UMD RSOP Ski Trail Grooming Guidelines

UniversityofMinnesotaDuluthRecreationalSportsOutdoorProgram

UMD RSOP

Ski Trail Grooming Guidelines BagleyNatureArea

Duluth,MN


TableofContents

Goal: ............................................................................................................................3

Expectations: ...............................................................................................................3

Standards:....................................................................................................................3GroomingScheduleforSpringSemester(duringskiclassseason):....................................................3Allothertimes(winterbreak,springbreak):................................................................................................3Eachtimethetrailisgroomed: ............................................................................................................................3Groomingschedule: ..................................................................................................................................................3Ifsnowmobileisbrokendown:............................................................................................................................4SkiTrailGroomingTraining................................................................................................................................. 4

TIDD‐TECH:OPERATIONOFTHETRAILTENDERIZER .....................................................5

UltimateBestLine‐BeaTrackSettingHero.................................................................8

CROSSCOUNTRYCANADAOFFICIALS’MANUAL.........................................................10

CoursePreparation&Tracksetting6‐1 .......................................................................10SnowPhysics.............................................................................................................................................................10HeatGainandLossInTheSnowLayer..........................................................................................................11IncomingUltravioletRadiation(sunlight) .................................................................................................12OutgoingInfraredRadiation ............................................................................................................................12Rain................................................................................................................................................................................12Wind ..............................................................................................................................................................................12MetamorphismProcessofRounding............................................................................................................12HowSnowGainsStrengthandDensity..........................................................................................................13ImportanceofDensity ...........................................................................................................................................13TheMeltFreezeProcess .......................................................................................................................................13

TypesOfSnow ..........................................................................................................................................................14FallingorNewlyFallenSnow.............................................................................................................................14PartiallysettledSnow(FreshPowder) ..........................................................................................................14SettledSnow...............................................................................................................................................................14DryGranularSnow .................................................................................................................................................14WetSnow ....................................................................................................................................................................15

BasicGrooming..........................................................................................................15WhentoGroom?.....................................................................................................................................................22Tracksetting...............................................................................................................................................................23AdditionalConsiderationsforSnowmobileTracksetters. ....................................................................25GeneralPointsonSnowmobileTracksetting..............................................................................................26TheIdealSkiLine ....................................................................................................................................................27


Goal:ThegoalofgroomingthetrailsinBagleyNatureAreaistoprovideahighquality,safetrailforalltypesofusers.

Expectations:Itisexpectedthatgroomers:

• Operatethemachineryinasafemanner• Followthroughontheirscheduledgroomingtimesorgetsomeoneelseon

theteamtodotheirgrooming.• Wearhearingprotectionwhileoperatingthesnowmobile(RSOPwillprovide

ifyoudonothaveany).

Standards:

GroomingScheduleforSpringSemester(duringskiclassseason):• MondayeveningsorTuesdaymornings• ThursdayeveningsorFridaymornings• Wheneversnowfallexceeds2inches• Specialevents(races,funskis,….)–atleast2hourspriortobeingskiedon• Timeswhengroomingisacceptable:5‐11pmor6‐8:30am

Allothertimes(winterbreak,springbreak):• Trailswillbegroomedonanasneededbasis:

o Wheneversnowfallexceeds2incheso Whentracksareskiedout,destroyedbywalkers,ormeltwarrants

conditioningandtracking.

Eachtimethetrailisgroomed:• Noticewillbepostedonwww.skinnyski.combywhomevergroomsthetrail• Gotoskinnyski.com

o Clickonthe“TrailReports”linko SelectBagleyNatureAreao Provideinformationonthequality/conditionsofthetrail

Groomingschedule:• WillbepostedonthekiosknearRockPondbyLeadGroomer.


Ifsnowmobileisbrokendown:• Groomerwillpostinformationonthekioskandmakesuresupervisor

knowsofthebreakdown.

SkiTrailGroomingTrainingTopicstocover:

• Storageshed–organizationandcleanlinesso Iceonthefloorandgrit

• Snowmobileo Fuelo Electrical/switcheso Starting–elec./pullo Accessoriestoalwayshave–shovel,tools,nailso Skiweightforicybaseo Clutchissues

• TiddTech.o Adjustmento Weights

• Rollero Useittotaketheairoutofthesnowwhenwegetmorethanabout3

incheso Driveslowtoavoid“bouncing”o Doesn’tlevelthetrailo Watchforicechunksfrozentothemetal–knockthemoff

• Groomingo Whenyouhavenicefreshsnowo Whenthesnowissuperdeep(morethan12”)o Properspeedo Whenitisicyo Adjustingteethfordifferentconditions–churningupcrustedsnowo Dealingwithentranceandexito Off‐settracko Walkingloopo Makingsharpturnso Holes/divotso Gettingstuckandunstucko LacrossFieldclassgrooming

• TrailMaintenanceo Signageo Branches/sticks,leaves,grass,weeds


TIDD‐TECH:OPERATIONOFTHETRAILTENDERIZER SAFETY Normal and prudent care should be taken when operating the Trail Tenderizer. The Terrain Tenderizer Teeth are very sharp, and should be treated with respect. Never reach under the front edge to move the groomer. Be careful lifting the groomer. Its weight is often increased by snow piled on top. Deep or icy snow makes moving the groomer even more hazardous. Be sure you have secure footing, bend your knees, and keep your back straight. By pivoting the unit on one and then the other rear corners (tracking fins) you should be able to zig zag the machine to the location you want. Do not run over skiers on the trail. It's very bad for repeat business. Seriously, if you groom during the day, stop and make sure that skiers are completely out of your way before passing them. The tow hitch of the groomer is supplied with a shear pin mechanism. You should use eight penny coated or galvanized nails for the shear pins. The pin should break upon serious impact with rocks, stumps or trees. It is far better to go back and get the groomer than to go over or through the windshield. If the pin breaks constantly in rough terrain, you can increase the size of the nail slightly. ALWAYS CARRY A SUPPLY OF SHEAR PINS IN THE SNOWMOBILE. It is actually fairly rare that you break the shear pin, except during low snow times, like at the beginning of the season, or by hitting trees. USE OF THE LIFT LEVER The lift lever is designed to allow you to eliminate the track without getting off the snowmobile. There is a trick to getting the slotted hook to engage and disengage without touching it. If you pull the lever up and slightly toward the center of the machine, the slotted hook will drop down on the bolt and remain in the hooked position. To release the hook, pull the lever back and slightly to the side, away from the center of the machine. When you release it, the bolt should slide back in the long end of the slot, thus lowering the track setter. You might need to tighten or loosen the bolt just a little. A bit of practice helps. Once you see how this works, the action is very quick and efficient. You may need to adjust the tightness of the bolt that slides through the slotted plate. Flip the track setter up onto the compactor bed for long distances where you aren't setting tracks (see below). PACKING NEW SNOW The easiest way to pack new snow is to keep the angle of the compactor bed as low as possible so that the snow doesn't build up under and in front of the compactor. Use the handcrank to raise the front edge of the compactor bed about half way up to the drawbar. Drive a few yards at grooming speed and see if the snow is rolling easily under the bed. If it is billowing up over the front edge, raise the front a bit more. If snow is being dragged along by the back edge, lower


the front. Remember that as you gain speed, the compactor will tend to plane up to the surface. If you raise the track setter with the Lift Lever (for skate lane packing with no tracks), the track setter will hang out in a cantilevered position. This puts a lot of downward pressure on the flexible yellow comb, pushing it hard into the snow. The result is an excellent combing action in firm snow conditions. In soft powder, the comb may be pushed so hard downward that snow is carried along and a significant drag is put on the snowmobile. To avoid this situation, flip the track setter up onto the compactor bed. The weight is now off the yellow comb, and drag is reduced. NOTE: It is a good idea to leave the rubber tie-down strap connected between the crank handle and some other part of the compactor bed to prevent the crank from spinning as a result of vibration. In this way, the height of the cutting teeth from the snow will remain constant. BACKING UP It is difficult to back up very far with the groomer attached. It tends to jack-knife at the hitch. Some backing is possible provided that you raise the yellow comb off the snow surface. This is done by flipping the track setter up onto the compactor bed and pulling it forward toward the raise/lowering crank. You can secure the track setter in this forward position with the rubber tie-down strap provided. Stretch it between the crank handle and the track setter’s plastic base (between the hinges). You will notice the comb bending upward as you slide the track setter forward. SPECIAL SITUATIONS Deep new snow (over 10-12") may require two passes to get sufficient air out of the powder to make a skiable surface. If the snow is very deep, you will probably have to run the snowmobile alone without dragging the Trail Tenderizer (this is also the perfect application for a Tidd Tech Roller). You can usually set good tracks on the second pass. If the groomer bogs down, remove the track setter(s) and put it/them on the back of the snowmachine or leave them off at the base lodge. This gives you less drag from the groomer and more traction on the Grading uneven surfaces is done in one of two ways. With soft, powder snow, you can raise the compactor to the highest angle so that you drag snow along, filling in the low spots automatically. With settled, or crusty snow, drop the teeth to a fairly low angle, and cut off the high spots. Snow will be dragged into low spots to level the surface. Don't be concerned ifsome snow piles up on top of the compactor, you can pull it along until you find a deep hole, then dump or shovel it into the hole. FIRM OR CRUSTY SNOW The Terrain Tenderizer Teeth do a lot of surface renovation as long as the snow is reasonably workable, i.e. you can kick your heel into it. Adjust the depth of the teeth so that snow is just rolling under the front edge of the compactor. A couple of turns of the crank make a big difference in how successful your renovation


works. Generally you should keep the compactor bed horizontal, so that the weight of the whole unit is on the teeth. If the teeth are too low, they will create a lot of drag on the snowmobile and may bounce, creating a washboard effect. Raise them up enough to not overwork or overheat your snow machine. On steep uphills, it is sometimes advisable to raise the teeth a bit to make pulling easier, then groom that trail in the opposite direction on the next pass with the teeth fully down on the downhills. The Trail Tenderizer has difficulty grooming extremely hard-frozen granular or solid ice. Nothing you put behind a snowmobile short of plastic explosives will affect rock solid ice. However, the teeth will texture the top surface and make it smoother and flatter so that skis slide easily (and quickly!) over it. Our motto is: IF IT'S WHITE, IT'S ALL RIGHT; IF IT'S GRAY, IT'S O.K.; IF IT'S BLUE, SO ARE YOU; AND IF IT'S BROWN, IT'S TIME TO SHUT THE PLACE DOWN. Setting track in hard snow sometimes requires one or two concrete blocks in the compartments of the track setter(see below). Another way to set better tracks in hard snow is to remove the sidewall tracking fins on the track setter, or move them up using the extra pair of bolt holes. By doing this, only the track cutters are hitting the snow. With the sidewall fins off or in the higher position, you must raise the track setter(s) to cross roads. Otherwise, you will scuff the molding blocks and dull the cutters. WEIGHTING THE TRACK SETTER The blocks fit into the hinged cage of the track setter. You can set tracks in powder with no weight on the track setter. One block in the rear compartment will create more packing on the track molds. One block in the front compartment will put more pressure on the track cutting teeth for harder snow. With both blocks on the track setter, you will have increased the weight of the track setter to at least 112 pounds. This should set a good track in very hard conditions. However, it is a lot of weight to pull up hills. After some experimentation, you will discover the best arrangements of weight to set ideal tracks in various snow situations. OBSTACLES Hitting rocks, roots, trees and other obstacles is not recommended. But, of course, you will do this, so just slow down when you do. The groomer is designed to ride over rocks etc. even with the teeth down. However, high speed impacts may dull, bend and/or break the teeth, and distort other parts of the groomer. Be nice to the machine and it will serve you for a long time. The teeth on the cutting bar can be resharpened with a four inch angle grinder when they get dull. It’s a quick, easy maintenance task and will improve the performance of the teeth. This is necessary usually only once or twice a year, or after extended use in low snow. CROSSING ROADS OR BARE SPOTS


You must raise the cutting teeth and flip the track setter(s) up onto the compactor bed before crossing plowed roads or snowless sections. The groomer will ride on the tracking fins at the back corners of the compactor and not harm the urethane comb. These tracking fins will eventually wear down. They can be repositioned in four directions, and eventually replaced. OFF SEASON STORAGE Clean your Trail Tenderizer at the end of the season. A good wash with a garden hose will do. Inspect the tooth bar for worn or missing teeth. Sharpen the teeth with an angle grinder. Straighten any bent pieces. Paint any exposed steel parts of the groomer. A spray can of rust resistant paint is adequate. Use a piece of cardboard to mask the plastic parts. NOTE: Store the groomer on a couple of boards up off the ground and cover it with a tarp. UV sunlight can degrade the plastic and make it more brittle. With proper maintenance and care in its use, the Trail Tenderizer will last for many years.

UltimateBestLine‐BeaTrackSettingHeroBy David Zink

Back in the days before skating, setting technical cross-country ski trails was an art. Good track setters not only knew when to lay the tracks and when to pull them, they also knew how to follow the “best line” around curves.

Today, most classic tracks share the trail with a wide skating lane. There are plenty folks who enjoy arguing the pros and cons of the new wide trails vs. the “good old days”. What I find interesting is that most of this discussion centers on the width of the trail and it’s feeling of “intimacy”. We often forget another reason why the old trails had a different “feel”.

In the old days if you were setting track on an 8’ logging road, for example, you got to “define the curve”. You would start at the outside of an approaching corner, cut across to the inside and finally end on the outside again – we know this as “taking the best line”.

Today, as we set our tracks on one side of the skating lane, we are completely at the mercy of the trail itself. Curves are defined now by


the trail cutter, not the track setter.

Next time you set tracks for that “classic only” race course, or if you would just like to try something fun on a section of trail, try setting a best line course. But before you fire up the snowmobile, do some research and training:

First go ski the section of trail. My recommendation is to ski it on skating skis, taking the curves and corners as aggressively as you can. Pay attention to the line you take through the curves. If you don’t feel proficient, park yourself at the edge of the trail and watch a good skier’s line. Take lots of notes with sketches, because it will all look very different through the windshield of the snowmobile.

Now go set some tracks. Follow the line you picked while on skis, even if it doesn’t look right from the snowmobile. Ski the tracks and feel the difference. It is amazing how much more fun it is to ski a best line track. Were you a little overzealous on some of the down hill corners? It is very important when setting best line to “pull” the tracks when the curve becomes too fast.

More so than ever, skiers must trust a best line track setter’s judgment – if the tracks are there, they will use them, often because they don’t have a choice (the tracks cut across their path). And when they do successfully ski through that downhill curve in a tuck you will be their track-setting hero. But if you set tracks around a corner that is too tight for the average skier, you are the goat, so learn your trade well.

If you have the option of using a snowmobile track setter in combination with snow cat equipment on a wide trail, here is an idea for the ultimate best line course: Send the snow cat (with the tiller running if you have one) out just ahead of the snowmobile/tracksetter. Run the snow cat slow enough that your snowmobile track setter can follow right behind, so that you are setting tracks before the tilled snow has a chance to set up. Set your best line with the snowmobile, using the full width of the trail through the curves. You will end up with a wonderful product that not only looks great but will stand up to some pretty hard use. If you are grooming exclusively with a snowmobile, make enough initial passes to cover the full width, then


follow with your best line track-setting pass.

Don’t be afraid to experiment a little with track placement. Sometimes we get in a habit of doing things a certain way and forget that it can be a thrill for skiers to experience something new and different. Another trap to avoid is the thinking that tracks and skating are incompatible. It is just as fun for the skaters to hop into a best line track down and around a curve as it is for your classic skiers. If you have a wide, one way trail over some rolling terrain that is normally groomed as a skating lane with classic track on the side, try setting the APPROPRIATE downhill sections best line (you can still leave a skating lane everywhere else). I think you will enjoy the response you get from your skiers.

TakenFrom:

CROSSCOUNTRYCANADAOFFICIALS’MANUALVersion3.2,October2007ATechnicalManualfortheOrganizationofCrossCountrySkiEventsJimThomson,Editor

CoursePreparation&Tracksetting6‐1

SnowPhysicsThekeytosettinggoodtracksandfastsmoothskatinglanesliesinthesnowgroomingwhichisdonebeforetracksetting.Groomingistheworkingorreworkingofsnowusingspecialvehiclesandattachedequipmentinordertoprovideconsistentskiingconditions.

Theobjectiveingroomingistocreateasmoothleveltrailbedthatisfirmenoughtosupporttheskiersandtheirpolingandatthesametimetohaveenoughlooseworkablesnowtomouldtracksandshapeskatingsurfaces.

WhyGroomYourSkiTrails•Groominghelpstomakeaskier’svisitorracefunfromstarttoend

•Groominghelpsmakeaskiracefairer


•Groomingdemonstratesthatcrosscountryskiingisnotonlygoodexercisebutalsofunandexciting.

•Groomingputsmoreglideincrosscountryskiing.

Thereisanongoingdebateastowhethergroomingisanartorascience.Thefactisthatthebasicmedium,snow,comesinabewilderingvarietyofstates,andgroomers,intheirattemptstodefinescientificallywhatisstillaveryinexactart,havecomeupwithasmanydefinitionsofsnowtypesashavetheInuit.Forthismanualthebasicsnowterminology,snowconditions,groomingandtracksettingprocesseswillbepresented.Foramoredetaileddiscussionofsnowphysics,groomingandtracksettingpleaserefertotheCrossCountryCanadaTrailGroomingandTracksettingManual.

SnowAknowledgeofhowsnowisalteredduetochangesintemperaturewillallowyoutobetterunderstandwhathappenswhenyougroomtrailsindifferentconditions.Itwillhelpyouto:

_packthesnowtoachievesuitabledensityforavarietyofdifferentusers

_providethesametrackconditionsforallskiersinacompetitiveevent

_extendyourskiingseasonbyworkingthesnowtherightamount.

HeatGainandLossInTheSnowLayerTemperatureGradient‐ThetemperaturegradientisthedifferenceintemperaturebetweenthesnowsurfaceandthegroundexpressedintermsofdegreesCelsiuspermeterofdepth.Forexample,consideronemeterofsnowlyingonagroundsurfacethetemperatureofwhichiszerodegreesCelsius.Iftheairtemperaturedropstominus20degreesCelsiusthereisadifferenceof20degreeCelsiusinonemeterofsnowdepth,or20degreeCelsiuspermeter.Becausethetemperaturegradientinfluencesthemovementofwatermoleculeswithinthesnowpack,ithasasignificanteffectonchangesinsnowstructurewithinthesnowpack.Thephysicalprocesseswhichcausechangesatandbeneaththesurfaceofthesnowaredrivenbytemperaturegradientorthelackthereofandbytransferofheattothesnowpack.

Forthepurposeofgrooming,theinterfaceswhichmostconcernusare:

_thegroundandsnowsurface

_theairjustabovethesnowsurfaceandthesnowsurface

_thesnowsurfaceandthesnowonetotwocentimetersbelowthesnowsurface

Factorswhichaffecttheaboveinterfacesare:


IncomingUltra‐violetRadiation(sunlight)Thisprocesswillheatupthesnowandcausemeltingwithinthetopfewcentimetersofthesnowpack.Theamountofwarmingdependsuponthealbedo(reflectivity)ofthesnow,theamountofimpurities(dirt)mixedwiththesnow,andthegranularstructureofthesurfacelayers.

Machinegroomedsnowisnothighlyreflectiveandthereforealargepercentageoftheincomingsolarradiationisabsorbedwhichmaycreateasignificanttemperaturegradientwithinthetoptwotothreecentimetersormaycausemeltingofthesurfacelayers.

OutgoingInfra‐redRadiationThiscoolsthesnowsurface.Inclearconditions,inmidwinter,outgoinginfra‐redradiationmaycoolthesnowsurfaceatthesametimeasincomingradiationwarmsthesnowbeneaththesurface,creatingorenhancingasignificanttemperaturegradient.Duringaclearcoldnight,acrystallinedepositofsurfacehoarmayformonthesnowsurface.

RainRaintransfersheatdirectlytothesnow.Itmayremainasliquidwaterinthesnowpack.

WindAwarmmoistwindresultsinheatbeingtransferredtothesnowpack.Adrywind,whilecausingthesnowtoevaporateatahighrate,transferslittleheatintothesnowpack.

Metamorphism‐ProcessofRoundingSnowbeginstochangeassoonasitreachestheground(orathighertemperatures,intheairbeforeitreachestheground).Therateatwhichitchangesdependsuponthetemperature.ClosetozerodegreesCelsiusthechangeisrapid.Belowabout‐20degreesCelsiusthereislittlediscernablechangefromdaytoday.

Whenoutsidetemperaturesaremoderateorwhenthesnowpackisdeep,thetemperaturegradientswithinthesnowpackwillbesmall.Snowwillthenchangebyaprocessknownas“rounding”.Thenaturalprocessofminimizingsurfaceareabreaksdowntheintricatecrystallinesnowstructureoftheicecrystalsintosmaller,moreroundedicegrains.

Atthesametime,becauseofthereductioninvolumeofthesnowparticles,thesnowpackconsolidatesandsettles.Whensnowisfirstdepositeditislightandfluffy,thecrystalbranchesinterlockingtoformacohesivemass.Afteraperiodoftime,watermoleculesaretransferredbyvapourmovementfromtheextremitiestothebodyofthecrystal.Eventually,theicegrainsloseallsignoftheirpreviouscrystallinestructureandbecomemoreandmorerounded.Thelargericegrainsgrowattheexpenseofthesmallerparticlesresultinginauniformityofsizewithineachsnowlayer.


HowSnowGainsStrengthandDensityYouhaveprobablynoticedthatsoftnewsnow,whenpacked,willhardenovernight.Theprocesswheresnowgainsstrengthbythejoiningtogetheroficegrains,iscalledSintering.

Inthecaseoftheskitrail,thesnowcrystalsoricegrainsareforcedclosetogetherbythemechanicalcompactionofgroomingequipment,atwhichtimeenergyisintroducedintothesnowbythemechanicalaction,resultinginapartialmelt,andthusincreasingthedensityofthesnow.Asaresultatransferofwatermolecules,necksoficeformbetweenadjacentgrains,strengtheningthesnowpack.Onre‐warming,thenecksbetweentheicegrainswillbereducedtherebyweakeningordestroyingthebondbetweengrains.

ImportanceofDensityIfyourtrailsaretowithstandtheirintendeduse,youshouldpayattentiontothedensityofthegroomedsnowpack.

Thefollowingtablegivestypicalsnowdensitiesandindicatessuitabledensitiesforvariouslevelsofuse.Kilograms/cubic

metre(Kg/m3)istheusualmeasureofdensity.

•NewSnow150‐200Kg/m3

•Windpackedsnow250‐300Kg/m3

•Packedwithsnowmobilealone300‐350Kg/m3

•Supportrequiredforracingbasket>350Kg/m3

•Recreationtrails(moderateuse)450Kg/m3

•Racingtrails500Kg/m3orgreater

•WorldCupandhigherevents540‐560Kg/m3

TheMelt‐FreezeProcessWhenthesunissufficientlystrongtomeltthetoplayersofthesnowpackduringtheday,andwhennight‐timetemperaturesfallbelowzerodegreesCelsius,cyclesoffreezingandthawingwilloccur.Inthisprocesssmallergrainswillmeltbeforelargerones.Duringthecourseofanumberofmelt‐freezecycles,largergrainswillgrowattheexpenseofsmallerones.Themeltwaterwettingthesurfaceoftheselargergrainseventuallyre‐freezesandfirmlycementsthegrainstogether.Melt‐freezegrainshaveatendencytofreezetogetherinclusters,leavinglargeporespacesunlesspackingisdone.


TypesOfSnow

FallingorNewlyFallenSnowIncoldconditions(‐OnedegreeCelsiusandlower):Thesnowwillbelowdensity,highlycrystalline,possiblyinterlockingcrystals,mattingandbuildingupontrees.Thesnowwillbehardtopackifthenewsnowisallowedtogettoodeep.Itpackswellin10‐15centimeters(four‐sixinches),layersattemperaturesclosetozerodegreesCelsius,andbecomesmoredifficulttopackastemperaturedecreases.

Inwarmerconditions(zerodegreesCelsiusandabove):Thesnowwillbewetandheavywithlittleremainingcrystallineform.Ifaccompaniedbywind,thesnowisplasteredontrees,signs,buildings,etc.Itpackseasilyintoahard,denselayerattemperaturesclosetofreezingandmayturntoslushathighertemperatures.

PartiallysettledSnow(FreshPowder)Thistypeofsnowhasbeguntheroundingprocessand,ifleftalone,willsettleandstrengthennaturallyoveraperiodoftimeasporespacesarereducedandsinteringoccursMechanicaldisturbancessuchasblading,tillingorpackingwillreducetheairspacesbypushingtheicegrainsclosertogetherallowingbettersintering.Thesnow,now“MachineGroomedPowder”becomesbothdenserandstronger.

SettledSnowWhensnowissettled,thegrainsizebecomessmallerandmoreuniform.Porespacedecreases,sinteringincreases,anddensityincreases.Theabilityofthesnowtore‐crystallizeduetolargetemperaturegradients,andhenceloosen‐up,

isreducedduetosmallporespaces.IncontinentalsnowclimatessuchasAlbertaandtheRockies,Saskatchewan,Manitoba,Yukon,andNorthWestTerritories,awellpackedtrailsystemwillnotpresentre‐crystallizationproblems.Thesnowshouldbepackedearlyandwell.

DryGranularSnowThistypeofsnowmaypresentitselfinthreeways:

_facetedsurfacegrains.ThisisunlikelytooccuratlowelevationsofmostCrossCountryskiareas.

_facetedgrainsinbottomofsnowpack.Thisiscommonincontinentalsnowclimates,butwillnotbeaproblemiftrailsarewellpacked.

_re‐frozenmelt‐freezegrains.Theseareenlargedgrainsproducedbyseveralcyclesofmeltingandfreezing,oftenafunctionofover‐groomingthesamesnowpack.Theymaypresentasaloosesurfacelayer,butmorelikelywillbefrozenclusterswhichwillbreakupastemperaturerisesandskiertrafficincreases.Whenpartialmeltinghasoccurred(freewatercontentlessthaneightpercent)itisknownas“CornSnow".Excessivegroomingwilltendtoloosenandenlargethesegrains.


Surfacelayersofrefrozenmelt‐freezegrains(orsugarsnow)canbereconstituted(strengthened)intwoways:

_Itcanbemixedwithfreshsnow,eithernewsnowfallorolddrysnowfromlayersbeneaththegranularlayer.

_Apowertilleror,forsnowmobilegroomers,acompactiondragmaybeusedtomillthesnow.Thisreducesthesizeoftheparticles,allowingpartialmeltingandsinteringtotakeplace.Ifmelt‐freezecyclescontinue,thesnowwilleventuallybecomesloppier,andrenovationwillbeneeded.Thereislittleyoucandoatthisstagetoalterthephysicalcharacteristicsofthesnowgrains.Tillingwillhelptodryoutthesnowbyexposingmoresurfaceareatoevaporation.Windwillspeedupthisprocess.

WetSnowThereisanoldfield“squeeze”testforthedefinitionofsnowmoisturelevels.Ahandfulofsnowisscoopedupandsqueezedinaglovedhand.Drysnowwillcrumblewhenreleased.Moistsnowwillcompacttoformasnowball,andwatercanbesqueezedoutofahandfulofwetsnow.Wetsnowcreatesspecialproblemsforgroomers.Itshouldneverbepackedorgroomedifthereisanychancethattemperatureswilldroplaterinthedayornight.Wetsnowwhichiscompactedandlaterfrozencanbecomea“bulletproof’"groomer’snightmare.Wetsnowcansometimesbebrokenupintocoarsechunkswithafrontrenovatororrotaryhoeortillerandleftloosetoaerateforseveralhoursbeforefurthergrooming.Thiswillallowwatertopercolatedownwardandencourageevaporationthroughtheincreasedsurfacearea.Later,whentemperatureshavestartedtodropbelowfreezingpoint,furtherrenovationandtillingcanrefinethesurfacelayers.Inwetconditionswherethereisnochanceoffreezingpriortoarace,snowcanagainbecoarselyrenovatedortilledtopromotedrainageandaeration,butfinalgroomingandtracksettingshouldbeleftuntiljustbeforetherace.Itisnormallydifficulttotillwetsnowasit“ballsup”inthetiller.

BasicGroomingAlthoughthediscussionofSnowPhysicsindicatesthatsnowgroominghasasciencebase,itwouldbefartoosimpletodescribeitasapurelyscientificactivity.Onecouldarguethatthereisasmuchartasthereisscienceinthepractice.Itiscertainlytruethatmuchcanbelearnedbystudyingsnowcrystalsandtheirchangeprocessesunderamagnifyingglass,butformostexperiencedgroomersafewbootkicksinthetrailsnowandtheweatherreportwilloftengivethemalltheinformationtheyneedforagoodgroomingjob.Somuchoftheworkreliesonthegroomer’spracticalexperiencewiththeirarea,theirknowledgeofthelocalclimate,andthesite’smicroclimates.Withthiscomesasenseofintuitionthatcan’tbedescribedinanyformalmanual.Thismakesitverydifficultforanyindividualtobeatruegrooming


guru,orforanymanualtobeconsideredasTheBible.Thefollowingdiscussionisintendedasabriefoverviewofbasicgroomingprocessesforraceofficialsandotherswhoarenewtothefield.Groomingcanberelativelysimpleorverycomplexdependingonconditions,thedesiredendproductandthetimeandequipmentavailable.Forsimplicity,thewholegroomingprogramcanbebrokendownintoseveralbasicprocesses.

PackingThisisaseasonlongprocess.Ideally,packingshouldbedonewithatleasteverysixinchesofnewsnow(withtheunderstandingthatthisisnotalwayspossiblewhenbigdumpscome).Inlowsnowareasgroomerswillcarefullypackeverytimemorethan2cmofsnowaccumulatestograduallybuildupabase.Earlyseasonpackingusuallyinvolvesrunningovertrailsurfaceswithlightequipmentmeaningsnowmobilesaloneinitially,followedbysnowmobilestowingrollersorothercompactiondevices.Evenhighsnowregionswhichnormallygroomtrailswithsnowcatswillfindthatsnowmobilepackingisessentialuntiltheinitialbaseisset(thiscanrangefrom15to30cmor6to12inchesofpackedsnowdependingonthesmoothnessofthegroundsurface).EndResult–AnIncreaseinSnowDensitySnowmobilegroomersmayhavetofallbackontrackpackingwithsnowmobileonlyatlatertimesintheseasonforbigdumpsofsnowwhichwouldmaketowinganyimplementsimpossible,andevencatgroomerswilloccasionallyfindtrackpackingusefulwithunusuallyheavysnowfalls.But,normallypackingwillbedonewithimplements.Snowmobilegroomerscanpackwithtwobasictypesofequipment–rollers,orcompactionpans/bars.Rollersoffertheadvantageofpackingsnowwithoutdraggingordisplacement.Theycan,however,iceupinwarmconditions,andworkingspeedneedstobekeptlowtokeepthemfrombouncing(creatingwashboardsurfaces).Homebuiltrollerscanbeproducedquiteeasilyusingvarioustypesofpipe,steelculvert,etc,butsomeofthemostefficientunitsareproducedbygroomingsupplierssuchasYELLOWSTONETRACKSETTINGSYSTEMS,andTIDDTECH.Thereareseveralcompactionbar/pandevicesavailablefromequipmentsuppliers.TheTIDDTECHTrailTenderizerwhichhasbeenaroundformorethanadecadeisagoodexampleofausefulcompactionpanwhenrunwiththefrontcutterteethcrankedup.Manygroomersprefercompactionbarsandpanstorollersforseasonlongpackingbecausetheylevelandsmooththesurfacesastheycompactandtheydon’ttendtoiceupasreadilyinwarmwetconditions.Workingspeedsstillhavetobekeptlowenoughtopreventwashboarding.


Compactorbars(“C‐Bars”)areavailableforlargersnowvehicles.Thesebladelikebarsmountattherearofsnowcats.Downpressureandbladetrim(verticalangle)areallhydraulicallycontrolled.“C‐Bars”areparticularlyusefulforearlyseasonpacking(assumingasub‐basepackedbysmallervehicles)whererocks,stumps,andotherobstructionsmightstillbehazardstopowertillers,andtheymaybehandyforlaterseasonmega–dumpswhichwouldclogtillers.Generallythough,mostcatgroomerswillroutinelypackrecurringsnowfallswithtillerpasses.Ifcompactorbarsaren’tavailableparticularlyheavysnowdumpsmayhavetobetrackpackedbeforetilling.Groomersoftenhavelittlechoiceabouttimingforpacking.Normallysnowwillpackandgroombestinarelativelynarrowtemperaturerangebetween‐10and0degreesCelsius.Extremelycolddrysnow(below‐20C)doesnotpackwell,andasageneralrule,allgroomingofextremelywarmsnow(above0C)shouldbeavoided.Warmwetsnowcanbeastickyfrustratingmessandiffollowedbyacoldspelltheresultingicysurfacecanbedangerous.But,thepressuresappliedbyanimpatientskiingpublicoranupcomingracemayforcegroomerstopackandgroominlessthanidealconditions.

SurfaceShapingMostofthetime,carefulpackingwillleavetrailsurfacessmoothenoughfortracksettingandskiing,butthisisn’talwaysthecase.Packingcanleavebumpsanddipswhichshouldbeflattenedout.Skiertrafficandrepeatedgroomingpassescanalsograduallypushsnowtotrailsidesleavingaconcaveordishedsurface.Periodicallyalloftheseirregularitiesshouldbeflattenedout,andsnowmayhavetobemovedbackfromtrailsidestothemiddle.Inthepast,therehasbeenagroomingtheorythattheidealtrailsurfaceshouldbecrowned(aconvexsurfacehigherinthemiddlethanthesides).Thiswouldprovidebettersnowdepthinthemiddlewheretrafficwouldbehighest.Itwouldalsomakeformoreefficientskiskating(everyskatingthrustfromthetopofthecrownresultsinadownhillglide)anditwouldmakeherringboningsteepuphillseasierforclassicalskierssinceskitipswouldnotdigintohighersidesurfaces.Anicetheoryonpaper‐butinpracticeithasproventobeimpractical.Theexcavationrequiredtoshavesnowfromtrailsidestomoveittothecentreisverydifficulttodowithsnowmobileequipmentandinlowsnowregionstheriskofdiggingupdirtanddebrisismuchtoohighevenifsnowcatswithskilledbladeoperatorsareavailable.Themostpracticalaimforthemajorityofgroomersistomaintainsurfacesasflatandassmoothaspossible.Forsnowmobilegroomersdraggradersarethebasictoolforsurfaceshaping.Thesecanrangefromhomebuiltdevicesliketheoldbed‐springdragtocommercialunitssuchasYELLOWSTONETRACKSETTINGSYSTEMSCompactionDragorADVANCETRACKSETTINGSYSTEMSRenovatingLeveller.Theycanbeusedthroughoutthe


seasontoplaneandflattentrails.BoththeYELLOWSTONECompactiondragandtheADVANCELevellerareapproxsevenfeetlong(excludingthehitch).Thisseemstobeareasonablelengthformostsnowmobiledraggraderwork.Anumberofskiandsnowmobileclubshavebeenusinglongerbedgraders(10‐12ft)originallybuiltbyBOMBARDIERandothermakersformaintainingsnowmobiletrails.Theextralengthmakestheseveryeffectivesurfaceplaners,buttheycanbebrutestotowinsteepterrainandtheywillscrapehighspotsbareveryquickly.Inlowsnowcountrytheyhavetobeusedwithcaution.ThemostefficienttoolsforsurfaceshapingaresnowcatmultidirectionalfrontU‐blades.U‐bladescanmovemassiveamountsofsnowandskilledoperatorscanshapetrailswithnearsurgicalprecision.Again–aswithlongbedgraders–thelimitingfactorissnowquantity.Inmostnordictrailsystemsoutsideoftheheavysnowbelts,operatorswillhaverelativelylittlechancetousethebladesduringregulargrooming.Unlessthereismorethanafootofcompactedsnowonthetrailsurface,anythingbutthemostconservativebladeusewillscrapesnowdowntothedirt,anddirtintrailsnowpacksisanastyproblem.Dirtanddebrisworkedintoatrailsnowpackearlyinthewintercanturnintoaseasonlongheadache.Unlessitiscompletelyburiedbyalargedump(50cmormore)regulargroomingwillcontinuallyworkdirtupintothetrailsurface.Gravelandrockchipscanfoulexpensiveracewaxes,ordamageskibases.Moreimportanttothegroomer,thediscolorationofthesnowwillcauserapidmeltoutpatchesinwarmperiods.Inspiteofthiscautionarynote,thefrontU‐bladeisanindispensabletool.Itcanflattenoutandredistributedriftedsnow;itcanwinginsnowfrombesidetrailstofattenupthinspots(assumingthattrailsidesarerelativelysmoothandfreefromstumps,rocks,etc.).Unfortunately,asnotedabove,manygroomersinlowsnowareasneverhavetheopportunitytobecomeskilfulbladeoperators.Forthosewhomaywishtolearnmoreabouttheartofblading,thebestapproachwouldbetoarrangetoridealongwithanalpinegroomeronafewshifts.Alpinegroomersarethetruemastersofbladework.

ConditioningFurthersnowconditioningprocesseswillberequiredduringaskiseason.Thefollowingprocessdefinitionsaresomewhatarbitrary,and‐obviously‐thereisconsiderablecrossoverbetweenthem.

AgingThisisatermusedforacomplexsetofprocessestouchedoninthischapter’searliersectiononSnowPhysics.Mosttypesoffreshfallensnowrequiremechanicalagingtoturnthemintosuitablebuildingmaterialsforaskitrailsurface.


Colddrysnowislightandfluffy;itflowseasilyandresistscompaction.Snowagingisanaturalprocess,butmechanicalactioncanspeedituptoproduceaconsistentsnowmasswhichcanbeshapedintofirmtracksandskatingsurfaces.Theprocessisstartedbypackingwhichreducesairspaces,forcessnowcrystalstogether,andpromotessintering.Itiscontinuedwiththesurfaceshapingwhichwillfurthermillsnowdependingontheexactimplementsused.Formostgroomingoperationspackingandshapingwillprovidealloftheagingnecessaryforgoodskiing.Groomersinlowsnowareaswillrarelywanttogofurther,becauseskiingtrafficandsubsequentgroomingpasseswillhardentrailsurfacessurprisinglyfastwhenregularsnowfallsareararecommodity.Andre‐groominghardenedoldsnowbecomesincreasinglydifficultwitheachsuccessivegroomingshift.Therewillbesituationsrequiringadditionalagingpasses.Highlevelskiracesrequirefirmsurfaces,andindeepsnowcountrywheresnowcomeseveryweek,extraworkwillbenecessarytoproducehardfastskatingsurfaces.Inadditiontoshapingsurfaces,simpledraggraderssuchastheYELLOWSTONECompactionDragmillsnowquiteeffectivelyasthecuttingbladesmoveitinwardsandthenbackout,creatinghigh‐speedsnowcrystalcollisions.Thefrictionofthesecollisionsproducesheatwhichpromotessinteringandspeedsupnaturalaging.Additionaldragpasseswillgraduallyhardentrailsurfaces.Catgroomershavethemostefficientagingimplement,thepowertiller,withitscuttingteethmountedonashiftspinningat1000rpmormore.

MixingThisisanotherpartoftheconditioningprocesswhichcanbeconsideredseparately,butwhichisobviouslyinvolvedinseveraloftheotherconditioningstages(surfaceshaping,aging,renovation).Newsnowfromsurfacelayerscanbemixedwitholderlowersnowtoproducean“aged”trailsurfacewhichwillsetupandwithstandskiertrafficmuchmorereadilythanfreshsnowalone.Foranoppositeeffect‐trailsurfaceswhichhavebeenturnedtoboilerplateorotherwisewornoutbyskiertraffic,naturalfreeze‐thawcycles,orrepeatedgroomingcanberejuvenatedbybeingmixedwithlowerlayerswhichhavenotbeenoverused.Mixingisdonewiththesamedeep‐cuttingimplementsusedinheavyrenovation.

RenovationThisisatermforaseriesofprocesseswhoseobjectiveisreallytheoppositetothatofpackingandaging.Snowwhichhasbeenhardenedexcessivelythroughacombinationofskiertraffic,grooming,andweatherconditionsmustbeloosenedandconvertedbackintoamorepowderyformbeforeitcanbereshapedintonewtracksorasmoothermoreforgivingskatesurface.Renovationmayberequiredatdifferentlevels.EndResult–AReductioninSnowDensity


SurfaceScarificationSkiertrafficandweatherconditionswillscarupandglazerailsurfaces,butitmaynotalwaysbenecessarytodoadeeprenovationtobuffthemupenoughforenjoyableskiing.Thisistrueaslongastracksarestillsoundandicingisnottoodeep.Lightsurfacescarificationbysnowmobiledragswilltouchuplightlyglazed,ruttedskatelanes.Inlowsnowcountryespecially,groomerscandomuchtosavetheirsnowpacksbyminimaluseofmoreaggressiverenovation.Manyhomebuiltdragssuchasthe“MagicCarpet”(apieceofchain‐linkfencewith2by4’snailedacrossthetop)orthe“StepTread”(threeorfour4‐6ftwideexpandedmetalstairtreadschainedtogether)canscratchupandre‐smoothsurfacesenoughtobringbackpleasantskiing.Anumberofcommercialimplementswilldothejobmuchmoreefficiently.Thelevellinggraders(YELLOWSTONECompactionDrag,ADVANCERenovatingLeveller)canhandlelightsurfacescarificationifweightedsufficiently.AnotheroldstandbyforlightsurfacescarificationistheTIDDTECHTrailTenderizerwithitsdoublefrontrowsofcuttingteeth.Inthepastfewyears,theSwedishJACAskatesurfaceRenovator,and–morerecently‐YellowstoneTrackSystemsGinzugroomer‘andTiddTech’sG‐2haveaddedawholenewdimensiontolightequipmenttrailgrooming.TheJACARenovatorusesahorizontalcutterbar,whiletheGinzugroomerandG‐2featureverticalknives.Alluseelectricramscontrolledbyswitchesonthesnowmobiletoraiseorlowercutterunits.Thismeansthatthedaysofhavingtostopandgetoffthesnowmobiletoadjustdepthsarenomore(beingabletocontrolcuttingdepthsonthegoreducestheriskofoneofthesnowmobilegroomer’snastiestoldbugbears‐gettingstuckonsteepuphills).Theyallowsnowmobilegroomerstoproduceresultsasprofessionalinappearanceasthoseofanycatoperator,buttheydosowithouthavingtotearupsurfacestoanydepth.Thiscanbeparticularlyusefulwheneverquicktouchupgroomingisrequiredduringevents(i.e.,cleaningupasprintcoursebetweenrounds,orremovingclassicaltracksbeforeafollowingfreetechniquerace).Inthesesituationsusingacatwouldleavetrailsurfaceshopelesslysoft.

DeepRenovationSoonerorlaterdeeprenovationwillberequired.Oldtrackswhichhavebecomewornandicy,andtrailsurfacesturnedhardandglazedbytrafficandweatherwillneedtobebrokenupandrefinedintosnowsoftenoughtobemouldedintonewtracksandskatesurfaceswhichallowskiedgestobite.Thiscanbeoneofthemostchallengingprocessesforgroomers–especiallyforsnowmobilegroomersinlowsnowareas.Toolsofagriculturalorigin(discers,harrows,rotaryhoes)havebeenusedtobreakuphardpacksnowwithmixed


results.Mostoftheseimplementtypestendedtobetooheavyandaggressivefordependableusebehindsnowmobiles.Theywereusuallybettersuitedforusebehindheaviervehicleslikethe“Bombi”,orsomeoftheoldertypesofsnowcat.Noneoftheold“FarmerJones”typeimplementsforsnowgroomingarecurrentlyavailableintheregularmarket.Fortunately,thecurrentmarketdoesofferasmallrangemoreefficientrenovationimplementsforsnowmobilegroomers.MostgroomerswillbefamiliarwiththeoldBAECHLERPullRenovatorswhichfirstappearedintheearly1970’s.Manyarestillinuseandmanymoresitin“boneyards”aroundthecountry.TheoldPLwithitstwoandahalffoothorizontalcuttingbarcouldripuphardsnow,butitcameupinbigchunksandthemachinewasanotoriouslyhardpullforsnowmobilesinhardconditionsonhillytrails.TheBAECHLERrenovatorisstillmanufacturedunderlicensebyYELLOWSTONETRACKSETTINGSYSTEMS.YTShasmodifieditbyreplacingtheoriginalhorizontalteethwithasetofverticalcuttingknives,whichleaveafinertexturedproductandmakethepullingalittleeasier.TheJACAskatesurfacerenovatormentionedabovealsousesahorizontalcutter.Itproducesabeautifulfine‐grainedskatesurfacewhensetatshallowcuttingdepth,butsinceitisalmostfivefeetwideitcouldbeanextremelytoughpullinhardconditionsifsetfordeepcuts.Groomerswouldhavetomakerepeatedpassesatincreasingdepthsettingstorenovatetotrackdepth.ThesamewouldapplytotheTiddTechTrailTenderizer.TheTenderizercomesinfourandsixfootwidths.Tworowsof2‐inchlongverticalcutterteetharedeployedbycrankingthefrontoftheimplementpanupordown.Thisisnormallydonebyhandwiththeattachedtrailertypejack,butanelectricallyoperateddepthcontroldevicewhichpermitsadjustmentsontheflyfromthesnowmobileisavailableasanoption.AsmallCanadiansupplierADVANCETRACKSETTINGSYTEMSpromotesitslevelingdrag(RenovatingLeveller)asarenovationtool,anditalsosellsaRenovatorfordeepcuttinginhardandicysnow.ItissimilartotheoldBAECHLERPLinwidth(2‐3ft).Again,itwouldprobablyrequireseveralpassestotearupextremelyhardsnowtoanyconsiderabledepth,anddepthadjustmentsaremanual(althoughanelectricalcontrolwasrumouredtobeonthewayasofthesummerof2004).YELLOWSTONETRACKSYSTEMS’Ginzugroomer‐alreadynotedforitsshallowscarificationabilities‐alsoworksfordeeperrenovation.TheGinzu’sverticalcutterteetharemountedonarotatablespring‐tensionedpipewhichpermitstheteethtopivotoutofthewaywhenrocks,stumpsorotherobstaclesarehit.Thisspringtensioningalsoproducesacutteractionwhichleavesbehindarelativelyfinetexturedloosesnowlayerquitesimilartothatproducedbypowertilling.Inveryhardconditions–again‐multiplepasseswouldprobablybeneededtogetdowntodepthsof5cmormore.TIDDTECH’s“G‐2”whichappearstobeclosetotheGinzuinprincipleshouldproducesimilarresults(atthetimeofwritingthewriterhadnotyethadachancetotestaG‐2).


PowerTillingTomanyskiersandforgroomersindeepsnowcountrythewholeartandscienceofsnowgroomingreliesononetool–thehydraulictiller.Intherightconditions,powertillersmountedbehindmodernsnowcatscanhandlethewholeseriesofgroomingprocessesfrominitialpackingtolightordeeprenovation.Inareaswherefreshsnowfallscanbecountedoneveryweek,nothingmoreisneeded.Groominginthesnow‐richOkanagan(i.e.SilverStar)isdonethroughoutthewinterbysendingabigcatwithtillerandtracksettersoutonthetrailseveryday.IndrierpartsoftheBCinterior,andotherareasnotsoblessedtillershavetobeusedwithmuchmorecaution.Repeatedtillingpassesinsnowwhichisnotbeingrenewedbyfreshsnowfallscandoalotofdamage.Tillingisanextremelyaggressiveprocess.Snowcrystalsarerapidlyreshapedintosmallermoreroundedforms,resultinginamorecompactdensersnowpack.Ifcarriedtoextremes,tillingcanactuallyreducesnowdepthontrails.Snowparticlesrepeatedlygrounddowntofinersizeleavingadenserandthinnersnowpack.Carriedonfurther,excessivetillingcanleave“dead”snow.Inthiscaseratherthanbeingtoohardtrailsurfacesbecomesugary.Snowcrystalshavebeenalteredsomuchthattheywillnolongercompact.Theonlythingthatwillrejuvenate“deadsnow”isaninfusionoffreshersnowwhichcancomefromsnowfallsorsnowmakingfromabove–orbybringingupandmixinginfreshersnowfromlowerlayers.Themostefficienttoolforbreakingupoldhardpackandmixingwithsublayersisthefrontrenovator.Awide(2.5–4+m)horizontalcuttingbladefrontmountedonasnowcatcutsandliftshardpack,leavingaloosechunkylayerwhichisthenrefinedbytillingintoasmoothfinishsurface.TheoriginalFrontRenovatorintroducedbytheSwissfirm,BAECHLERTOPTRACK,isstillbeingmanufacturedandsoldunderlicensebyYELLOWSTONETRACKSYSTEMS.Afrontrenovatorvariation(anattachmenttothesnowcatfrontU‐blade)isavailablefromtheGermanPistenBullymaker,KASSBOHRER.

WhentoGroom?Thereisnosingleanswertothequestionof“Whentogroom?”Generallygroomingshouldbedoneattimeswhenskiersaren’taround.Asidefromtheobvioussafetyissuesraisedbythepossibilityofskiersrunningintogroomingmachineryontrails,freshgroomedsnownormallyneedstimetosetupbeforeitisreadytotakeskiertraffic(usually2hoursminimum‐aslittleas1hourinareaswithhighsnowhumidity).Thisnormallymeansgroomingatnightorveryearlyinthemorning.Therearealsootherconsiderationssuchascurrentweatherandtemperatureconditions,andthegeneralconditionofthesnowpack.Asnotedpreviouslyinthesectiononpacking,groomingismosteffectiveinarelativelynarrowtemperaturerangejustbelowthefreezingpoint(0to‐10C.).Colddrysnowdoesn’tpackwell,sogroominginextremecoldwon’tbecompletelyproductive,butitalsowon’tdoanyrealdamageifitmustbedone.Warm,wetsnowisanothermatter.Wheneverpossiblethebestcourseofactioninextremelysloppyconditionsistoleaveitalone.


Thisisespeciallytrueifcoldweatherispredictedfortheimmediatefuture.Theextracompactionproducedbygroomingmeltingsnowcanturntrailsintoarmourplateiftemperaturesdropsuddenly.Still,therewillbetimeswhengroomingintheslophastobedone,andinsomeareas(coastalzones,forexample)wherewarmandwetarethenorm,therewillbenochoice.Eveninwarmperiodstheremaybetimeswhentemperaturesandsurfacemoisturelevelsdropenoughforproductivegrooming(usuallylatenightorveryearlymorning).Snowmobilegroomerswiththeirlimitedhorsepowerwilloftenhavetotimetheirworkforasmallwindowwhensnowhascooledanddriedenough,butnotyetfrozensolid.Forskiracesgroomingshouldusuallybedoneintheeveningbeforetheevent,allowingmaximumtimeforsetup.Obviously,finalgroomingandtracksettingmayhavetobedelayeduntilearlymorningwithcompletionplannedforjustbeforetheraceifheavysnowfallispredicted

ManualGroomingAlthoughmachinesdomostoftheworktherewilloftenbeaneedforsomemanuallabourincompetitionandrecreationalgrooming.Inthinsnowconditionsshovellersmayhavetofattenupthinspots,especiallyinhighwearareassuchastightdownhillcorners.Catgrowsermarksandotherroughspotsleftbymachinesshouldberakedsmooth.Duringcompetitionsmanualgroomerswithrakesandshovelsshouldbestationedathighspeedcornersanddownhillswherehazards(rocks,barepatches,icing)canbeexpectedtoturnupunderracertraffic.Extralookoutsmaybeneededonblindcorners.Thereisanongoingdebateamongracegroomersabouttherutswhichformindownhillcornersduringraces.Somearguethatrutsshouldberegularlyflattenedoutbeforetheycanbecomehazardstolesscompetentskiers.Othersmaintainthattheyshouldbeleftalone(unlessobvioushazardssuchasrocksturnup),sincetheycanactuallybeusefultohigh‐levelskiers.Thereisnoabsoluteanswertothisdebate,butthegeneraltrendinhigh‐levelraces(FISsanctionedevents)istoleaverutsaloneunlesshazardsappear.

TracksettingSettingtracksisnormallythefinalstepinthewholeprocessoftrailgrooming.However,withmodernequipmentitisoftendoneaspartofasinglegroomingpass.Althoughskatingandtherecentshifttowardmassstartsformosteventsontheinternationalcalendarhavereducedsomewhatthesignificanceoftracksettingincompetitionskiingitisstillanimportantelementformanycompetitionsandanessentialelementfortherecreationalsportofcrosscountryskiing.TRACKSPECIFICATIONS


TheFISandCrossCountryCanadarulesspecifystandardsfortrackdepth,width,andseparationforcompetitiontracksetting.FISRule315.3.2(ICR2004)readsasfollows:“Theskitracksmustbepreparedsothatskicontrolandglidingarepossiblewithoutalateralbrakingeffectbyanypartsofthebindings.Thetwotracksshouldbeset17‐30cm.apart,measuredfromthemiddleofeachtrack.Thedepthofthetrackshouldbe2‐5cm,eveninhardorfrozensnow.”MosttracksettersbeingmarketedtodayhavetrackmouldswhichwillsettrackswithintheFISspecificationrange.Onsome,distancesbetweentrackmouldsareadjustable.Thereusedtobedifferentspecificationsfordistancesbetweentracksformen’sandwomen’sracesorforchildren’sraces,butthesespec’sareusuallyignorednow,andmostsettingisdonebyequipmentwithmouldblockspositionedatthefactorysettings.Trackdepthsaredeterminedbythethicknessofthetrackmoulds.TheBAECHLERtracksetters(snowmobileandcatversions)incommonusearoundthecountryusemouldsatthedeependoftheFISspecifications(5cmor2in.).YELLOWSTONETRACKSYSTEMSmouldsareusuallyattheshallowextreme(deepermouldsareavailablefromYTS).Inpracticeskiersseemtonoticelittledifferencebetweenshallowordeeptracks,aslongastheyarewellformed.Forcompetitionorrecreationaltrails,anyofthetracksetterscurrentlybeingmarketedwillproduceacceptabletracksintherightconditions.

TracksettingEquipmentTherehavebeensomechangesinthemarketoverthepastdecade,especiallyinthesnowmobileequipmentlines,buttherearestilllessthanadozensuppliersandthebasictypesofsetterhaven’tchangedverymuch.Thereareonlytwosuppliersofsnowcattracksetters,YELLOWSTONEandBAECHLER.ThepantypetracksetterintroducedintoNorthAmericabyBAECHLERinthe1970’sisstillthemostcommonsnowmobilesetter.BAECHLERisnolongermarketingitssnowmobilesettersinCanada(itssnowcatversionsoftencomewithKASSBOHRERcats),butYELLOWSTONETRACKSYTEMS,TIDDTECH,ADVANCETRACKSETTING,andothersmanufactureandsellpantypesnowmobiletracksetters.Thereusedtobeseveralsled‐typesettersaround,buttheonlyonenowonsaleinCanadaistheJACAbuiltinSweden,butsoldbyaCanadiandistributor,(FIRSTTRACKS).Allofthecurrentcommercialtracksettersuseplasticmouldblockstoshapeandcompresssnowintotracks.Mostofthemouldsproducetrackswithsmoothslopedsidewallswideratthetoptoallowforboot/bindingclearance.AfewtracksetterssuchastheJACAuseasteppedprofilemouldtoprovideboot/bindingclearanceandextrasidewallcompression.Mostofthemodernsettersalsouse


metalprecutterstosliceupand–insomecases‐todirectsnowtowardstheoutersidewallsbeforefinalshapingbythemouldblocks.

AdditionalConsiderationsforSnowmobileTracksetters.

DownPressure‐WeightTheamountofpressurerequiredtomouldacceptabletrackswillvarywithsnowconditions.Verylittlepressurewillbeneededtoshapeperfecttracksintosoftsnow,butassnowhardensmorewillbeneeded.Snowcattracksettersusehydraulicdownpressure,butmostsnowmobiletracksettershavetorelyonauxiliaryweightstoincreasepressure.Sincesnowmobilegroomershavetomanhandletheirequipment,tracksettersshouldnotbetooheavytohaularound.Removableweightscanaddtheextradownpressureneededfortracksettinginhardersnowconditions.Thesecanbeintheformofsteelplates(YTS),concreteblocks(JACA),lead(olderBAECHLER),andindireextremeshomosapiens(muchofthetracksetforthe1988Olympicraceswasdonewithanassistantsittingonthetracksetter‐primitive,buteffective).

TrackRemovalAllracecoursesandmanyrecreationaltrailshavesectionswhichshouldnotbetrackset(sharpdownhillcurves,forexample).Tracksetterswhichcanliftorscrubouttrackseliminatethetediumofhavingtogetoffandmanuallyrakeouttracks.Therearetwowaystoleaveuntrackedsectionswhiletracksetting.Oneistoliftthemouldingblocksoffthesnow.Theotheristorakeouttracksaftertheyhavebeenset.

Snowrakes‐ScrubbingTrackafterSettingTheolderBAECHLERtrackpanscouldbefittedwithamanuallyoperatedflip‐downsnowrake.JACA‘slatestmodeltracksetter(sinceyear2000)alsousesarearrakedevicetowipeouttracks,butitiselectricallycontrolled.Theoperatorcanscruboutorbeginresettingtracksonthemove.Whiletrackrakesarerelativelysimpleandrelativelyfast‐acting,theprocessofscrubbingouttrackaftersettingdoeshavesomedrawbacks.Thereisalwaysadangerofstirringupdirtinthinsnowsections.And,insomecases,whiletracksmayappeartohavebeenwipedoutthecompactedtracksmaysimplyhavebeenfilledinwithloosesnowwhichwillsometimesmeltoutorevaporate(sublimate)afterafewdaysreopen,allowingthetrackstoreappear.


TracksetterLiftingDevicesAnumberofdevicesforraisingtrackmouldsoutofthesnowhavebeenavailableforsometime(i.e.theYELLOWSTONELeverlift,andBAECHLERCompactorpan–bothofwhichtiltedthepantoelevatetrackmoulds).TIDDTECH’sTrailTenderizerusesalightweighttrackpanmountedonhingesattherear,withasimplecableandlevertopivotthesetterupoutofthesnow.Allofthesearemanualsystemsrequiringtheoperatortostopandgetoffthesnowmobile.ThetrackpansavailablewiththenewerGinzugroomerandG‐2groomersallowoperatorstosetorremovetracksonthemove.Electricramsraiseorlowerthepanswiththeflipofaswitchonthesnowmobile.Beingabletotakeoutandresettracksonthemoveisparticularlyhelpfulwhensettingcompetitioncourseswherehavingtostoptolowerthetrackmouldsatthebottomofasteepdownhillcorneroftenbringsthedangerofgettingstuckonthefollowingtoughuphill.

WhentoTracksetAsnotedaboveinthegroomingsection,tracksshouldbeallowedtimetosetupandhardenbeforeskiersusethem.Thisnormallymeansgroomingatnightorearlyinthemorning.Ifseparategroomingpassesarerequiredbeforetrackingthesettingshouldbedoneshortlyaftergroomingbeforethegroomedsnowhashardened.Thistimingwillvarywithconditions,butitwillusuallybewithintwohours(lessinconditionsofhighhumidity).Toprovidemaximumsetuptime,competitiontracksshouldbesetintheeveningbeforetherace.Extremelywarmwetconditionsmayforceadelayintracksettingifthereisachancethatatemperaturedropintheveryearlymorninghourscouldfreezetracksintodangerouslyicyruts.Insuchcasesgroomingandtracksettingmayhavetobedelayeduntiltemperatureshavefallentonearthefreezingpoint.Aforecastforsnowthenightbeforearacemayalsosuggestadelayintracksettinguntiljustbeforeeventstarttime.Iftrackssetearlierintheeveninghavebeencoveredby5cmormorenewsnowresettingmaybenecessary.Iftrackshavebeenhitwithlessthan5cmoffreshsnowandtheracestartisnearitisusuallybesttohaveforerunnersorvolunteersskiinthetracksratherthanattemptingafreshtrackset

GeneralPointsonSnowmobileTracksetting_becausemosttracksettingisdoneatnightthesnowmobileshouldhavearearworklight._tracksettingspeedsshouldbemoderate(10‐12km/hr)_onstraightsectionsthedrivercankeeptracksflowingstraightbyaimingforafixedpointdownthetrail._whensettingcompetitiontracksitisusefultohaveahelper“ridingshotgun”tokeepaneyeontracksbehind


whilethedriverconcentratesonthetracklineahead.Ifrakingwithoneoftheolderpansetterswithmanualrakeorlifterthehelpercanhandlethesechores._ifworkingalone,akneelingpositiononthesnowmobileisusuallybest(onekneeontheseat,oneonthedeck).Thisallowstheoperatortoshiftweightasneededandtodoquickshoulderchecksbackwards._competitiontracksettersshouldcarryahandraketoerasefootprintsandmachinemarks._normally,oldtracksshouldberemovedbeforenewtracksareset.Itispossibletosetoveroldtracksiftracksettingisdonewitharenovator.TheoldBAECHLERPullRenovatorortheTIDDTECHTrailTenderizerwithcutterteethloweredwouldwork.ThenewerelectricallycontrolledunitssuchastheJACAtracksetterwithbuiltinrenovatororthetracksetterequippedGinzugroomermakethejobmucheasier._considerusingshallowmouldblocksforsettingtrackinlowsnowconditions.

CompetitionTracksetting–ClassicTechniqueCompetitiontracksettinghasbeenevolvingalongwithraceformatsoverthepasttwodecades.Inthelate‘70’sandearly‘80’sastrailswidenedandmoresophisticatedequipmentwasbroughtintotrailgroomingtherewasageneralpracticetodoubletrackracecourses.Thearrivalofskatinginthemid‐‘80’schangedthis.TheFISintroducedanumberofrulesandpracticesinanefforttokeepclassicalskiingaliveininternationalcompetition.Oneofthesewastospecifythatclassicalracecoursesbesetwithsingletracksinthe“idealskiingline”.Thismeantthatgroomerscouldnolongersetracetrackswithbigcats.Inwhatseemedatechnologicalstepbackwards,theyhadtogobacktousingsnowmobiles.,becauseonlysmallmachinescouldfollowthe“idealskiline”(oftencalled“bestline”)asitflowedfromsidetosidealongthewindingcourse.Inthepastfiveyearsthingshavechangedagain.ConfrontedwithfallingTVviewerratingsfortraditionalskiracesinEurope,theFIShaschangedmostracesontheinternationalcalendarfromintervaltomassstarteventsinanattempttoincreasespectator(andTVadvertiser)appeal.AtthemostrecentOlympicsandWorldChampionshipstherewasonlyasingleintervalstartraceformenandoneforwomen.Atthesametimecourseshavebecomeshorterandmuchwider(4‐9mormorethroughout).Thegeneralpracticenowformassstartclassicalcompetitionsistodoubleoreventripletrackcoursesthroughout,leavingsteepdownhillsandcornersuntracked.Tracksettingcannowbedoneagainbybigcatswithdouble,triple,orevenquadrupletracksettersmountedonreartillers.

TheIdealSkiLineTheconceptofthe“idealskiline”hasn’tcompletelydied.Therearestillintervalstartclassicalraces.FISRule315.3.1(ICR2004)reads:Forintervalcompetitionsin


classicaltechniqueasingletrackshouldbesetalongtheidealskiinglineofthecompetitioncourse.Thetrackisnormallysetinthemiddleofthecourseexceptthroughcurves.Incurvesthereshouldonlybesettrackwhereskiscanglideunrestrainedinthesettrack.Wherethecurvesaretoosharpandthespeedisconsideredtobetoohightostayinthetrack,thetrackshouldberemoved.Todecidethepropercoursepreparationandtracksetting,thebestcompetitorsandhighestpossiblespeedmustbetakenintoconsideration.Incurvesthetrackistobesetclosetothefencetoavoidthepossibilitytoskibetweenthetrackandthefence.(TheFISrecommendssetting“closetothefence”asadeterrenttoskating)The“idealskiline”ispartlyanattempttodiscourageskatinginclassicalraces,butitalsomakessenseinapracticalway.Perhapsthebestwaytodescribeitistosaythatitisthelineaskierinahurrywouldtakeonawindingcourse.Itistheshortestmostdirectline.Whensettingtrackthroughaflat“S”section,tracksshouldflowinasstraightalineaspossible,cuttingcornerslikeaGrandPrixracecardriver.TheFISrulespecifiesthatthetrackbeset“closetothefence”todiscourageracersfromskiingoutsidethetrackstoshortenthedistancearoundthecourse(whencompetitorsskioutsidethecourseonacurve,itiscommontoseethemtakeafewskatingstrides,whichisillegal).However,itmustnotbesoclosetoacornerthattheskierscouldsnaganytrailsideobstacles.Vboardsalongtheinsideofsuchacurvecanalsobeusedtopreventthecuttingofcornersiftrackgroomingequipmentisnotabletosnuguptoaninsidecorner.

Uphillsinintervalstartclassicalracesshouldbesetintheskilineunlesstheyaresteepenoughtorequireherringboning.Inthatcasetheyarebestleftuntracked.Downhillcornerspresentthebiggestchallengesofjudgmentfortracksetting.Sharpdownhillcornersshouldnotbetracked.Experienceisrequiredtodeterminejustwheretotaketracksoutandwhentoresumethemcomingoutoftightcorners.Asageneralruletrackissetfollowingthebestlinetotheupperinsideofthecorner.Tracksareremovedaroundthecorner,andtheyshouldnotbestartedagainuntilsomedistanceafterthecorner.Thisistoallowskierstoseethetracks


andtogetthemselvessetuptostepbackintothem.Infastconditionstheuntrackedzonemayhavetobelengthenedtogiveskiersmoreroomtoseethetracksandprepareforreentry.

TrackableDownhillTurnsDownhillcornerswhicharemoderateenoughforskiingintracksshouldbesetintheidealskiline.Thisusedtobethenormforbothclassicalandfreetechniqueraces,butnowittendstobedoneforintervalstartclassicalracesonlysincesomanycometogetherinamassstartformat.Thegeneralruleforsettingdownhillcurvesistogointothecornerstight(towardtheinside),buttocomeoutwide.(Someoftheseconsiderationsmustbeappliedintheactualdesignofthecourse.)Skiersatracespeedscannotstayintrackswhicharesettootightlyaroundcurves.Thisisanotheroneoftheareasinwhichjudgmentbasedonthetracksetter’sexperienceandskiingabilityisvital.Infastconditions,tracklinesthroughcurveswillhavetobestraightene,meaningthattheywillcomeoutofthecornersmoretowardstheoutsideedgeofthecourse.


TrackableDownhillShortstraightsections(30m.orless)betweenuntrackablecornersarebestleftuntracked.


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UMD RSOP Ski Trail Grooming Guidelines

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