flows. Sometimes these areas can be covered with wood chips or similar material to minimize the carryover of mud and dirt onto the adjacent trail surface.

However, before using wood chips or similar materials, be sure to check with the land managing agency for their approval. The best scenario is to avoid these types of areas if at all possible with the trail route.



             Next Section - Chapter 3 - Quiz

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