Area groomers coming to the rescue
We have weather every single day of our lives, yet it continues to surprise and amaze. Can you believe the weather?
Speaking of the weather, can someone please construct a large wall that will block out the currents from Hawaii? We’ll fly there if we want warm weather, thanks.
Last week I was waxing poetic on powder, dry powder, and now I am lamenting wet, droopy slush.
A 40-degree swing in temperature within a week has wreaked havoc on our recreational plans. Some local areas closed midweek because of wet snow and high winds, but they are all planning to open by the weekend. The temperatures should drop, but we’ll need more snow to recover from the loss.
How will the conditions be, you ask?
It’s times like these that we head for the groomers. Grooming plays a huge role in any ski area’s operation, any day of the week.
For those of us who are powder snobs, let’s admit it now: It’s pretty fun to fly down a beautifully groomed cruiser. You can bet we will be hanging on those groomers this weekend. At least until we get blanketed with fresh stuff.
Todd Isaac is a groomer at 49 Degrees North. This skill is a source of great pride for Isaac and his fellow grooming technicians.
Isaac works midnight to 9 a.m. getting slopes smoothed out for the skiing and snowboarding throng. When he gets off work, he goes out and tests the product, so to speak.
“Part of being a good groomer is getting out and enjoying it,” Isaac said. “I prefer powder, but I’ll take a fast groomer any day.”
This week has been especially challenging for the crew at 49. First, they were given the dry powder that is hard to groom because it doesn’t bind together. Then, all that rain (ouch) turned it to slush.
“You have to take a good look at the snow,” Isaac said. “If it’s too wet, you can’t get on it without sinking into it and sending snow out the sides. The wet snow will stick to the tiller. You’ll find yourself pulling all the snow off the slope. Therefore, we have to wait for the temperature to cool down.”
Once the temperature is where it should be, Isaac and the staff can make a nice smooth run out of a variety of snow consistencies. The latest in grooming technology allows so much more flexibility in operating the machines. The tiller is flexible and easy to steer. The blade on the front moves in 12 directions, allowing a lift, curl and pivot.
Mike Joseph has groomed the snow at Schweitzer for almost 15 years. Joseph noted that the improvement in the grooming equipment, coupled with the improvements of ski technology, has raised skiers’ standards of grooming. Back in the beginning of skiing, people had long wooden skis and hiked up for their turns.
Now, Joseph and his crew are more than happy to deliver a smooth and seamless product. By adjusting the equipment accordingly, you can take a bulletproof surface and turn it into a soft, groomed run. The tillers pull in perhaps the top 4 inches of snow, chew it up and lay down a new layer. The finishing comb on the back is the part that leaves the corduroy.
Each combination of weather and snow quality calls for a different bag of tricks when grooming. Joseph will work with the rest of the team to determine the optimum adjustments on the machine. They work through the night for a consistently groomed mountain.
Joseph is, in his words, “hopelessly hooked on skiing.” He gets off work at 9 a.m. and usually gets out for runs when he can. By the fifth day of work, he usually has to go home and catch up on sleep.
Don’t forget to thank the unsung heroes of the ski hill next time you’re out enjoying the corduroy.